MESA: California’s STEM Transfer
Equity Model
Dr. Carl Farmer MESA
Director College of
the Desert
Overview of Presentation
• Why is it important to support STEM majors
• Mathematics, Engineering, Science,
Achievement (MESA Program)
– What is it?
– A (very) brief history
– Program Components
• Coordination with Student Equity Plan
– SB 860
– Examples
– Recommendations
STEM Employment Outlook*
Regional Trends
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2001
2003
2005
Region
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Region
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2014 Jobs
2024 Jobs
Change
1,080,372
1,287,242
206,870
2023
202
% Change
19.1%
•
Nation
7,683,435
8,897,839
1,214,404
15.8%
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*Source: Economic Modeling Specialist International, 2016
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Science
Achievement
What is MESA?
Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) provides educationally
and economically disadvantaged students with the skills and resources to be
successful in school and career in science, technology, engineering and
math (STEM) disciplines.
MESA Schools Program – The MESA Schools Program fosters early
interest in math and science and prepares California middle and
high school students for college in STEM majors. Math or science
teachers at MESA schools gain specialized training through 21 MESA
centers throughout the state.
MESA Community College Program - The MESA Community College
Program supports community college students to successfully
transfer to four-year institutions in STEM majors. There are 33 MESA
community college centers across California.
MESA Engineering Program - The MESA Engineering Program helps
students at four-year universities attain engineering or computer
science baccalaureate degrees. MESA serves college students at 13
universities in California.
A Brief History of MESA
1970 - The MESA program is founded by Mary Perry Smith and others at Oakland
Technical High School with 25 students. MESA’s goal is to increase the number of
African American, Latino American and American Indian graduates from a four-year
university.
1993 - The state legislature allocates $489,000 in Proposition 98 monies to expand
MESA into community colleges. A formal MESA Community College Program (MCCP)
is established. (10 programs)
1997 - MESA adopts a new targeting statement: “MESA serves educationally
disadvantaged students and, to the extent possible by law, emphasizes participation
by students from groups with low rates of eligibility for four-year colleges.”
2000 - MESA CCCP expands to 35 programs, near the current level of participation
funded through CCCCO and UCOP. By 2003, programs funded through UCOP were
defunded and some were moved to CCCCO funding.
2008 - California MESA is named a national semifinalist by Excelencia in Education (a
national organization that identifies and assesses higher education practices that
impact Latinos) for its outstanding community college work.
MESA’s state funding through the CCCCO is cut by 38%, affecting all MCCP centers. A
funding cut that has not been restored to this day.
Student Eligibility for MESA
Student qualify for MESA by fulfilling requirements in three categories
Academic
STEM major
Planning on transferring
Must be in beginning Algebra or above
Must complete an educational plan that leads to transfer
Financial Need
Board of Governor Waiver
Receive need based financial aid
Educational Need
First Generation college student
Started at or below Introductory algebra
Attended a low performing high school
If a student has a demonstrated Achievement in a Science, Engineering, or Mathematics
(ASEM) major and the intent to transfer to a four-year college or university but does not fully
meet all of the MESA eligibility criteria, they are to be reported as an ASEM student if they are
associated with the campus MESA Center.
Community College MESA
Program Components
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Full-time Program Director and Clerical Support
MESA Center
Clustering students is courses
Student Support and Tutoring
Academic Counseling
Academic Excellence Workshops
Orientation to MESA
Professional Development for Director/Staff
Outreach and Recruitment of students
Campus Council
Student organizations
Liaisons with four-year institutions
Business and Industry Council
MESA Center
• Provide a dedicated, MESA Center/meeting space for
MESA students
• Serve as a place for individual quiet time and group
study, tutorial services,
• Gathering area/lounge and a location to house student
lockers
• Located in or near the math, engineering, and/or science
areas and must be designated for MESA students
Academic Excellence Workshops
• Workshops offered in math, engineering, chemistry,
physics and other sciences, following the MESA
Community College model.
Student Support and Tutoring
• Tutorial services are available in the following areas: mathematics,
chemistry, physics, engineering, and computer science.
• The MESA Director acts as a coordinator who assists
students with the information on student study groups and
monitors their progress.
• Personal advising is available to assist students with transitional,
nonacademic problems that may impact academic performance.
• Assistance is offered to students regarding four year college and
university applications for admission and completion of financial aid
forms.
• Leadership, and other skills development training is offered both at
the local and regional level.
Academic Counseling
• Provide each MESA student with a complete Student
Educational Plan that is designed to minimize the amount of
time necessary for students to transfer and complete their
degree.
• Meet with students at least once each semester to monitor
progress and update academic plans if necessary,
• Establish an early alert system that identifies MESA students
who are experiencing academic difficulty.
• Coordinate efforts to facilitate community college MESA
student transfers to four-year colleges and universities
Student Organizations
• Establish a MESA student club on campus
• Establish other campus clubs that are STEM discipline
based
• Provide opportunities for students to become student
members of professional organizations
• Establish connections with professional organizations
that serve students underrepresented in engineering
and the sciences such as SACNAS
Build Relationships with Four-Year Institutions
• Establish Relationships to provide opportunities for CC
students
• Makes transfer easier and helps provide a sense of
belonging upon transfer
• Creates Funding opportunities through grants
Orientation to MESA
Catalog Course Description
This course serves as an introduction to the MESA Program while at the same
time help the students learn about themselves and applying this to becoming a
successful student. The format of this course is entirely online and will require
you to carry out activities each remaining week of the semester.
