NEWS RELEASE
May 17, 2010 Dawn Alford, 542-5524
Today, Columbia Basin College Office of Diversity and Math and Science Division announced the awarding and launch of the Washington MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) Community College Program (WA MCCP) grant.
CBC is one of four Washington community colleges to share the $2.5 million grant; and the first to launch all six MESA components (administrative, MESA Center, academic workshops, orientation course, counseling and academic advising, and professional development). The other community college grant recipients include: Highline, Seattle Central, and Yakima Valley.
The 5-year grant, funded by the National Science Foundation, will further support the colleges effort to prepare and transfer underrepresented students to four-year universities and earn a bachelors degree in the STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) disciplines. CBC will receive $275,000, over the duration of the grant, to fund the program. The University of Washington will administer the grant and join with Washington State University as collaborative partners to ensure the community college MESA students smooth transition to their institutions upon transfer.