Multicultural Center

Celebrating our similarities, Embracing our Differences

What We're All About!

A brief description of the proposed Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is to develop and deliver services designed to retain students of diverse cultures at EOU. The OMA is dedicated to offering students of different cultures a place in which they have the opportunity to engage in activities and programs designed to enhance their social and academic endeavors. The OMA is a resource for the campus and community around topics of diversity, and works with others to promote cultural awareness and understanding. The OMA will provide information and advocate for students of multicultural background to improve their retention and graduation rates from EOU.

Students perfoming Saipan Canddle Dance

The Multicultural Student Center (MSC) is a component of the proposed OMA. Individuals from the Office of Student Activities, ASEOU, and the Native American Program have worked to identify a location for the MSC. A temporary location has been identified on the second floor of Hoke Center. Student representatives from La Raza, Flavour, Speel-Ya, International Students Association (ISA) Club, Hispanic Union, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), Black Student Union (BSU), Women Center ( WRRC), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Navigators and their advisors have been asked to provide input regarding their groups needs related to a MSC. A Multicultural Student Center (MSC) would be a place that is culturally welcoming, where all EOU students can come together in casual and formal ways to share, learn and experience the rich and diverse backgrounds of students from different places. A MSC is an investment that will enhance EOU’s ability to attract and retain students of different cultures background as well as increase access of under-represented students to higher educational opportunities.

The over aching goal of the MSC is to: strive to provide cultural social and academic support to new and returning EOU students of diverse cultures. Cultural learning, respecting differences and celebrating similarities are common themes woven into the philosophy of the MSC.

Goals

I. The OMA and Multicultural Student Center (MSC) support students of different cultural backgrounds as they make the transition into the university setting.

a) In collaboration with other campus departments, the OMA staff will provide individual and group sessions on topics of academic advising, time management, referral services, and guidance in other areas related to college success, career and graduate school opportunities.
b) OMA staff will identify skilled and experienced students to serve as mentors for new freshman and transfer students of differing cultures.
c) Mentors will have increased educational benefits through access to training and leadership development programs.
d) New freshman and transfer students will have ongoing support and contact with a mentor throughout their first year.
e) MSC and OMA will actively recruit new and returning students for participation in all of the University’s programs and activities, with special attention to the Honors, Cornerstones and Study Abroad programs.

II. The MSC will serve as a welcoming place for all EOU students and specifically students of differing cultural backgrounds.

a) OMA staff and mentors will develop and deliver culturally rich programming each term in the form of Intact Classes, Workshops, and Round Table Discussions, open to the entire EOU student body.
b) The MSC will work with student groups and their advisors to facilitate the building of “cultural learning” among the EOU general student body.
c) Student clubs and organizations will be invited and encouraged to host meetings and social gatherings and to share their individual and group cultural knowledge with students, faculty and staff.
d) The OMA will support the MSC with resources of interest to students of diverse backgrounds, such as newsletters, publications, and books.
e) Provide leadership, cultural and other types of training

III. OMA staff and mentors will be responsible for staffing the MSC and monitoring the activities.

a) The mentors and student employees will staff and maintain posted office hours throughout the academic year.
b) Program staff will plan and deliver social and/or academic programming in the center no less than once per month during evening hours.
c) Mentors will be in charge of scheduling the MSC space for student use, potlucks, meetings, and structured dialogue on topics of diversity.
d) Mentors and Student Affairs staff will conduct no less than three focus groups per year with students to evaluate the satisfaction of space, use, and activities promoted through the MSC.

IV. The OMA will enhance the social and academic integration for students of multicultural and international background.

a). The MSC will be equipped with two computers for student use, a table/study area to promote student inter-action.
b). OMA staff will provide resources, information and current research to the EOU campus community regarding the retention of underrepresented students.
c). OMA staff will work with other EOU units, committees, and individuals to address the campus climate for students of Multicultural.
d). Multicultural Students will be encouraged and supported to become involved in student clubs and organizations, host cultural programming and build relationships with other students of diverse backgrounds.

Meet the MSC Family

• BSU - Black Student Union
• ISA - International Student Association
• HSU - Hispanic Student Union
• SAGE - Women Center
• GSA - Gay-Straight Alliance
• Navigators - Micronesian Student Club
• NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• Speel-Ya - Native American Student Association
• MSA - Multicultural Student Association

For info about these or other student groups, contact the 'rents'

Office Of Multicultural Affairs

Inlow 106 - 541-962-3741

oma@eou.edu  OR

Student Activities Office  HUB-541-962-3704