SDCCD: Mesa College Has Been Named A 2021 Equity Champion Of Higher Education

Press release from San Diego Community College District:

November 3, 2021

San Diego Mesa College has been named a 2021 Equity Champion of Higher Education by
The Campaign for College Opportunity for awarding Associate Degrees for Transfer (ADT)
to Black and Latinx students.

Colleges are recognized due to their actions to intentionally ensure that Black and
Latinx students who have a transfer goal earn an ADT. This is determined via the percentage
point gap (PPG), which identifies campuses, such as Mesa College, that are excelling
in awarding ADTs to Latinx and Black students, relative to their campus wide ADT conferral
rates. Across all California Community Colleges, Mesa is recognized as having a high
proportion of degree or transfer seeking Black and Latinx students who received an
ADT in the 2019-2020 academic year. This is achievement is indicative of the equity
work in which Mesa College engages daily.

“We are proud of the students who earned these degrees, the committed faculty & staff
who support them,” stated Dr. Pamela Luster, President of Mesa College. “We’re committed
to efforts to increase the success of Black and Latinx transfer students through centering
racial equity in our work.” 

The Campaign for College Opportunity will recognize San Diego Mesa College at their
virtual event, Champions of Higher Education Celebration, being held on Tuesday, November
16, 2021, from 10am-11:30am via zoom. Honorable Assemblymember Marc Berman is invited
to provide remarks, along with student leaders and other California Community College
and CSU honorees. The virtual celebration will bring together approximately 200-400
attendees representing California’s higher education leadership, elected officials,
corporate sponsors, and civic and business leaders.

This press release was produced by San Diego Community College District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.