Student Resources
Vision Statement
MESA provides students with the essential skills and resources to achieve success in school, career, life and STEM-related disciplines. MESA welcomes all students and actively recruits ethnic minorities and females as they are often underrepresented in STEM fields such as computer science and engineering. MESA mobilizes and aligns the resources of diverse educational institutions, industry and other partners to create and implement an integrated program that maximizes impact and outcomes.
Programs Available for High School Students at Local Universities
Weber State University
Office of Access & Outreach: Its mission is to increase the participation through access and outreach partnerships that encourage underrepresented students to pursue and complete a secondary education. This division of WSU offers the following programs:
Student to Student: This program provides college access resources and academic support services to to underrepresented students. This program is available for students at Clearfield, Layton, Northridge, Syracuse, and Woods Cross High Schools.
Gear-Up: This is a federally funded program designed to help students succeed in high school and achieve college graduation. The program helps students with financial aid awareness, college campus visits, ACT Preparation, and assistance with FAFSA completion. It is available for students at Clearfield, Layton, and Mountain High School.
Upward Bound: Upward Bound is a college preparatory program for high school students designed to help build academic and social skills and generate a positive attitude toward success in their education. Students participate with the Upward Bound program for the duration of their high school enrollment. Part of Upward Bound is the availability of computer labs for students enrolled in the program. In Davis, the computer lab is located at 2750 University Park Blvd.
Native American Scholarships: One-year (two-semester) award waivers for 50% of in-state tuition and general fees at Weber State University only. This is open to new freshmen and transfer students to Weber State University.
University of Utah
Office for Equity and Diversity: This office is committed to enhancing student success, recruiting future leaders, and engaging with key community members on and off campus. Programs include the following:
First Year Diversity Scholars: First Year Diversity Scholars program supports students through a personalized campus orientation, regular interactions with faculty and staff of color, academic advising, multiple mentoring relationships, and off-campus community engagement opportunities.
Advising, Scholarships, Student Groups, and more!
The Refugees Bridge Program: The REFUGES Bridge Program, launched in 2013, is designed for incoming University of Utah freshmen who are interested in majoring in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) field. The program provides young people with a supportive peer group and a unique summer opportunity to live on campus, attend classes, and jumpstart their college experience. Students from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
TRIO Programs: The TRIO Programs, through a supportive environment, empower underrepresented students to access postsecondary education & to achieve academic success leading to a postsecondary degree.
Scholarship and Financial Aid
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
SWE Scholarships support women pursuing ABET-accredited bachelor or graduate student programs in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology and computer science in the United States.
ABET stands for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. ABET, Inc., is a non-governmental organization that accredits post-secondary education programs in applied and natural science: computing, engineering, and engineering technology.
AISES stands for American Indian Science and Engineering Society
American Indian, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, First Nations and other indigenous peoples of North America who are students in higher education are eligible for these scholarships. The scholarship supports students with technical and leadership accomplishments, as well as a commitment to and passion for the energy field. The scholarship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students perusing STEM degrees, as well as business related studies.
Affordable ONLINE Colleges offers assistance with scholarships and financial aid:
- directory of undergraduate and graduate scholarships
- tips on how to apply
- student organizations
- advice from education experts
- general resources
A guidebook geared toward the African American student. The guide includes a directory of undergraduate and graduate scholarships, offers tips on how to apply, and has advice from education experts in the black community.
Professional Associations
ENGINEERING
NACME: National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering
NAMEPA: National Association of Multicultural Engineering Programs Advocates
AISES: The American Indian Science and Engineering Society
NSBE: National Association of Black Engineers
SHPE: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
SWE: Society of Women Engineers
WEPAN: Women in Engineering ProActive Network
The Engineer Girl: Sponsored by the National Academy of Engineers
SCIENCE
SACNAS: Society for Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science
MAES: Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists
Articles
"Mentoring Is the Key to Increasing Minority and Women’s Participation in STEM Education, Researchers Say at the Emerging Researchers Network Conference" O'Neil, Kathleen. (2016, March 8). AAAS NEWS
"5 Ways to Support Minority STEM Students" Lou, Nicole. (2015, September 17). Popular Science
"Supporting Minority Students in Science" Hrabowski, Freeman A. (2012). VUE: Voices in Urban Education
"Her Scientific Discovery: Support" Gonzalez, Angela. (2017, February 25). New York Times
"Promoting Minorities in STEM Fields: A Success Story" Mock, Geoffrey (2016, February 24). Duke Today