Ways Industry Can Participate
The San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA) includes 5 MESA centers in San Diego and Imperial Counties serving over 2000 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students, largely from disadvantaged backgrounds. Priority activities of the SDMA where outside resources are needed, such as volunteers and/or monetary support, are listed:
Industry Advisory Board – Leading Change
The San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA) relies on the support of industry partners on the MESA Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to provide industry exposure and professional development opportunities for MESA students. Industry partners contribute to the development of a diverse pipeline of future engineers and scientists.
San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA) Industry Advisory Board
Ongoing
The SDMA Industry Advisory Board (IAB) provides industry exposure and professional development opportunities for MESA students. Industry partners contribute to the development of a diverse pipeline of future engineers and scientists. Learn more about becoming an IAB member by visiting the IAB page.
Scholarships
Ongoing
Industry supports students with scholarship donations to assist in meeting students’ financial needs. Scholarships donated by industry are presented during various MESA program receptions.
Mentorship Program
Open Recruitment
Exposes students, who are likely to be first generation college students, to various fields in engineering and science. Mentors share valuable experiences and gain potential student interns and/or post-graduate employees. Mentors strengthen community-corporate ties. By participating in the program, students gain exposure to their perspective fields and develop friendships with industry in the process.
Joint Professional Development Conference
Annually in October
This is a mini ‘Career Fair’ consisting of industry booths in the fields of engineering and physical sciences. Professional Seminars or ‘Speed Networking’ is also presented by industry representatives simultaneously. This event is co-hosted SDSU’s NSBE, PASE, SHPE and MEP/MSP. Industry registrants are supplied a Resume CD of SDMA and student organization students.
Shadow Day
Annually in November
Companies have an opportunity to invite students of engineering and science interest to shadow an engineer or scientist from their company for the day. This provides the students a unique opportunity to experience the “real world” of a career in an engineering or scientific environment. What better way than to observe and work with a professional in action! Many companies use this opportunity to market their organization to up and coming engineering students for internships and future job opportunities.
MESA Training Academy
Annually in the Fall and Spring academic semesters
Academies are conducted by industry professionals during the academic year to train MESA students in skill sets that are currently in demand by industry. Specific skills training will include, but is not limited to, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology, Microstation, Lead Engineering and Six Sigma. Industry partners such as Hamilton Sundstrand, CALTRANS and NAVAIR have hosted trainings to better qualify students for internships and employment opportunities.
Summer Team Internships
Annually in Summer, 2008 – 2012
Thanks to a STEP Partnership of San Diego (SPSD) grant from the National Science Foundation the college partners of SDMA can facilitate a 100-hour summer internship program for a minimum of 36 SPSD students. Mixed teams of 2-4 community college and university students participate in multi-week team internships at industry sites. Participating companies interview and select interns on the basis of their successful completion of the SPSD industry based standards. Interns receive a $1,250 stipend from the grant; companies may choose to supplement stipend for additional hours or hire students through existing internship programs.
Various Activities
(Ongoing)
Partner companies and industry volunteers are always welcomed for the following activities: company tours w workshops/seminars w resume critique/mock interviews w speakers w donations of prizes for competitions w use of facilities w and guidance to MESA Directors on program development.
***Industry volunteers are always needed to present seminars, develop, setup and/or proctor competitions, host training at their facility, host students at their facility, sponsor student organizations’ meetings or conferences and provide advice and direction to students.
