San Diego Mesa College

Coordinates: 32°48′16″N 117°10′13″W / 32.80444°N 117.17028°W / 32.80444; -117.17028
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San Diego Mesa College
TypePublic community college
Established1964
Parent institution
California Community Colleges and the San Diego Community College District
PresidentDr. Ashanti T. Hands
Academic staff
756 [1]
Administrative staff
264 [2]
Undergraduates29,045 (2022-2023 Year)[3]
Location
San Diego
,
California
,
United States

32°48′16″N 117°10′13″W / 32.80444°N 117.17028°W / 32.80444; -117.17028
CampusSuburban, 104 acres (42 ha)
Colors    Navy Blue, White and Gold
Sporting affiliations
Pacific Coast Athletic Conference  Southern California Football Association
MascotOlympians
Websitewww.sdmesa.edu

San Diego Mesa College (Mesa College or Mesa) is a public community college in Clairemont Mesa in San Diego, California. It is a California Community Colleges and one of four colleges in the San Diego Community College District.

Community college education in San Diego began in 1914 when the Board of Education of the San Diego City Schools authorized post-secondary classes for San Diego high school students. In 1956, San Diego voters authorized the first of two bonds to establish and construct what would become San Diego Mesa College on an 85-acre mesa next to Stephen Watts Kearny High School. Classes began in 1963 with four faculty members serving 35 students at the 900 building at Kearny High while construction on the college’s campus was completed. The campus was officially opened in January 1964. It has since grown into one of the largest community colleges in the City of San Diego[4] and the 11th largest community college in California.[5]

In 2016, Mesa College became one of the first 15 California community colleges to offer four-year, bachelor's degrees.[6]

Administration[edit]

The college is administered by the San Diego Community College District. Mesa is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Academics[edit]

San Diego Mesa College Math and Science building.

Courses are provided in general education, lower-division transfer programs, occupational and developmental education.

As of February 2024, Mesa College offers almost 200 associate degree and certificate programs.[7]

In 2016, Mesa was one of the first California Community Colleges to be approved to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree program.[6] The first class with a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management graduated in spring 2018.[8] 22 students graduated with a B.S. from the Health Information Management Program in Spring 2023.[9] In October of 2023, Mesa was approved to offer an additional bachelor’s program in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.[10]

Transfers[edit]

San Diego Mesa college offers Transfer Admission Guarantee programs that provide pathways to San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego. Additionally, the College offers Associate Degree for Transfer programs in many departments.

According to Mesa’s 2022-2023 factsheet, “Mesa College ranks as one of San Diego's top transfer institutions. Mesa’s transfer rate consistently surpasses the statewide average, with over half of the college’s students transferring to a four-year institution within six years.”[7]

Mesa also staffs a Transfer Center in its Student Support department, providing dedicated counseling and resources.

Mesa College Foundation[edit]

The Mesa College Foundation offers scholarships to Mesa students. In 2023, it awarded $159,566 in scholarships across 118 opportunities to 168 student recipients.[11]

Campus[edit]

South facade of the Learning Resource Center.

San Diego Mesa College is located in the Clairemont Mesa neighborhood of central San Diego. The campus is bordered by the Tecolote Nature Preserve, Kearny Mesa, and residential neighborhoods. It is home to over 20 instructional buildings and athletic facilities and fields, the Learning Resource Center (LRC), Library, and Mesa Commons.[12] Mesa Commons houses a multi-cuisine cafeteria and student-run restaurant, 72Fifty.[13]

Campus landscaping features native species and an environmental learning garden. There is also a geo-garden located in the courtyard of the Math + Science Complex.[12] In addition, the Mesa Woodland Nature and Interpretive Trail is the largest display of labeled native plants in San Diego county, with 41 native species, including four endangered plants: the San Diego Barrel Cactus, Chalk Dudleya. Willowy Mint, and Torrey Pine.

Art facilities include the Gracia Molina de Pick Glass Gallery, the World Art Collection Gallery, and the Mesa College Art Gallery.[12]

Mesa College is serviced at the Rosa Parks transit center by MTS route 44 at the eastern edge of campus. The station’s name honors Rosa Parks, the groundbreaking civil rights leader who made three trips to Mesa in the 1990s.[12]

Student life[edit]

The student body government is the Associated Students (AS), organized into an executive council and senate.[14] In addition, over 30 student clubs are represented by the Interclub Council (ICC).[15]

There are also multiple on-campus community centers; the Dreamer Resource Center,[16] FAST Center,[17] Veterans Success Center,[18] Transfer Center,[19] Career Center,[20] Avanza Engagement Center,[21] and Pride Center.[22]

The college newspaper, The Mesa Press, is run by journalism students and covers Mesa-related news.[23] It has published since 1966.[24]

Athletics[edit]

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Badminton
Basketball Basketball
Cross country Beach volleyball
Football Cross country
Soccer Soccer
Swimming and diving Softball
Track and field Swimming and diving
Volleyball Track and field
Water polo Volleyball
Water polo

