February 18, 2013
Mesalands Community College will be hosting an Open House to showcase the new facilities, services, and equipment made available through the U.S Department of Education – Hispanic Serving Institution’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program. Mesalands was awarded $777,154 for the first year and has already been renewed for year two in the amount of $771,328. The purpose of this grant is to develop and to carry out activities to improve and expand the institution’s capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students pursuing a STEM discipline. The College has used these funds to construct a new life/environmental science laboratory, remodeled the physical science laboratory, developed a new Math-Science Learning Center, two elite math classrooms, and enhanced the curriculum.
Attendees to the Open House will also have the opportunity to meet the new STEM staff members that have made these new enhancements possible. The STEM grant is currently funding four new full-time positions and six part-time positions at Mesalands.
Janice Aragon, STEM Project Director says she is excited for the community to witness the many new developments at the College due to the STEM grant.
“We are off to a great start this year. We created the Math-Science Learning Center to provide an inviting atmosphere for students to be able to study and receive tutoring. In addition, new technology and hands on math and science manipulatives are available for all students. We continue to receive positive feedback from our students in this program and attendance continues to increase. We have also remodeled the physical science lab, created a new technology rich life science lab, and added two elite math classrooms,” Aragon said. “We would like to invite the community to see all the exciting and innovative developments that STEM has made possible on campus. STEM will continue to enhance and develop our services, programs, and provide cutting-edge technology for our students”.
The STEM Open House will be held in Building A on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, from 6-8 pm. Refreshments will be served.
