The Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) Program enables educationally disadvantaged students graduate from four-year institutions with a math-based major. MESA focuses on student groups who historically have had low levels of attainment.

The National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported STEP Partnership of San Diego (SPSD) incorporates the successful MESA model at each partner campus (San Diego State University, San Diego City College, and Southwestern College), enhancing essential services that help students excel.

Together, MESA and SPSD create a partnership of educational, industry, and government organizations forming a pipeline from community college to university to STEM industry. The goals of SPSD are to:

1. increase the number of students who pursue STEM academic and career pathways,
2. increase retention in STEM disciplines,
3. and promote opportunities in STEM post-graduate studies.

Specific information on each program can be found below:

San Diego MESA Alliance logo

San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA)

The San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA) is a statewide model for intersegmental regional collaboration in mathematics, engineering and science education for economically disadvantaged and underrepresented student populations.

Alliance members include MESA programs from:

• Pre College:
  • Imperial Valley
  • San Diego State University (through San Diego MESA Schools Program)
• Community Colleges:
  • San Diego City College
  • Southwestern Community College
• Universities:
  • San Diego State University

The Alliance mission is to have a collaborative effort in enhancing the pipeline of MESA programs in San Diego County. The Alliance goals are to establish best practices, strategic partnerships, effective coordination of services and development of core curriculum for MESA programs.

STEP Partnership of San Diego logo

STEP Partnership of San Diego (SPSD)

The STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program) Partnership of San Diego (SPSD) project is creating a regional partnership of educational institutions, industry, and government agencies that form a pipeline from community college to university to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industry. The target population is economically and/or educationally disadvantaged students in STEM fields.

The goals of the this project are to increase retention of students in STEM disciplines and to increase the number of students who:

1. pursue STEM academic and career pathways
2. graduate with B.S. degrees in STEM fields and
3. participate in STEM industry internships/research.

The institutions included in this collaboration are:

• San Diego State University
  • (Award Abstract #0653277)
• San Diego City College
  • (Award Abstract #0653291)
• Southwestern Community College
  • (Award Abstract #0653234)

As already mentioned, the project is incorporating the Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) Program model at each partner campus. It is enhancing efforts to provide essential services that help students excel academically, develop leadership skills, and gain exposure to industry.

Team internships are being facilitated through this project to provide students with opportunities to increase their knowledge and to develop skills for academic and workplace success, and ultimately to become part of the economic development of the region.

A “Guide to an Effective STEP” is being developed to disseminate the outcomes and effectiveness of the SPSD program to contribute to the national effort to increase student participation in STEM fields.

MESA logo

Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA)

MESA’s programs provide academic development support to students throughout the academic pathway. The MESA Schools Program (through the SDMA’s San Diego State University MSP and Imperial Valley MSP) assists pre-college students to succeed in math and science studies and go on to college in math-based fields.

The MESA Community College Program (through the SDMA’s San Diego City College MESA and Southwestern Community College MESA programs) supports community college students to succeed in math, engineering and science studies so they can transfer to four-year colleges and universities in math-based fields.

The MESA Engineering Program (through the SDMA’s San Diego State University MEP) assists engineering and computer science majors in four-year institutions so they will graduate with baccalaureate degrees.

For more information about the MESA program, please visit the California MESA website.