Academic Excellence Workshops (AEW) are facilitated, semester-length study group sessions. AEW offerings work in concert with drop-in tutoring, but differ in that a study group has an established set of participants that meet at a regularly scheduled time in the MESA Center. AEW workshops are lead by advance-standing MESA facilitators, Sonoma State MESA students, part-time faculty members, or industry professionals. AEWs emphasize group interaction, communication, and content mastery. Each 90-minute AEW session is divided into two parts: a content-specific challenge session, and a course-specific homework discussion session.

AEW offerings are coordinated by MESA during the first three weeks of each semester. Students are welcome to come to an AEW session to see firsthand how the session is conducted; however, after the third week, the session becomes closed to new participants. AEW participation requires a sincere commitment to master the content material for a course, to prepare for each AEW session, to respect those in the study group, and to work in a collaborative manner under the direction of a workshop facilitator.*

For more information about AEWs or to register for a study group, visit the MESA Center during the first three weeks of school. AEW offerings vary by semester and student demand. For a current schedule of AEW offerings, visit:

Academic Excellence Workshops

* In accordance with annual guidelines provided by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, fully eligible enrolled MESA students may be eligible to earn a stipend for participating in an AEW offering. For details, contact the MESA Community College Coordinator by phone, via e-mail, or by visiting the MESA Center. See the “Contact” page.