About Us

Mission Statement

As a division of Engin eering Student Services, the Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP) is a retention program designed to provide equitable opportunities to undergraduate students who have been historically underserved in the College of Engineering at Cal Poly. MEP leverages a strong support network to build a community and provide the necessary bridges for students' academic success.

MEP Student Population (Who do we serve in CENG?)

MEP automatically adds the following student groups to our program every academic year upon admission to Cal Poly:

First generation students
CENG students in the following campus programs:
Groups that are historically underserved in the College of Engineering at Cal Poly. This includes students who upon admission to Cal Poly, categorized themselves as:
- Black/African American
- Hispanic/LatinX
- Asian/Pacific Islander
- Native American
Transfer students who participate in ENGAGE
Students enrolled in ENGR 301 (effective Fall 2022)

MEP also advises the Society of Hispanic Profes sional Engineers (SHPE) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

FAQ #1: How do I know if I'm part of MEP?

Answer: The MEP Team emails MEP students prior to fall quarter to welcome them to MEP. Additionally, MEP students receive our Bi-Quarterly Newsletters, as well as other MEP emails throughout the quarter.

FAQ #2: Do I need to attend MEP meetings to stay in the program?

Answer: No, MEP does not host required meetings. All of our services are optional.

FAQ #3: I'm a transfer student who is not in MEP. Where can I get transfer-specific support?

Answer: Engineering Student Services is passionate about helping transfer students! Their transfer page has helpful information for CENG transfers.

Additionally, the Cal Poly Transfer Center opened in January 2020 and is committed to serving the particular needs of transfer students at Cal Poly. They offer many services including a weekly newsletter, transfer events, drop-ins, and more.

MEP students holding Cal Poly branded water bottles

Meet the MEP Team

MEP Coordinator and Advisor positions are currently vacant.

Katie Jennings

Retention Specialist

kjenni04 @calpoly.edu
805-756-5407
40-111B

CliftonStrengths: Includer. Arranger. Achiever. Positivity. Empathy

Favorite activity to do in SLO: Hiking and eating great food at our local restaurants

Best part about working with MEP students: Our students is why we love our jobs so much! I love having the opportunity to hear how life is going and support them through the ups and downs that come with the twists and turns of college. MEP students especially have diverse and varied experiences that make the earning of an engineering degree so much more significant. It is awesome to be a part of that journey with our students.

Preferred pronouns: She, her, hers

Emily Dandekar

Retention advisor

eathieba@calpoly.edu
805-756-1401
40-111A

CliftonStrengths: Developer. Harmony. Input. Positivity. Empathy.

Favorite activity to do in SLO: You can usually find me at the Vans store in SLO/Pismo admiring all the shoes I want to buy, at McConnell’s getting ice cream, in line at Dutch Bros in Arroyo Grande for coffee, or at Gus’ Grocery waiting for a sandwich! Besides shoes and food, I love seeing plays/musicals at the SLO Rep Theater or Melodrama and going on hikes.

Best part about working with MEP students: I love being part of a student’s support system and MEP students are no different! Helping them along their academic journeys as they discover, refine, and achieve their goals feels so special and I feel lucky for the opportunity. They are unique individuals that the field of engineering needs!

Preferred pronouns: She, her, hers

Visit Us

Visit ESS's front office:

Winter 2023: In Person, Monday - Thursday and Virtual, Fridays

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Monday - Thursday)
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Friday)

Use our 24-hour MEP Study Room and Computer Lab.

1 Grand Ave. Bldg 40

San Luis Obispo, CA 93407

mep@calpoly.edu

Select the button below to schedule an appointment with an advisor from the MEP Team.

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Multicultural Engineering Program

College of Engineering