Students looking to pursue a career in a STEM field will soon be able to take advantage of a program focused on ensuring that they have access to additional resources that will empower their journey to a degree.
California State University, Bakersfield is in the process of establishing a Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) Center on campus. MESA is a nationwide program that aims to ease STEM pathways for underrepresented and first-generation students by providing them with extra academic support and hands-on learning experiences.
“It’s very exciting. The MESA program is one of the best approaches to inspiring students to go into a STEM major,” said Dr. Jane Dong, dean for the College of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering (NSME). “I'm glad that a MESA program will be established over here, and I definitely think it will be very welcomed by the local community. Its impact will be very significant.”
The center, which is expected to open this fall, will be located next to the NSME Student Advising and Success Center in Engineering Complex III. It is expected to serve about 200 CSUB students per year, along with thousands of students in local K-12 schools and community colleges.
Once it opens, CSUB will join Bakersfield College (BC) and Taft College in offering the MESA program to students.
The MESA Center is being funded in part by Chevron as part of its $500,000 gift to CSUB this academic year. Around $135,000 is being committed to help launch the center. The rest of the donation is being used to support the Fab Lab, the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program and other initiatives.
Chevron has had a long history of supporting CSUB. The company has donated more than $16 million since 1990. The university celebrated Chevron’s contributions last year during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new outdoor makerspace located behind the Engineering Complex.
“Chevron is proud to support the creation of the MESA University Center at CSUB, which will have a transformative impact on local students by fostering academic excellence and opening pathways to STEM careers,” said Chevron San Joaquin Valley Vice President Michelle Burkett. “By investing in rigorous programming and hands-on experiences, we are helping underrepresented and first-generation students realize their potential and become the next generation of problem-solvers in our community. We are honored to partner with CSUB and invest in programs that nurture innovation, leadership and opportunity for all.”
Dr. Dong said Chevron’s donations will support the planning phase of the center, help the university furnish the new center and support MESA events and activities during the program’s first year.
“I really appreciate their contribution. Without Chevron’s funding, we wouldn’t be able to establish this program,” she said. “They have been a long-term partner with us that supports STEM education, and especially for our local region, their support is quite necessary. It's really helped to broaden access and also support student success in the STEM area.”
After receiving Chevron’s gift, CSUB was able to secure a $250,000 K-16 Regional Collaborative grant through the Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS) last fall that will be used to support the center’s operation for the next two years.
“The Kern Regional K-16 Education Collaborative is proud to support CSUB’s new MESA program as a powerful engine for equity and opportunity in STEM. This investment is designed to strengthen a seamless pathway from K-12 to college and into high-demand careers, ensuring that more of Kern’s diverse students are prepared to thrive in fields like engineering, science and technology,” said Kimberly Graham, assistant superintendent of Local, Regional and Statewide Systems of Support at KCSOS. “By aligning with the state’s Recovery with Equity framework, we’re not only expanding access, but also transforming the way our region supports students to and through college and into the workforce.”
Dr. Dong said the grant, along with Chevron’s donation, will help CSUB launch the MESA Center and support operations for the first two years, after which additional funding will be required.
“Currently, we do not have sustainable funding, so we hope we can collect some data and show the impact of the program,” she said.