Date: 03/29/2006
Final
MESA
COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION
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07:43 AM -- Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by the co-chairman, Senator Windels. She welcomed representatives of Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA).
07:44 AM -- Colorado Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA)
Elinor Greenberg, representing the MESA Board of Directors, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to present information on MESA and provided some background on her involvement in MESA. She spoke to the nexus of math and science education and other areas of educational concern, including the achievement gap.
07:47 AM
Ms. Greenberg told the committee that MESA provides a pre-collegiate curriculum through a program that has grown to over 3,000 students in 140 schools.
07:48 AM
Gloria Nelson, Executive Director, MESA, gave an overview of the program's goal of targeting underrepresented student populations and building their math and science skills. More than 30,000 Colorado students have been served by MESA since its inception in 1980. In the last 10 years, more than 90 percent of MESA participants enroll in college. A compilation of documents were distributed to committee members (Attachments A through G). Ms. Nelson compared support for MESA programs in different states. She told the committee that Colorado could choose to support MESA with state funding and what state funding would mean for the programs.
07:54 AM
Ms. Greenberg introduced David Aragon, Co-Director, Multicultural Engineering Program, University of Colorado at Boulder. He provided an overview of the multicultural engineering program at the University of Colorado. He said the focus is on educationally and economically disadvantaged students and described the network of math and science teachers with MESA who conduct activities that support higher education programs such as his.
07:58 AM
Mr. Aragon responded to questions about the students who are enrolling in his program. He indicated that most of the students are coming from Colorado's metropolitan areas and described the support the program provides the students.
08:02 AM
Aaron Cephers and Tanya Ramirez, current engineering students at the University of Colorado, came to the table to provide a narrative of their experiences with the MESA program in their respective high schools. Mr. Cephers said that MESA provided campus visits to and programs at Boulder to help prepare him for his enrollment at the university.
08:06 AM
Ms. Ramirez described her experience as a first generation college student. She became involved with MESA in her eighth grade year, which involvement continued throughout high school. Ms. Ramirez further spoke about the activities she participated in that helped prepare for college.
08:11 AM
Mr. Cephers and Ms. Ramirez responded to questions from committee members. Mr. Cephers responded that counseling and support in high school was critical to sparking students' interest in college. They also spoke to the role of their teachers in high school in preparing them for their college careers. Karen Hunter, representing St. Vrain School District, expressed the importance of advisers to students. Senator Jones commented on the MESA programs, after which Representative Benefield asked both students to discuss the role of their parents' support.
08:18 AM
Mr. Cephers and Ms. Ramirez explained the day-to-day activities of MESA programs. Ms. Ramirez said that the enthusiasm of the MESA adviser at her school was important in getting her involved.
08:23 AM
Ms. Greenberg described a pilot program on the Western Slope, termed the MESA/AHEC Health Career Pathways Project.
08:25 AM
Debbie Trujillo, member of the MESA Board of Directors, described her background and her involvement in MESA. A graduate of a MESA program and currently working as a biologist, Ms. Trujillo continues her involvement in supporting MESA programs. She said that MESA provides a mentoring and support system outside of the home. She said that scholarships and resources also play an important role.
08:32 AM
Ms. Hunter, MESA coordinator, St. Vrain School District, returned to the table to introduce Dulce Gonzalez, representing the Longmont Head Start MESA Program. Through her translator, Ms. Gonzales expressed appreciation and testified to the importance of MESA to her and to the Head Start program. She reminded the committee of the importance of instilling curiosity in pre-kindergarten students, who are very receptive to learning.
08:38 AM
Thomas Scanlan, Lockheed Martin Space Systems and a member of the MESA Board of Directors, spoke to the importance of having qualified candidates for positions such as Lockheed Martin offers. He related his experiences in speaking with MESA participants.
08:42 AM
Senator Windels thanked the presenters and discussed an upcoming 2006 ballot initiative addressing classroom expenditures.
08:43 AM
The committee adjourned.