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MESA PROGRAM AT UCSD AMONG A STATE PROGRAM HONORED

The Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) chapter at the University of California, San Diego, is among a statewide MESA program honored as a recipient of the national Innovations in American Government award.

Sponsored by the Ford Foundation, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Council for Excellence in Government, the Innovations competition identifies public programs that demonstrate outstanding problem-solving skills and creativity.  Winning programs each receive a $100,000 grant.  This year, 1,200 programs were nominated for the award, but only five were chosen.

A statewide program, MESA helps over 32,000 educationally disadvantaged students to excel in math and science and achieve degrees in math-based fields. 

The UCSD campus is home to a MESA program for college students majoring in engineering or computer science.  The program provides a close partnership of educators, industry representatives, parents and peers to surround students with the support they need to excel.  UCSD MESA Center Director Glynda Jones-Davis describes the program as a way to improve retention and graduation rates of underrepresented students in engineering majors.

MESA Engineering Program students comprise over 85% of all California's new engineers from groups historically underrepresented in that field.  Ninety percent of the state’s underrepresented engineering baccalaureate recipients are MESA students.  MESA is the model for similar programs in seven other states.

Created by the University of California Office of the President, MESA programs operate on the campuses of UCs, CSUs, junior colleges, private universities, and middle and high schools statewide.  “MESA serves as a model of what a strong program can achieve,” said UC President Richard C. Atkinson.  “This kind of successful outreach is central to our strategy for achieving diversity in higher education.”

UCSD MESA operates from the Jacobs School of Engineering and serves engineering majors at the UCSD campus.