MESA College Initiative
As part of its continuing efforts to increase student access and success, OICF has entered into a formal partnership with the Community and Shelter Assistance Corp. of Oregon (CASA of Oregon) to offer the Matched Educational Savings Accounts (MESA) College Initiative (www.mesaoregon.org) to students attending one of Oregon’s leading private colleges.
Through this partnership, OICF is be able to achieve its goal of providing access, opportunity and choice for low-income Oregonians, especially while targeting underserved populations, i.e., students of color, first generation students and non-native English speakers by leveraging support and resources from the private sector. The MESA College Initiative will assist OICF advance its goal to ensure that all young people have equal opportunity to access a quality and personalized education experience at one of Oregon’s leading independent colleges and graduate with the skills to immediately impact the region’s workforce needs. This innovative, powerful collaboration with CASA of Oregon will serve the increasing numbers of financially vulnerable students attending our colleges and universities.
MESA is supported by funding from federal, state and private resources, including a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation First Opportunity Partner Access and Success Grants administered by the Foundation for Independent Higher Education.
Click for a list of the MESA contacts on each OICF campus. Representatives will discuss how to participate in MESA on their campus as well as assist you get started and complete the MESA enrollment application.
For more information or to learn how to participate in the OICF’s ongoing effort to increase student access and success at its member colleges contact Brent Wilder, OICF Vice President at: 503-496-3420.