The City College MESA Program “A Culture of Success” The City College MESA Program Rafael Alvarez - MESA Program Director & MESA Master Fighters! Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Topics – Engage, Educate, Empower MESA Overview Culture Commitment: Victim/Creator MESA Model Tools & Resources MESA Master Fighters!

MESA Mission The MESA mission is to enable educationally disadvantaged students to prepare for and graduate from a four-year college or university with a math-based degree while: developing academic and leadership skills, increasing educational performance, and gaining confidence in their ability to compete professionally.

MESA History Established in California in 1970 Currently 68 MESA Programs statewide serve K-12, community college and university students Thirteen states have adopted MESA model Recipient of Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.

Highlights City College MESA Program serves nearly 200 students annually San Diego MESA Alliance serves over 2,200 students annually with partner programs at San Diego State University, Southwestern College and middle/high schools in San Diego and Imperial Valley MESA Industry Advisory Board – over 30 industry partners National Science Foundation (NSF) - STEP Award California Space Grant Consortium

What is Culture? "the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group" "the characteristic features of everyday existence shared by people in a place or time <popular culture>" "the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization <a corporate culture>"

The Secret is Culture! Culture of Success Language of Success STEM

Choice? Victims … FAILURE Creators … SUCCESS Blame others Complain Make excuses Repeat ineffective behavior “Have to” do things Pretend their problems belong to others “Try” Give up FAILURE Victims seldom achieve goals Creators … Accept responsibility Take actions Seek solutions Do something new “Choose to” do things Own their problems Commit & follow through Take control of their choices & their lives! SUCCESS Creators often achieve goals

The Model – City’s MESA Program

The Model – City’s MESA Program

The Model – City’s MESA Program Capstone

Academic Development Individual Academic Plans & Advising College Orientation STEM Course Clustering Tutoring Faculty & Peer Mentoring Scholarships College & Career Exploration Transfer Assistance University Campus Tours

Personal-Professional Development Summer Team Internships Walk-on-Water Competition MESA Olympics & Robotics Challenge Joint Planning Conference for Engineering & Science Chapters MESA Leadership Summit Industry Training Academies Job Shadow Day Resume Writing & Mock Interviews

Home for the MESA Family!

MESA Center Tutoring, counseling & resources provided Training & mentoring offered Academic & social interaction facilitated University bridging & industry exposure introduced

MESA Master Fighters!