For the second year, Project MALES is offering its undergraduate mentors at the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) the opportunity to enroll in Impacting Males through Mentoring (IMM) the continuation for our Instructing Males through Peer Advising Course tracks (IMPACT) offered in the fall. IMM meets once a week and is co-instructed by Dr. Sáenz and Dr. Campos and the mentoring team. The course objectives are to enhance college student engagement and academic achievement by offering active and experiential learning opportunities through near peer advising within the Austin Independent School District partner schools. IMM emphasizes active learning in different environments, enables students to see and experience the relationship between theory and practice, and provides students with opportunities to use newly acquired skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Students in the course also have an opportunity to join the Project MALES Student Organization as a way to stay connected and involved on campus, and within the local UT-Austin community. 
This semester, the course will provide students the opportunity to continue working with young middle and high school males of color. The mentoring will revolve around discussions on college pathways (e.g., 2 and 4-year institutions) and the importance of learning the necessary soft-skills that will make mentees successful students. In addition, new class topics include, the plight of Latino students in higher education, frameworks used to explain the Latino/a achievement gap, undocumented students in higher educations, to name a few.
This spring, undergraduate mentors will have the opportunity to continue mentoring at Webb Middle School, Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy, Travis High School, Reagan High School, and Lanier High School. In addition, undergraduate mentors will also have the opportunity to begin mentoring at Martin and Mendez Middle Schools. Project MALES looks forward to a successful semester and a great year for all.
