Since its inception at Perimeter College in 2006, MESA has been helping students achieve their academic goals in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. MESA strives to diversify the pipeline of students coming into college to study STEM fields.
MESA creates a community of faculty, staff and students who work to improve students’ access to STEM studies and their success in those studies by alleviating barriers that underrepresented students face during educational pursuits. MESA offers academic support and resources for qualifying students who have chosen one of the STEM pathways and who plan to transfer to STEM bachelor degree programs.
History of Success
The Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program at Perimeter College is supported by the University System of Georgia’s STEM Initiative and modeled after a successful program begun in 1970 in California and replicated elsewhere nationally. MESA is an academic preparation program that assists educationally disadvantaged students to excel in mathematics and science and to complete baccalaureate degrees in STEM.
Applications are now CLOSED. Applications will reopen for the Fall 2024 semester in August.
The MESA Lab is now open for the 2023-2024 academic year. Spring application are now open, please stop by and check us out. Apply by completing the enrollment form at the bottom of the page. Please enroll early since space is limited. Remember to Please sign-in and out during usage. The MESA lab is located on Clarkston Camp room CH3240! For COVID-19 we are following the GSU policies, please see: https://covidinfo.gsu.edu/faqs/#students for the most updated information.
Details can be found in the icollege site or contact Dr. Janna Blum, [email protected], for more information.
MESA Students in the News
Engineering Students Receive $7,000 Grant to Build EV Boat
Three Perimeter Students awarded Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship 2023
Julian Umana Bernal Jack Kent Cooke Semi-Finalist 2023
Mens Muzyin – Jack Kent Cooke Semi-Finalist 2023
Perimeter College Leads State in Number of Contenders for Prestigious Scholarship
MESA scholars benefit from the following “high engagement” activities:
- Academic Excellence Workshops. Group learning experiences that provide students with the opportunity to work collaboratively in a positive environment to achieve a high level of subject mastery. Workshops are led by peer student facilitators who, in concert with with faculty liaisons, develop material that parallels topics covered in class.
- Academic Advising/Counseling. Students receive guidance on classes and develop a three-year academic plan to ensure that courses are taken in an effective sequence that will lead to transfer and/or graduation.
- Assistance with the Transition and Transfer Processes. Exposure to resources and information regarding the transition and/or transfer from Perimeter’s associate degree pathways to a bachelor’s degree program.
- MESA Center. A dedicated academic-based space on the Clarkston Campus designed to help students excel in STEM by providing access to technology and opportunities for peer support and information-sharing.
- STEM Co-curricular Programming. Students have opportunities to participate in industry tours, attend technical guest lectures and connect with student and professional organizations
Criteria for Participation
To join Perimeter College MESA, a student must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
- Satisfy the Academic Criteria, which require that a student:
- Be Perimeter College student enrolled in or have taken college level math with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Full time and part time students may apply. Part Time students must have a minimum enrollment of 8 credit hours. Preference will be given to full time students, those taking >12 credit hours.
- Follow a STEM pathway of study (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geology, Math, Physics).
- Plan to transfer to a four-year institution.
- Plan to take at least two sequential Calculus courses.
- Be part of a group that has been traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines. This includes but is not limited to:
- First-generation college students.
- Female students.
- Financially disadvantaged students.
What is the criteria to participate?
To participate in MESA you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
- Satisfy the Academic Criteria, which require that a student:
- Be a full-time Perimeter College student enrolled in college level math with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. (Students registered in ESL classes do not receive college credit for completed courses.) Note: Due to COVID-19, MESA will consider all student with more than 6 credit hours eligible for the program.
- Follow a STEM pathway of study (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geology, Math, Physics).
- Plan to transfer to a four-year institution.
- Plan to take at least two sequential Calculus courses.
- Have not earned a previous bachelor’s degree in any field.
- Be part of a group that has been traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines. This includes but is not limited to:
- First-generation college students.
- Female students.
- Financially disadvantaged students.
Do I have to be a Perimeter College student to participate?
Yes, MESA is only available to students who are currently enrolled as Perimeter College students. Students that have transitioned to the downtown campus are no longer eligible for a participation stipend.
What if I am in Foundations level math?
In order to participate in MESA, you must be taking collegiate-level math without support.
Can I participate if I am not studying a STEM discipline?
MESA is for students who have chosen one of the STEM pathways, which includes Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geology, and Math. You can participate as long as you remain in one of the STEM pathways or can show where you have changed to a STEM pathway. Please visit Pathways-Georgia Perimeter College for more information.
Can I participate as a part-time student?
You can participate. However in order to be eligible to receive participant support, you must be enrolled as a full-time student.
I am a Move on When Ready Student. Can I participate?
Move on When Ready Early College students are not allowed to officially declare a pathway until they apply for graduation if they are receiving their associate degrees. Therefore, they are not eligible to participate in MESA.
