September 21, 2017
The Mesa College STEM Center Opens
By Office of Communications
On Thursday, Sept. 20, San Diego Mesa College debuted their new STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math) Center, located on the first floor of the Learning Resource
Center (LRC). The new center, which is part of the STEM Conexiones Program, will support
students, particularly full-time Hispanic and low-income students, and provide them
with resources to succeed in various STEM majors.
Services offered include study areas where students can meet with a tutor, faculty
mentor, peer mentor, and/or STEM counselor. Students can also utilize computers loaded
with STEM specific software, check out models and equipment such as microscopes, use
graphic calculators, and access reference books.
“Students will now have a dedicated space where they can meet directly with faculty
and staff and get additional support,” stated President Dr. Pamela Luster. “Through
these services, the College aims to improve student success and persistence in STEM
courses, and better prepare students to transfer to the UC and CSU systems in STEM
disciplines.”
The establishment of STEM Center is through a U.S Department of Education 5-year,
$5 million HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) Title III STEM Grant awarded to Mesa
College in 2016 to support Hispanic and low-income students. STEM disciplines at Mesa
College that fall under the HSI grant include archaeology, astronomy, biology, chemistry,
computer information science, engineering, geographic information systems, geology,
mathematics, psychology, physical science and physics. Through participation in Conexiones,
students will receive assistance with scheduling for STEM courses, be prepared to
transfer to the UC and CSU systems, receive counseling assistance regarding their
major, and benefit from ongoing collaboration between counseling staff and STEM faculty.
Visit the Mesa College Flicker Album to see photos of the STEM Center Grand Opening, and visit the Mesa College YouTube Channel to view the video.
Students who are interested in STEM Conexiones, can complete a student interest form. If you have questions about registering, please contact Miranda Mitchem, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor of Biology, HSI STEM Center, Program Coordinator at mmitchem@sdccd.edu.
For more information on programs under the HSI Grant, please contact Leticia P. Lopez,
Ph.D., HSI STEM Grant Acting Program Manager at (619) 388- 2353 or llopez@sdccd.edu.
Tags: STEM Center, Grand Opening