MCC selected to participate in ASU STEM program to better serve Hispanic students

Newsroom

Mohave Community College has been selected to participate in the STEM Kickstarter 2.0 program at Arizona State University that will help better serve Hispanic students in STEM at two-year Hispanic Serving Institutions. Students in the Dual Enrollment program, Nicolas (left) and Coby (right) are performing a Benedict’s test to look for reducing sugars in various substances.
Posted on in Press Release.
Bookmark the permalink.


Printer friendly page

MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave Community College has been selected to participate in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Kickstarter 2.0 program at Arizona State University. It’s part of a National Science Foundation initiative to help Hispanic Serving Institutions better serve Hispanic students in STEM courses .

The program is 18 months long and the MCC team includes employees and students from across the college. Dr. Tonya Jackson, Associate Dean of Instruction for STEM, is looking forward to the opportunity to make sure the needs of underserved students are being met.

“We have a wonderfully eclectic team, and we’re all excited about different aspects of the program. I’m excited to have a student on our team, Martha Aguilar, who is a chemistry major, a work study in the library and is active in various student groups,” Dr. Jackson said. “I’m excited to give her a glimpse into working in higher education, outside of the traditional classroom and lab space.”

The MCC Team members are: Dr. Cesar Fuentes (lead faculty, Life Sciences); Kelene Keating (faculty, Life Sciences); Dr. Lucinda Leugers (Dean of General Education and Transfer); Dr. Maria Ayon (Dean of Student and Community Engagement); Martha Aguilar (Student); Angel Soto (STEM Technician); Abigail Jaimes-Gomez (Educational Development); Matt Wienke (Math faculty) and Mike Rozinski (Math faculty).

The program will help the college look at overall institutional opportunities, including changes that can be made in the classroom to better support Hispanic students.

Dr. Jackson said, “almost all reforms geared toward helping underserved populations, also end up helping all students in the long run. Some students make even larger gains when we’re more intentional in our decision making.”

ASU will provide support, guidance and professional development as MCC employees go through the four stages of the Kickstarter 2.0 program. ASU has helped 31 institutions obtain more than $15.1 million dollars in grant funding for STEM education after graduating. To be successful in the program, the team needs to assess current practices and work toward building stronger programs.

To learn more about the degrees are offered at MCC, visit Mohave.edu/degrees. The college is currently enrolling students in spring and summer semesters, which begin January 17 and May 22. Tuition assistance is available. The college Call Center can be reached at 866-MOHAVECC or 866-664-2832. Anyone who is interested in becoming an MCC student is encouraged to fill out the free online application at Apply.Mohave.edu, or visit a nearby campus for assistance.

Mohave Community College has been selected to participate in the STEM Kickstarter 2.0 program at Arizona State University that will help better serve Hispanic students in STEM at two-year Hispanic Serving Institutions. Students in the Dual Enrollment program, Nicolas (left) and Coby (right) are performing a Benedict's test to look for reducing sugars in various substances.

Mohave Community College has been selected to participate in the STEM Kickstarter 2.0 program at Arizona State University. The program goal is to help two-year Hispanic Serving Institutions better serve Hispanic students. Students in the Dual Enrollment program, Nicolas (left) and Coby (right) are performing a Benedict’s test to look for reducing sugars in various substances.