On Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) held the Promise Program virtual event with MCCCD Interim Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Mesa Mayor John Giles, and MCCCD Foundation President Brian Spicker. MCCCD Governing Board President Marie Sullivan and Governing Board Member Dr. Tom Nerini were also present in addition to other local leaders, for a virtual presentation discussing the Maricopa Community Colleges Promise, a needs-based financial support and student success program in partnership with MCCCD, the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, and the City of Mesa.
"With the Maricopa Community Colleges Promise, eligible students are able to supplement what FAFSA and other scholarships do not cover, dismantling the financial barrier keeping them away from higher education," said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, MCCCD Interim Chancellor. "It has been inspiring to see the flourishing partnership between the City of Mesa and Mesa Community College, and I look forward to continuing to leverage local partnerships to expand opportunities for our students across Maricopa County."
In 2016, more than 60 Arizona leaders from the community, business, philanthropic, and education organizations formed an alliance to increase the number of Arizonans earning a job certification or degree, from 42 percent to 60 percent by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, the City of Mesa and Mesa Community College first conceptualized and later launched a Promise program in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing the program in Mayor Giles' 2020 State of the City address.
The Mesa College Promise program is available to Mesa residents with demonstrated financial need who have not received enough Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) funds or other scholarships to completely cover the cost of tuition and registration fees.
The Mesa program provides college scholarships to high school graduates within the City of Mesa to attend college for two years, with Arizona resident tuition and fees fully funded. The program provides both financial support and personal guidance needed to thrive in college, in addition to student-centered, wrap-around support services such as bus passes, gas cards, food, clothing, and more. This serves as an ideal model for future expansion, providing new opportunities for high school graduates at a participating Maricopa Community College of their choice.
For more information about this program, please visit this link or contact Nilam Patel, Workforce and Industry Development Officer Senior of the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, at nilam.patel@domail.maricopa.edu or 623-731-8098.