Clarifying MARS Program’s Late Start
* I would like to clarify comments about the “late start” of Oxnard College’s MARS program in the Aug. 27 article.
The MARS program was established in the fall of 1992. The purpose of this faculty-student mentor program was to provide first-time/first-generation college students with opportunities to learn more about the social and academic arenas that exist at Oxnard College.
The faculty leader, sociology instructor Marie Butler, planned the program carefully and was committed to a very careful and detailed training/orientation program for both faculty and students. For this reason, the program started last October. There has been broad-based support for this innovative program by students, faculty, staff and administrators. As the first college in the district to initiate this program, the other schools have relied on us for suggestions on training and planning of events.
I am very excited about this year’s program and am very pleased by the large number of faculty and students who wish to participate.
MARCIA LONDON ALBERT
Oxnard
Marcia London Albert is faculty coordinator for the MARS program at Oxnard College.
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