MATC Matters

The Office of Diversity and Community Relations, the Student Development Center, and the Financial Aid Office are pleased to announce an exciting mentoring program for minority males who are first-time or continuing students and who have been awarded federal work study aid through FAFSA.

Funded by the MATC Foundation as an Innovation Grant, the main focus of the Minority Males Mentoring Scholars Program (3MSP) is to provide male students of color mentorship opportunities through work study, weekly peer group activities and assigned MATC staff mentors within the college. The overall goal of the 3MSP is to increase retention, academic and personal success, and create a sense of “community” among participants.

Participants will be expected to participate in various leadership, academic and life-skills activities through weekly small-group and individual mentor meetings.

We are asking for your assistance in three ways:

1. Help us identify minority male students who you feel would benefit from the program and meet the criteria. These can be new (incoming) or continuing students. If you have a student in mind, please send their name to Carlotta Calmese, associate dean for Retention, as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, September 5.
2. Help us identify work opportunities for the students. These could be at whatever level you need-office support, program support, etc. We will do our best to match students’ interest area (i.e., program of study) with the work area. Students will be eligible for workstudy funds. Please send these work opportunities to Maria G. Bañuelos, associate vice president, Diversity and Community Relations, or Valentina Ahedo before September 5, 2008.
3. Serve as a mentor for the 3MSP student. Mentors will attend an orientation scheduled for Friday, September 12 where goals and expectations will be laid out. Mentors will meet once a week with their mentee and be a part of the 3MSP learning community.

If you have any questions, please contact us:

• Maria G. Bañuelos, 246-6460
• Sido Abdulcadir, 246-6725
• Carlotta Calmese, 243-4270
• Eddie Cunningham, 246-6258
• Valentina Ahedo, 246-6461

Thanks in advance for your assistance and support!