The athletics facilities are at the campus's eastern edge. The Merrill Douglas Stadium (named after the first athletic director at the college) provides a venue for the Olympians Football team, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, and Men’s and Women's Track and Field. Additional facilities include a baseball field, softball fields, gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, upper field and beach volleyball courts.[25] In 2016, the 27,000-square-foot Exercise Science building opened. It is home to the School of Exercise Science, Health Education, Dance and Athletics programs.[26]

San Diego Mesa College offers 19 competitive teams across men’s and women’s sports. On average, 220 student-athletes participate in the program.[25] All student athletes must enroll in at least 12 units per semester and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.[27] The college mascot is the Olympians. The football team has competed in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) since 1982 in every sport except for football where they have competed under the Central League in the Southern California Football Association.[28]

As of 2023, Mesa athletes competed in the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships in 7 sports. The Women’s Volleyball team and Women’s Badminton team are ranked 1st in the state. Men’s Track and Field are 2nd, and Women’s Track and Field are 3rd , with an additional four and two individual state champions from the teams, respectively. In Men’s Volleyball, they ranked 4th in the state. Two Women’s Beach Volleyball teams and the Softball team qualified for their state championships, and the Women’s Swimming and Diving team ranked 1st in their conference.[29][30]  

The program has also been awarded the Pacific Coast Athletics Conference's highest honor, the Chet DeVore Trophy, four times. The DeVore award is presented annually to the PCAC member college with the most successful men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic program for the academic year.[31] Mesa College won the honor in 2011-2012, 2018-2019, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023.[32]

Notable alumni[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "San Diego Mesa College - Campus Directory". Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. ^ "San Diego Mesa College - Campus Directory". Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  3. ^ "California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office - Data Mart". Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  4. ^ "California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office - Data Mart". datamart.cccco.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  5. ^ "Largest California Community Colleges (2024)". www.communitycollegereview.com. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  6. ^ a b District, San Diego Community College. "Mesa College selected as pilot site to offer bachelor's degree". SDCCD NewsCenter. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  7. ^ a b "San Diego Mesa College Fact Sheet 2022-2023" (PDF). San Diego Mesa College Fact Sheet 2022-2023 pdf. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Mesa College Offers a Unique and Exciting Medical Career Option in Health Information Management". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  9. ^ "San Diego Mesa College to award nearly 2000 degrees and certificates including 22 Bachelors Degrees at 2023 Commencement Ceremony". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  10. ^ Sklar, Debbie L. (2023-10-24). "San Diego Mesa College Approved to Offer Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant Program". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  11. ^ "San Diego Mesa College Foundation 2023 Scholarship Awards Brochure" (PDF). 2023 Scholarship Awards Brochure. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d "Galleries & Attractions". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  13. ^ "Food & Dining | Cafeteria | Coffee | Cafe | San Diego Mesa College". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  14. ^ "Associated Students | Student Affairs | Student Services | San Diego Mesa College". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  15. ^ "Clubs & Organizations | Student Affairs | Student Services | San Diego Mesa College". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  16. ^ "DREAMER Resource Center opens at Mesa College to help the undocumented". KPBS Public Media. 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  17. ^ "Mesa College Opens First Foster Youth Center at a San Diego Community College". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  18. ^ KUSI-SD: Mesa College Hosting Events All Week Honoring Veterans Day, retrieved 2024-03-08
  19. ^ Transfer Center Student Services, retrieved 2024-03-18
  20. ^ Career Counseling Services Career Center, retrieved 2024-03-18
  21. ^ Avanza Engagement Center Student Services, retrieved 2024-03-18
  22. ^ "Pride Center welcomes LGBTQ students at Mesa College". KPBS Public Media. 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  23. ^ "The Mesa Press". The Mesa Press. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  24. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  25. ^ a b "San Diego Mesa Athletics Quick Facts". Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  26. ^ "Mesa dedicates new Exercise Science Center". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  27. ^ "San Diego Mesa Athletics" (PDF). San Diego Mesa Athletics. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  28. ^ "Pacific Coast Athletic Conference" (PDF). Pacific Coast Athletic Conference. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  29. ^ Silva, David. "Fall Sports Review". The Mesa Press. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  30. ^ Fordham, Clay. "Spring of 2023 sports recap". The Mesa Press. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  31. ^ "San Diego Mesa Athletics Wins DeVore Trophy". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  32. ^ "San Diego Mesa College Olympians Kick off 2023 Spirit Week with 4th DeVore Trophy win". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  33. ^ a b c "Mesa College full of rich history and famous athletes – The Mesa Press". Mesapress.com. 2011-03-21. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  34. ^ "Annette Bening". November 20, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-11-20.
  35. ^ "Award Recipients". www.sdmesa.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  36. ^ a b "San Diego Mesa College Athletics History". Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  37. ^ McGowan, Colin. "Sam Daghles Player Profile, Midwestern State, NCAA Stats, International Stats, Events Stats, Game Logs, Awards - RealGM". Basketball.realgm.com. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  38. ^ "Ex-Aztecs, NFL quarterback Kofler dies at 49". 20 December 2008.

External links[edit]

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