Welcome to the Umoja Community Program

What is Umoja?

The Umoja Program is a cohort model designed to promote transfer and to increase academic and personal success. This program addresses students' needs through academic support services and a curriculum focused on African-American literature, history, and issues facing the African-American community. Umoja is for students who are: serious about getting a good education, willing to work hard, and want to study the topics Umoja covers. Umoja students persist longer in college with better grades and transfer to four-year colleges and universities at a higher rate.

The Umoja Program at MiraCosta College enables students to see themselves within a positive historical and cultural context that values the traditions, wisdom, accomplishments, suffering and perseverance from the past to positively impact their lives and community. This includes seeing other people and ideas with the respect that is due to all cultures.

Our Mission

The Umoja Program is open to all students and is specifically designed to address the retention, persistence and success of African ancestry students. The overall goal is to provide students with a wide variety of resources and tools to assist them in achieving their academic objectives.

Umoja Community Benefits

  • Fostering high self-confidence and pride in one's cultural heritage.
  • Developing critical thinking, reading, and writing skills that are needed for college and future career success.
  • Receiving individual and group access to counselors, college workshops, guest speakers, professional mentors, and college tours.
  • Integrated instruction and student services
  • Individualized educational planning
  • Personal counseling
  • Peer Mentoring
  • Academic tutoring
  • Conference attendance
  • Attendance at conferences and cultural events
  • The Umoja Program focuses on providing instruction, and academic/ retention support services while emphasizing the social, and cultural dynamics of African Ancestry students at MiraCosta College

Activities

The Umoja Community engages in a variety of workshops and events that support each students overall college success while fostering individual and group development.

Fall 2012 Events

  • Building Self-Efficacy & Academic Resilience by Dr. Edward Pohlert
  • Campus Issues and factors affecting African-American Student Achievement by Dr. Bruce Hoskins
  • Identity/Self-Worth Issues: Issues Surrounding Black Hair by Pamela Perkins, Communications Professor
  • Africa's Legacy in Mexico: Bridging Cultures and Cultivating Awareness by Professor Sherehe Hollins
  • Job Search Strategies for Ethno-Cultural & Non-Traditional Job Seekers by Dr. Adam Jeffers SDSU Career Counselor
  • HUBU Conference Planning and Coordination

Get Involved

Share your professional experience in any of the following ways:

  • Become a mentor
  • Provide internship opportunities
  • Serve on a career panel
  • Facilitate a  workshop
  • Coordinate events with your organization or company

Make a Donation

To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Umoja Program, click here and select “Umoja Program” from the Designation menu.

Or mail a check made out to the MiraCosta College Foundation to:

1 Barnard Drive MS 7
Oceanside CA 92056
*Please specify the Umoja Program in the memo line.

Every Donation Makes a Difference

Your contribution supports:

  • Student scholarships
  • University campus tours
  • Unique cultural activities
  • Leadership conference attendance
  • Emergency funds for textbooks and school supplies
  • Student retention activities and incentives

Resources

Financial/Book Assistance

Academic Support

Health Services

Career Assistance

Can't find what you are looking for? Contact the Student Help Desk

Student Testimonials

Content coming soon.

How to Apply

Contact Don Love: dlove@miracosta.edu

Contact Us

The MiraCosta Umoja Program Coordinator is Don Love. He can be reached by email, or contacted by phone at 760.795.6680.

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