Tucson Standard

A math tutoring program at the University of Arizona is equipping Native American K-12 students in Southern Arizona for careers in science and engineering. Since its inception in 2017, the Mentorship and Education in Science for Tucson (MESCIT) program has provided one-on-one math tutoring to middle and high school students. The program also invites these students to explore university labs and hear from professional engineers.

The Office of Native American Initiatives, within the university's Office of the Provost, administers MESCIT in collaboration with the College of Engineering and the Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory in the College of Science. Funding support comes from Freeport-McMoRan, a mining company based in Phoenix.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, math education in K-12 was severely impacted, and students are significantly less prepared for college," said Gurtina Besla, an astronomy professor who helped establish MESCIT. "Programs like MESCIT, which focus on math preparation, mentorship and community connection, are critically needed."

For the 2024-2025 academic year, most of MESCIT's ten undergraduate tutors are engineering and astronomy students. However, Amber Laughing from the Office of the Provost noted that students from any major can apply to be tutors.

Two graduate students mentor these tutors by coordinating their schedules and facilitating transportation to schools. The program aims to benefit both middle/high schoolers receiving tutoring and undergraduate tutors gaining leadership experience.

"There's the benefit to the middle and high school students by helping them to visualize themselves as going to college by pairing them with undergrads," Besla said. "For the undergrads, they see themselves as leaders and mentors."

MESCIT collaborates with various schools and tribal departments around Tucson, serving between 30 to 50 tutees annually. Current partners include Sunnyside High School, Desert View High School, Mansfeld Middle School, Pueblo High School, and Pascua Yaqui Tribe Education Department.

Tutors undergo training in teaching methods as part of their role. Many discover a passion for teaching through this experience. Laughing emphasized that continuity helps build trust at partner schools: "What's unique about our tutors...is that they're always trying to improve."

Besla mentioned exploring digital tools to reach more remote areas while highlighting MESCIT's alignment with land-grant universities' service missions: "This is where universities have the opportunity...to increase opportunities for students to pursue careers in STEM fields."