When are the Academic Excellence Workshops offered?
Please see the iCollege page for the schedule of when AEWs and tutoring are available.
How can I earn a participant stipend?
Please see the iCollege page for the criteria and the paperwork to complete. Submit required forms to Professor Janna Blum by the deadline.
Janna Blum, Ph.D.
Academic Excellence Workshops
MESA Library
CH-3220
Clarkston Campus
MESA Center
CH 3240
Clarkston Campus
678-891-3741
fax: 678-891-3083
Office of the Associate Dean for Research & STEM
Ms. Rosauna Harris
Administrative Assistant for Office of the Associate Dean for Research & STEM,
Georgia State University
Perimeter College
Dunwoody Campus
p:770-274-5421
email: [email protected]
MESA scholars benefit from the following “high engagement” activities:
- Academic Excellence Workshops. Group learning experiences that provide students with the opportunity to work collaboratively in a positive environment to achieve a high level of subject mastery. Workshops are led by peer student facilitators who, in concert with with faculty liaisons, develop material that parallels topics covered in class.
- Academic Advising/Counseling. Students receive guidance on classes and develop a three-year academic plan to ensure that courses are taken in an effective sequence that will lead to transfer and/or graduation.
- Assistance with the Transition and Transfer Processes. Exposure to resources and information regarding the transition and/or transfer from Perimeter’s associate degree pathways to a bachelor’s degree program.
- MESA Center. A dedicated academic-based space on the Clarkston Campus designed to help students excel in STEM by providing access to technology and opportunities for peer support and information-sharing.
- STEM Co-curricular Programming. Students have opportunities to participate in industry tours, attend technical guest lectures and connect with student and professional organizations
Criteria for Participation
To join Perimeter College MESA, a student must meet the following minimum criteria:
- Be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
- Satisfy the Academic Criteria, which require that a student:
- Be a full-time Perimeter College student enrolled in college level math with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0.
- Follow a STEM pathway of study (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geology, Math, Physics).
- Plan to transfer to a four-year institution.
- Plan to take at least two sequential Calculus courses.
- Have not earned a previous bachelor’s degree in any field.
- Be part of a group that has been traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines. This includes but is not limited to:
- First-generation college students.
- Female students.
- Financially disadvantaged students.
MESA Scholar Enrollment Form
What is the criteria to participate?
To participate in MESA you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident
- Satisfy the Academic Criteria, which require that a student:
- Be a full-time Perimeter College (downtown classes do not count toward full time status) student enrolled in college level math with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. (Students registered in ESL classes do not receive college credit for completed courses.)
- Follow a STEM pathway of study (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geology, Math, Physics).
- Plan to transfer to a four-year institution.
- Plan to take at least two sequential Calculus courses.
- Have not earned a previous bachelor’s degree in any field.
- Be part of a group that has been traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines. This includes but is not limited to:
- First-generation college students.
- Female students.
- Financially disadvantaged students.
Do I have to be a Perimeter College student to participate?
Yes, MESA is only available to students who are currently enrolled full time as Perimeter College students. GSU downtown classes cannot count toward status a Perimeter Student.
What if I am in Foundations level math?
In order to participate in MESA, you must be taking collegiate-level math, MATH1113 or higher without support.
Can I participate if I am not studying a STEM discipline?
MESA is for students who have chosen one of the STEM pathways. You can participate as long as you remain in one of the STEM pathways or can show where you have changed to a STEM pathway.
Can I participate as a part-time student?
You can participate. However in order to be eligible to receive participant support, you must be enrolled as a full-time student.
I am a Move on When Ready Student. Can I participate?
Move on When Ready Early College students are not allowed to officially declare a pathway until they apply for graduation if they are receiving their associate degrees. Therefore, they are not eligible to participate in MESA.
When are the Academic Excellence Workshops offered?
Please see the iCollege page for the schedule of when AEWs and tutoring are available.
How can I earn a participant stipend?
Please see the iCollege page for the criteria and the paperwork to complete. Submit required forms to Professor Diana McGinnis or Professor Steve Fitzpatrick by the deadline.
Academic Excellence Workshop Room
CH-3220
Clarkston Campus
MESA Center
CH 3240
Clarkston Campus
678-891-3741
fax: 678-891-3083
email: [email protected]
Office of Research and STEM
Ms. Rosauna Harris
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Testimonials
“It was exciting to be a MESA Scholar. Among the scholars, there was fun, support and collaboration in our shared journey to improve our lives through education. I can call Perimeter’s MESA a place where I met my second family. I made my best friends and mentors there, with whom I communicate on a regular basis.”
Yitbarek Kazentet
Former MESA Student at Perimeter College and 2015 Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Scholar
Fourth-Year Mechanical/Petroleum Engineering Student
University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering
2017 Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholar