San Diego MESA Alliance awarded $1.9 million NSF grant

A five-year $1.9 million National Science Foundation grant has been awarded to the San Diego MESA Alliance, comprised of MESA programs at San Diego City College, San Diego State University and Southwestern College.

The Alliance has received an NSF Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) grant to increase the number of undergraduates who earn baccalaureates in science, math, engineering and technology (STEM) majors. Each campus will receive $370,000 as its portion of the grant.

The MESA Alliance campuses work collaboratively to share best practices in the region and conduct joint activities. The grant will be used to support students academically, develop leadership skills, and gain exposure to local industry.

For example, the grant will fund team internships in key science and engineering firms across San Diego county so students can develop first-hand knowledge of the workplace. This experience, coupled with MESA’s academic support, will help them become leading professionals who can contribute to the economic development of the region.

Congressman Bob Filner, praised the grant and Southwestern College and stated that “this program is extremely important here in Southern California, because one of our greatest competitive advantages is leadership in the STEM industries. The STEP partnership will help enhance this existing advantage and bring opportunity to disadvantaged students.”

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http://ucop.edu/mesa/news/connect_archive/08_winter_sandiego.html
http://www.bobfilnerforcongress.com/news-education.asp#ED-4