The Butte College MESA program is dedicated to supporting and increasing the number of under-represented and educationally/economically disadvantaged students obtaining degrees in the calculus-based fields of mathematics, engineering and the sciences.
The program is based on a rigorous academic plan that uses various components to guide and support students majoring in many technical fields. The program�s components help build an academically based peer community to provide mutual student support and motivation. MESA forges a community of learners based upon academic achievement and acts as a bridge to aid students in making successful transitions in their educational pursuits. Program components have included: Student Center, Academic Excellence Workshops, Professional Development Workshops, SEP and Transfer Counseling, Career Advising, On-Campus Applied Internship Projects, Professional and Leadership Conferences, Industry and University tours, EDUC 10 and Study skills counseling. The MESA support staff consists of a full-time Faculty/Director, a 50% time dedicated permanent Special Programs Clerk plus a full-time Retention Specialist and 25% Counselor funded by SEAPAC.
MESA Counselor @ 25%
The MESA Counselor provides 6 hours of dedicated counseling time for the MESA students. This has enhanced access to developing or updating SEP's for new and ongoing participants, career information, transfer requirements and process information, and lastly, personal support. Overall, it has also has made it easier for the MESA students to navigate accomplishing their academic and transfer goals while at Butte College because they regular access to a Counselor who is an expert in STEM majors and the MESA Success Model.
In addition, the Counselor attends weekly meetings with the MESA staff to discuss: student progress, immediate and long-term concerns and goals. They participate in WeekZero, the MESA workshop series as well as in special events. Because of these variious interactions, the students are able to develop a relationship in a meaning way with the counselor and the students consider them to be an integral member of their MESA Success Team.
MESA Retention Specialist - Full-time
The Retention Specialist position was funded full-time this year. This increased the direct impact on educationally and economically disadvantaged STEM student outreach, course completion, retention, persistence and transfer rates.
The R.S. provides direct support to students and is knowledgeable in assisting with the implementation and expansion of student success strategies that lead to course completion, degree completion, and transfer rates. Having a Full-time Retention Specialist has increased the activities that promote campus outreach, professional development activities and events, tutoring and study groups, including MESA Internships and MESA Week Zero. Innovated best practices were introducted such as MESA Peer Mentor and the initiation of a pilot program; House of Pre-Med which will further be expanded to include the following cohorts: House of Engineering and Computer Science and House of Biology and Chemistry. Also, with the additional Full-time MESA R.S., the MESA Director has had more time to capitalize on their experience to scale up student success programs and activities, including expanding the collaboration between STEM faculty and Community STEM professionals and the development of new innovative progams previously mentioned: Peer Mentoring and special events for cohorts by major (e.g., House of Pre-Med), plus a formal collaboration with CSU Chico's CSC2 Project (BC MESA was named on their recently funded Grant) which will offer ongoing professional development and summer internship opportunities to MESA students and lastly, the formation of a MESA Student Advisory Board.
The MESA Program does not conduct a Program Review.
1. Increase student partipation in Program activities and events.
2. Increase student participation in MESA STEM tutoring and study groups via the development of a web based tool and incentive program.
3. Conduct a survey to identify student participation and impact on transfer ready rates.
Strategy 1 - Faculty Support
Identify key faculty to assist the program participants in the development and implementation of specific student success components, such as the Academic Excellence Workshops, and professional and leadership conference travel.
There is a continued need to identify key faculty as well as leaders within the program participants to assist in the development and implementation of specific student success components, such as the Academic Excellence Workshops. As well as, to provide support for the ongoing professional and leadership conference travel.
Strategy 2 - Collaborative Student Success Strategies
There is a need to identify funding resources in order to implement collaborative cross-discipline activities such as Week Zero, MESATalks, Dinner with a Scientist, and the MESA Leadership Symposium.
These activities involve students, staff, faculty, and community STEM professionals. They are designed with the intent to strengthen student leadership and professional skills as well as to create mentorship opportunities.
Strategy 3 - Internship Incentives
There is a need to continue to prioritize the implementation of on-campus applied research internships opportunities for MESA students, as well as, to explore and create internship opportunities in the local community. In addition, to identify funding resources for intern incentives, such as stipends, bookstore vouchers, etc., as well as, funding for project supplies and materials needed for implementation.
The MESA Students participating in the applied research internship projects will increase teamwork, problem solving, and communication skills as well as faculty and community STEM professional mentorship. The incentives provide the possibility of increasing participation (students are low-income and many work) in these high-impact activities ultimately, to increase persistence, transfer-ready, and transfer rates.
Strategy 4 - Essential Personnel
MESA is in need of a full-time professional clerical staff member.
