Fall 2009 Welcome Message

Greetings! I am Shouan Pan, president of Mesa Community College. I would like to welcome our students to the fall 2009 semester and provide an update on the progress the college has made this past summer.

I am pleased to announce the opening of the new Saguaro building at our Red Mountain campus. This state-of-the art facility was funded by the 2004 voter - approved bond initiative and demonstrates the college's and community's dedication to excellence in education. This unique building will support general studies and Life Science curriculum with classrooms and research laboratories, which include desert-life terrariums, bat roosts and a snake holding pit. It will also serve our performing arts program by providing space for instruction, rehearsal and performances.

The building also illustrates our faculty and staff's respect for the environment and was built with responsible processes and designed for efficient energy use. With the help of MCC's Phi Theta Kappa students, we will be seeking gold LEED certification for the new Saguaro building. I would like to invite you to visit this new facility and celebrate its opening Sept. 3. Please visit our home page for more information.

Recently, MCC was recognized by Community College Week magazine as a top national provider of two-year certificates and Associate Degrees. I am proud of the reputation MCC has of providing a high quality education to our students and the positive impact the college has made in our community.

As the largest provider of transfer education to ASU, I was pleased when the Maricopa County Community College District recently signed an agreement with them, to further enhance and streamline the transfer process for students. Benefits include tuition incentives and priority admission to specific ASU programs. If you plan to transfer to ASU, I encourage you visit with an MCC academic advisor to learn about how to enroll in the MAPP program.

We have made much progress at MCC, yet like many other organizations, we too face challenges with the current economy. Even with those challenges, I assure you that we continue to be committed to student success; and to our mission of providing excellence in teaching and learning.

I also recognize that in these difficult times, many of our students are experiencing economic setbacks. If you happen to be in this situation, I encourage you to visit our financial aid office right away, where our staff is ready and willing to help find the resources that are available to you.

MCC honors the value of education and its contribution to individuals and communities.

To our students, thank you for choosing MCC. Every employee is here to serve you. I invite you to take advantage of all the opportunities and resources we have to offer and wish you great success this coming semester.

To our community, thank you for your continued support. I invite you to visit our campuses and see the investments we are making together for the future of Mesa and its citizens.

Shouan Pan, Ph.D
President, Mesa Community College