AACC
Dr. Ray A. Ostos District Director for Student Affairs Maricopa County Community College District 2411 West 14th Street, Tempe AZ 85281 email | ray.ostos@domail.maricopa.edu website | www.maricopa.edu
In 2008, the Minority Male Initiative (MMI) was created to improve the retention and degree completion rates of minority male students attending the Maricopa Community Colleges.
• In 2012-13, the MMI program was redesigned to provide a more structured and outcome-based approach to better support our students. • Summer Retreat with Advisors and Students • The District Office of Student Affairs collaborated with the ten colleges to establish Male Empowerment Network (MEN) Chapters at each site.
The goals of MEN are to: Create a culture • of success and • Increase the access, empowerment persistence, graduation, and transfer rates of minority male students • Connect students with academic and professional support resources/services
• The MEN Chapters are led by student officers and supported by a staff advisor(s). • MEN Operating Procedures and Chapter Guidelines • MEN Chapter Advisor Council
MEN activities are aligned with the programmatic themes of Academic Success • Empowerment • Engagement • Leadership • Brotherhood •
Campus Directed MEN Activities • Chapter meetings • Summer bridge programs (SMCC/CGCC) • Connect to campus resources events & workshops (tutoring, advising, library, career services) • Study sessions • Financial aid/scholarship workshops • Transfer preparation • MEN on the Yard (Spring/Fall reenrollment campaign) • Professional clothing closet • Cohort classes/course pairing • Community service
District Directed MEN Activities • Annual summer leadership retreat (advisors/officers) • Annual MEN Conference • Academic success boot camp (faculty involvement) • Leadership/etiquette dinners • Networking events with business professionals • Graduation and awards celebration • Induction ceremony • University visits (transfer resources) • Dialog Day for Faculty and Staff
2015 MEN Induction Ceremony
2015 MEN Induction Ceremony
Annual MEN Conference February 2015
2014 MEN Graduation and Awards Celebration
Men of Color Conference in San Francisco October 2014
Student Voices “The MEN program gives people a place where they belong. It gave me a sense of belonging with the other students here. This program gives people new friends and confidence.” Founder of U Belong a non-profit organization – “A lot of guys in prison – when they get out – they have nothing. They literally put you in an old hotel room, and lots of the guys think about what they can do to get back in prison. Some don’t have any classes, education, life skills or the know-how to write a resume. I wanted to give back, so I created U-Belong. Kenny Pratt MEN Chapter Member -2014 Graduate Paradise Valley Community College
Student Voices “I was ashamed of my past and couldn’t talk to many people about it. I started talking to a Maricopa Community Colleges academic and Male Empowerment Network (MEN) advisor, and was able to start letting go of a lot of stuff. I just needed someone who was there to listen. Once I got that out, I felt a lot better.” Hector Cedillos MEN Chapter Member Scottsdale Community College
Impact of MEN Maricopa Community Colleges participated in the national Community College Survey of Men developed and administered by the Minority Male Community College Collaborative. Over 2000 Maricopa male students participated in the survey. A question was added to the survey where Maricopa students could indicate if they were in a MEN Chapter at their college. The researchers pulled data from the MEN students and developed an equivalent control group for comparison.
Impact of MEN Researchers Summary of MEN Students Specifically, participants in MEN had higher scores than the control group for: faculty validation, staff validation, sense of connectedness, social involvement, faculty student engagement, as well as use of academic advising, counseling services, transfer services, the school library, computer labs, and tutoring services. Based on these data, and the rigorous steps used to create an equivalent control group, the results suggest that MEN is having a moderate to large positive effect on male students in the Maricopa District.
Impact of MEN In 2013 focus groups with MEN students were conducted at each college site. Findings included: • Male students describe their MEN chapter as a “brotherhood,” a “united front,” a “supportive group,” a “family. • Outside of the classroom, MEN is the only connection to the college for many minority male students. • Students articulate a sense of pride in themselves and their leadership abilities.
Impact of MEN • Students value successful role models. • Students feel part of their college community when they are actively involved and have a voice that is heard. • Chapters are a safe environment for students to articulate the challenges they experience. • Students feel that they have a place to go for help.
Impact of MEN Next steps - Cohort Data • Fall to Spring • Fall to Fall • GPA
Next Steps for MEN • Grow chapters/increase membership • Further include high school student participation from our Early College Outreach Programs (ACE, Hoops, Dual Enrollment) • Collaborate with Institutional Effectiveness to closely track the progress of our MEN students (Governing Board Metrics) • Include more faculty members in this important effort • Development of a formal mentoring process for students • National Consortium on College Men of Color
For more information contact: Felicia L. Ganther, J.D. Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs felicia.ganther@domail.mariocpa.edu Ray A. Ostos, Ed.D. District Director for Student Affairs ray.ostos@domail.mariocpa.edu www.maricopa.edu/studentaffairs/minoritymales
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