Having full-time clerical assistance will impact the recruitment, and retention of students, as well as, consistency of services offered to students. An immediate solution is a request to the District that resources be allocated to fund the current half-time Special Programs Clerk position, who is already employed on campus in another department half-time. The total MESA Program budget allocated from the Chancellor's Office Student Success Funds is $101,000. The funds required to fund the Special Programs Clerk's position during the AY 2021-2022 is $24,835 (this cost increases every year). 25% of the Grant funds are being used to fund the required assistant. Having a full-time assistant will provide additional help with the day-to-day planning and implementation of best practices that improve student course completion, retention and transfer rates, as well as, a more balanced workload to complete documentation and reporting requirements.
Strategy 5 - MESA STEM Counselor
There is a need to identify counselor who is able to develop Student Educational Plans (SEPs) specifically for MESA students as a cohort.
Due to high unit major requirements, general education modifications, class impaction, the increasing cost of education as well as the changes in financial aid eligibility a dedicated adviser would provide the consistent guidance necessary to assist MESA students to maximize each semester and to complete transfer requirements as timely as possible.
Strategy 6 - Student Professional Development Activities
It is essential to Identify and implement strategies that expand the knowledge and resources available to student in a broader spectrum.
Increasing the number of students able to participate in professional and leadership conferences, campus and industry/company tours will have a positive impact on course completion and transfer rates.
Strategy 7 - Retention Specialist - Full-time
A Retention Specialist would assist in activities that promote campus outreach, professional development activities and events, tutoring and study groups, internships and scholarships, etc.
In order to increase direct support to students it is essential to hire knowledgeable personnel to assist in implementing and expanding student success strategies that lead to course completion, degree completion, and transfer. With the addition of Retention Specialist (RS) to the MESA Program staff, the MESA Director has also had more time to capitalize on her experience in developing student success programs and activities, expand collaborations between STEM faculty and Community STEM professionals for the benefit of MESA students, as well as seek additional sources of funding to assist in the implementation of student success strategy on a larger scale. At this time, MESA is requesting that the position be continue to be funded at full-time, in order to continue to increase the direct impact on educationally and economically disadvantaged STEM student outreach, course completion, retention, persistence and transfer rates.
Strategy 8 - MESA Center - Facilities Maintenance
The MESA Center is in need of new paint and carpet. The Center was last painted in January 2008 and the carpet is estimated to be 22 years old.
The MESA Center is in need of paint and new carpet. The Center was last painted in January 2008 and the carpet is estimated to be 22 years old. The MESA Center is a meeting hub for students with many students spending three to four hours daily engaging in activities such as studying, group meetings, workshops, etc. The Center is in need of a paint job in order to update the small enclosed environment. Updating the paint will contribute to creating an inviting study and workplace for the students and thus contribute to meeting the goals of MESA which are to increase retention, persistence and transfer goals for STEM students.
Classroom/Center Space - See MESA Grant for space requirements per student.
The MESA Program received additional funding for AY 21/22, in the amount of $106,320 for Week Zero, Internship incentives, a full-time Retention Specialist and a 25% Counselor from SEAPAC.
| Original Priority | Program, Unit, Area | Resource Type | Account Number | Object Code | One Time Augment | Ongoing Augment |
| Description | Supporting Rationale | Potential Alternative Funding Sources | Prioritization Criteria | |||
| 1 | MESA | Personnel | $0.00 | $130,000.00 | ||
| Full time MESA tenure-track faculty | With the late retirement of our MESA Director, we need a replacement since the MESA grant depends on this staffing. |
|
|
|||
| 2 | MESA | Personnel | 12.237.619.1.090100 | $0.00 | $36,844.00 | |
| MESA STEM Counselor - 25% | Due to high unit major requirements, general education modifications, class impaction, the increasing cost of education as well as the changes in financial aid eligibility a dedicated adviser would provide the consistent guidance necessary to assist MESA students to maximize each semester and to complete transfer requirements as timely as possible. |
|
|
|||
| 3 | MESA | Personnel | 12.237.619.1.090100 | 52120 | $0.00 | $27,657.00 |
| Special Programs Clerk - Full-time | Having a full-time clerical assistance will impact the recruitment, and retention of students, as well as, consistency of services offered to students. An immediate solution is a request to the District that resources be allocated to fund the current half-time Special Programs Clerk position, who is already employed on campus in another department half-time. The total MESA Program budget allocated from the Chancellor's Office Student Success Funds is $101,000. The funds required to fund the Special Programs Clerk's position during the AY 2021-2022 was $24,835 (this cost increases every year). 25% of the Grant funds are being used to fund the required assistant. Having a full-time assistant will provide additional help with the day-to-day planning and implementation of best practices that improve student course completion, retention and transfer rates, as well as, a more balanced workload to complete documentation and reporting requirements. In addition, this funding cycle the CCCCO required MESA to serve 125 students vs 100 in the previous cycle and this position is necessary to assist with the additional necessary processes to accomplish the goals of MESA. |