Students are required to submit the following materials:
• Completed four-year educational plan that includes your community
college courses and those you need after you transfer.
• StrengthsQuest assessment results that would include a printout of your
Strengths with the short accompanying description.
• Study skills and Learning type assessments
• Career Research Results
• Internship/Scholarship information
• Personal statement
• Sample cover letter
• Resume
Bold items are considered critical
Additional Components of MESA
One of important attributes of MESA is that although there are specific activities
as described, many of the programs have included additional activities to better
serve the students. Examples of these are:
• Develop grants individually or in partnership with four-year institutions to
provide students with Scholarship while at CC’s and 4Y’s.
• Develop grants individually or in partnership with four-year institutions to
provide students with internship opportunities.
• Collaborate with four-year institutions to help transferring students receive
opportunities to work in a research lab upon transfer.
• Encourage the development of courses at CC’s that are specific to the needs of
STEM majors preparing to transfer to 4Y schools, e.g, application to
summer internships, introduction to undergraduate research experience,
application and preparation to 4Y schools.
Coordination with Student Equity Program
2014-15 Budget Trailer Bill (SB 860)
Student Success and Support Program: Student Equity
Sec. 6.
Article 1.5. Student Equity Plans
78220.
…………………
(3) Whether significant underrepresentation is found ……….. and a
means, of coordinating with, at a minimum, the following student
equity-related categorical programs or campus-based programs:
(A) Students with disabilities
(B) Extended Opportunity Programs and Services and Special Services
(C) Funds for Student Success (MESA, Puente, MCHS)
(D) Student Success and Support Program
(E) ………………
Coordination with Student Equity Program
Year 1- There was little coordination between MESA and SEP. There was reference
to this type of activity in the original bill, it was interpreted mostly as participation
on the committee.
Year 2 -The changes due to SB 860 have dramatically increased the interaction
between the MESA Programs and the SEP. It has included as well greater
participation on the planning committee.
A request for information from the 33 MESA Programs provided the
following information (19 responded)
• 5 MESA Directors serve on the SSSP Committee
• 12 MESA Directors serve on the SEP Committee
• 16 MESA programs or their campus STEM collaborators receive funding
from SEP (examples to follow)
Coordination with Student Equity Program
College of the Desert
MESA Director serves on both the SSSP and SEP Committees
As part of the Student Equity Plan submitted to the Chancellor’s Office
$35000, half-time STEM Counselor
$10000 pre-semester intervention for math classes that historically has
demonstrated a disproportionate impact*
$8000 for faculty led problem solving sessions**
Extend MESA hours by hiring an ISA for evening
*Trignonmetry and PreCalculus course completion rates were more than
10% lower for Hispanic students. These are STEM “feeder” courses taken by
many of our STEM majors.
**Implemented during Spring 2016 for the first time.
Coordination with Student Equity Program
School
Support
American River
$10000 tutoring
Cabrillo
$40000 per year to increase services to all MESA and
STEM students, longer
Hours, drop-in tutoring, workshops, 30% Instruction Lab
Chabot
Assistant
$222000, to the STEM Program (co-located with MESA)
Full-time STEM Center Equity Director
Faculty Inquiry Group for Equity for STEM
Full Time ISA to work in the STEM Center
Summer Math Jams for placement adjustment
STEM First Year Experience -good recruiting tool for
MESA
College of Sequoias*
$2000 for campus visits, Leadership retreats and
professianaI c onferences
$7000 for disproportionately impacted students.
SSSP funding for books and personnel
*programs currently not funded by Chancellor's
Office but adhering to the MESA guidelines.
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Achievement
Science
Coordination with Student Equity Program
School
Support
College of the Canyons $8000 for Fall (MESA Counselor) and $20000 for 15-16
(MESA Discretion) tutors, counselors, in-state travel,
Gavilan
facilitators student staff
Chair of Equity Committee
Funding for books, tutoring, campus visits, soon will hire
Los Medanos
a program specialist
S59000- MESA Counselor, tenure-track permanent
(Remaining funds from MESA grant and general fund)
$18000- supplies and activities (one-time)
$6000 - tutors (one time)
Mission
$5100 Southern CA College tour (pays half)
Napa
$19,050 Tutoring, Outreach materials, Conferences, and
Travel
Rio Hondo
$30000 to open AEW's to all students
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Science
Achievement
Coordination with Student Equity Program
School
Santa Ana
Support
$30000 for student travel/ hands on summer research
$7000 Leadership Conferences
$8000 Hands-on research development activities
Santa Rosa
$7000 one time direct student support
$75000 ongoing MESA Program Specialist – new
classified support person
$22000 MESA Retention Counselor
Woodland
$41348 – contribution toward MESA Directors Salary
Yuba*
Co-Chair Equity Committee
$10000 travel and tutoring
*programs currently not funded by Chancellor’s Office but adhering to the
MESA guidelines.
Recommendations
Reviewing the coordination of the Campus Student Equity Plans
with MESA Programs throughout the State shows that there is a
lot of Inequity!
So what can be done?
• Restoration of MESA Program Funds to 2008 levels would
help all programs.
• The required “coordination” specified by SB860 can be more
clearly defined and/or described.
• Designate a minimum percentage of Student Equity funds to be
used to support designated student equity-related categorical
programs or campus-based programs.