Sonoma State is proud to continue strengthening and expanding its programs on the Sonoma State University campus and in the wider educational community. While the impacts of COVID are still evolving, a new grant has been awarded that will expand MESA and adapt their support structures to the new remote environment, to supplement additional supports for BIPOC students currently in MESA, and to increase institutional capacity for BIPOC students in the future. The grant, Adapting Higher Education to Meet Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Needs in the New Virtual Environment, is sponsored by the Genentech Foundation for a total of $449,869.
With their Genentech Grant goals, they expect to increase MESA graduation rates and persistence in STEM by building and strengthening the community of support for STEM students on SSU’s campus by collaborating with supporting programs like CAASE and the DEI office. It is expandable, adaptable and will create partnerships to better serve students within our North Bay region. Additionally, it will support them in continuing to provide a continuum of student services to support BIPOC student success, including advising, tutoring and community building.