|
|
|||
| 4 | MESA | Personnel | 12.237.619.1.090100 | 52110 | $0.00 | $55,320.00 |
| Retention Specialist - Full-Time | The Retention Specialist position is currently full-time At this time, MESA is requesting that the position be continued to be funded at full-time. First, to continue to increase further direct impact on educationally and economically disadvantaged STEM student outreach, course completion, retention, persistence and transfer rates. The R.S. provides direct support to students and requires a knowledgeable person to assist in implementing and expanding student success strategies that lead to course completion, degree completion, and transfer rates. Having a Full-time Retention Specialist has increased the assistance with activities that promote campus outreach, professional development activities and events, tutoring and study groups, including MESA Internships and MESA Week Zero. Also, with an additional Full-time MESA staff member, the MESA Director has had more time to capitalize on their experience to scale up student success programs and activities, including expand collaboration between STEM faculty and Community STEM professionals. This position is currently full-time, 11 months in order to assist with event planning and implementation as well as Program assessments requirements. In addition, continuing the position to full-time will impact the longevity of the employee since after five years of funding for the MESA RS position, previous employees began to look for full-time employment elsewhere on average after a year. |
|
|
|||
| 5 | MESA | Operating Expenses | 12.237.619.1.090100 | 55200 | $0.00 | $22,500.00 |
| Student Professional Development | Participation in professional development opportunities that broadens students knowledge as well as awareness and access to resources are essential to immediate and long-term impact on student success. With additional funding, the MESA Program ability to increase the number of students participating in activities such as professional and leadership conferences, and university and industry/company tours would be immediate (increase students participation by 50%) in addition, there is the potential long-term positive impact on course completion and transfer rates. |
|
|
|||
| 6 | MESA | Operating Expenses | $0.00 | $10,000.00 | ||
| MESA Week Zero | The Week Zero Project is an intensive three-day (9am -3:30pm) STEM academy that invites new incoming students, identified as low-income, Latino, Native American, and African American who are declared in the STEM disciplines, as well as a cohort of continuing MESA students, to campus two weeks before the fall semester begins. During this period students participate in a series of activities to expose them to STEM disciplines and requirements, STEM faculty, Community STEM Professionals, and STEM student leaders. Included, is an opportunity for students to engage in activities that will provide them an opportunity to develop their understanding of various mathematic, engineering, and science principals, as well as, key college success skills. Lastly, representatives from CSUC and UC Davis are invited to assist in highlighting key transfer requirements. This project will involve collaboration between key BC STEM faculty, STEM Community Professional, CAS, CSU Chico, and UC Davis. Ultimately, the implementation of the Week Zero Project seeks to provide low-income STEM students early exposure to information and inspiration that has the potential to influence: short and long-term academic goals, major course selection and completion, an increase in networking with BC STEM faculty and STEM students, awareness and implementation of college success skills, and lastly, increase STEM student transfer rates. |
|
|
|||
| 7 | MESA | Operating Expenses | $0.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| Internship Incentives | The MESA Programs has nine years of implementing on-campus applied research internships in collaboration with BC Faculty and community STEM professionals. Funding for the internship projects is either limited or non-existence. The ability to provide an incentive in the form of textbook or bookstore vouchers would increase the student participation and persistence in a student success strategy that has immediate and long-term benefits to course completion and transfer rate. Besides the essential academic skills, the projects also enhance teamwork, communication and problem solving. The funding takes into consideration 25 students per semester receiving $300 vouchers. |
|
|
|||
| 8 | MESA | Facilities | $10,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
| Paint MESA Center | The MESA Center is in need of Painting. It has been 14 years since it was last painted. The MESA Center is a meeting hub for students with many students spending three to four hours daily engaging in activities such as studying, group meetings, workshops, etc. The Center is in need of a paint job in order to update the small enclosed environment. Updating the paint will contribute to creating an inviting study and workplace for the students and thus contribute to meeting the goals of MESA which are to increase retention, persistence and transfer goals for STEM students. |
|
|
|||
| 9 | MESA | Facilities | $6,000.00 | $0.00 | ||
| MESA Center - New Carpet | The MESA Center is in need of new carpet. The current carpet is estimated to be 22 years old.. The MESA Center is a meeting hub for students with many students spending three to four hours daily engaging in activities such as studying, group meetings, workshops, etc. The Center is in need of a paint job in order to update the small enclosed environment. Updating the paint will contribute to creating an inviting study and workplace for the students and thus contribute to meeting the goals of MESA which are to increase retention, persistence and transfer goals for STEM students. |
|
|
|||