‘FIU 30’ connects male students with career mentors

Nathaniel Edwards/Contributing Writer

According to collegeboard.org, during 2010 an estimated 26 percent of African-American males and 18 percent of Hispanic men receive associate degrees or higher within a four year mark. This is an extremely low record compared to previous years for Florida based colleges.

In light of these statistics, a group of men and women have joined together to help with this growing problem, called FIU 30.

FIU 30 is having a kickoff event called “The Wake Up: A call to action to men” on Nov. 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The kickoff event is going to introduce the programs that FIU 30 is going to be implanting, including workshops for networking and leadership and will be having free food for students in attendance.

The goal of the FIU 30 is to connect upper and lower division undergraduate students for success in academics and collegiate leadership.

Joshua Numa, part of the male retention taskforce and marketing and management senior says “the mentoring program will help many undergrads get involved and make networks to better themselves”.

The Male Mentoring Initiative seeks to create a culture of support for the University’s male students and foster relationships with future University students.

“I love the idea [behind] this program,” said Alexander Dominguez, a freshman business major. “[FIU 30] can help just bring guys together and make them feel more open to talking to someone they feel comfortable talking to.”

With the upcoming kickoff event, many students such as Dexter Quin, junior biology major are enticed by the benefits of the program.

“I am actually looking forward to this because it can help me keep me on track [with courses] and I can get [some] insight on my major from someone who has more experience in that field,” said Quin.

Numa hopes that many students come out and take part in the program because of the potential impact the mentoring can have on students who are lost on their respective career paths.

“[FIU 30] is really there to help the undergrads get more involved so that they can better their chances of not just graduating on time but to help them gain real life experience with people who have been through it, and can help them find the right path,” said Numa.