Mathematics, Engineering Science Achievement (MESA)/MESA Engineering Program (MEP)

INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD (IAB) MINUTES

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

I.  Welcome

The April 12, 2005 MESA/MEP meeting was called to order at 1:12 pm.

II.  Introductions

Members Present:

Name: Company Phone: Email

Alvarez, Rafael San Diego City College, MESA (619)388-3393

Barrios, Josias San Diego City College student rep

Cairns, Mariel PBS&J (760)479-2915

Celise, Natasha SDSU MEP (619)594-7704

Chavez, Thelma SDSU Maximizing Science Potential (610)594-5679

Diaz, Roman SHPE San Diego Professionals (858)484-1803

Guaracha, Veronica San Diego City College, MESA (619)388-3158

Juden, Alex Southwestern College, MESA (619)482-6381

Perrett, Mark SD County Dept. of Public Works (858)694-2693

Picha, Lance SDSU-MEP Alumnus (858)451-3420

Robinson, Tori SONY (858)942-5035

Rude, LaShonda QUALCOMM, Inc. (858)651-3723

Ventura, Dolores IEC (858)413-2400

III.  Review of Minutes (February 8, 2005)
Mark Perrett moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Roman Diaz.

IV.  Program Updates
SDSU
The SDSU Scholarship Reception will be held May 4th (in lieu of their banquet). Invites were sent out to industry. For questions on sponsorship please contact Natasha. They are still in need of scholarship funds (any amount). So far Sony has donated $1,000; Project Design $1,000 and PBS&J $1,000. Theresa was not present at today’s IAB meeting as she was at a conference in Las Vegas presenting for SDSU's CSEMS grant.
CITY COLLEGE
Students are currently receiving letters of acceptance (for transfer). Pam Chambers from Northrop Grumman recently spoke at City (organized by a City MESA student - Michelle Scott).Students recently volunteered at "Expanding Your Horizons", an event held at UCSD geared for young women. On April 22nd, MESA students from City and Southwestern will tour the Burnham Institute. On April 27th, City will host its first "City College Student Research Symposium". Students will present posters of research conducted at City College - including biochemistry; engineering, and even the design for the MESA Walk on Water Competition.
SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE
Students receiving letters of acceptance (from transfer institutions). SWC recently held their "Science Opportunity Day", where students present research conducted as well as information on careers (for other SWC students). Industry was also involved - including Mariel from PBS&J. On Thursday, May 26th SWC will host their 4th Annual MESA Beach Party at the SWC Crown Cove Aquatic Center in the Silver Strand State Beach. All IAB members and their families are invited for a day of volleyball, sailing, kayaking, and fun. A flyer will be sent to IAB members prior to the event.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
Please see IABReportingFormAPR1205.doc

V.  Joint San Diego MESA Alliance (SDMA) Events
The Robotics / Calculator Olympics will be held Saturday, April 30th at San Diego City College. We are still looking for volunteers. Please contact MESA Personnel if you are interested in volunteering.
The SDMA Leadership Summit was a great success – enhanced by the addition of the StrengthsQuest component.

VI.  Committee Reports
Although there are no reports from the committees, we discussed the committees and how the activation of these committees might make the IAB more interactive. Each committee would come up with their own goals; ideas were discussed to help set the tone for each committee:
MEMBERSHIP
The membership committee might confirm membership with current members; confirm member needs; identify new members; re-claim previous members / companies.
This might be facilitated through an “Open House” that would allow the IAB Advisors to invite current/old/new members to a venue where advisors could highlight what MESA (and participation in the IAB) has done for them – and what they have done for MESA.
The goal of this or any event should not necessarily be increasing membership, but strengthening membership.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
This committee might move forward with the IAB’s “Saturday Academies” idea. Saturday Academies would be an essential part of the SDMA’s “STEP Partnership of San Diego” proposal to the National Science Foundation, however this committee might decide to move forward with this idea with or without NSF funding.
Advisors expressed that manpower issues would make implementation of this idea a challenge, but agreed that placing entry level engineers or even interns in charge of these academies might be more mutually beneficial to the students and to the engineers/interns from industry.
Advisors discussed possible topics for these academies – whether it was focused on skills such as CDMA or surveying, or the soft skills such as project management or cross-cultural training.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Work in this committee would depend largely on the work of the membership committee – especially in finding out what IAB members want from the IAB meetings and from the IAB in general. A special project might bring advisors closer to students; might focus on forming an alumni network, etc.
FUNDRAISING
This committee might help the SDMA with their “Next Level” business plan developed in conjunction with SDSU’s Entrepreneurial Management Center (EMC). This plan is close to completion, and once complete the SDMA will be ready to introduce/market the plan to local industry.

VII.  Other Topics
None

VIII.  Adjournment

The April 12, 2005 MESA/MEP IAB Meeting was adjourned at 2:50 pm

THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD:

Tuesday, June 14, 2005, 1-3pm @Qualcomm (thanks to LaShonda for volunteering her site).