Multicultural Affairs & Diversity Recruitment Initiatives: Supporting Diversity at Columbia College Chicago

Diversity Enhances Education A diverse campus is central to our mission to help develop and educate well-rounded students of all races, cultures, and ethnicities.A diverse campus is central to our mission to help develop and educate well-rounded students of all races, cultures, and ethnicities. Encouraging our students to interact across cultures helps them function more effectively in a global society, and work collaboratively with others.Encouraging our students to interact across cultures helps them function more effectively in a global society, and work collaboratively with others.

Encourage Democratic Skills The ability to take the perspective of othersThe ability to take the perspective of others Place an importance upon citizenshipPlace an importance upon citizenship To help othersTo help others Appreciate and accept other cultures different from one’s ownAppreciate and accept other cultures different from one’s own Understand differences are not necessarily negative or divisiveUnderstand differences are not necessarily negative or divisive Gurin & Associates (2002)

Multicultural Affairs Units African American Cultural AffairsAfrican American Cultural Affairs Asian/Asian-American Cultural AffairsAsian/Asian-American Cultural Affairs Latino Cultural AffairsLatino Cultural Affairs LGBTQ Culture and CommunityLGBTQ Culture and Community (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) International Cultural AffairsInternational Cultural Affairs

Multicultural Affairs Organizational Chart Executive Director Sheila Carter Director Latino Cultural Affairs Daniel Aranda (+1 grad asst.) Coordinator Asian Cultural Affairs Laila Alchaar (+ 1 grad asst.) Director African American Cultural Affairs Kimberly Weatherly (+1grad asst.) Coordinator LGBTQ Culture/ Community K. Bradford (+ 2 grad assts.) Director of International Student Affairs Gigi Posejpal (+ 1 grad asst.) Administrative Asst. Julide Crooks Admission s Student Life

Undergraduate Minority Student Enrollment Minority students – 30%Minority students – 30%  African American – 16%  Latino 10%  Asian/Pacific Islander – 3%  International – 1%

Undergraduate Minority Student Retention (Reported Fall, 2009 Freshmen – Sophomore) New African-American StudentsNew African-American Students  Up 53% - 56% New African-American TransfersNew African-American Transfers  Up 62% - 67% New Latino StudentsNew Latino Students  Up 65% - 66% New Latino TransfersNew Latino Transfers  Up 72% - 77%

Higher Education Affordability Increased difficulty in acquiring student loansIncreased difficulty in acquiring student loans  Students may be turned away  Higher costs associated with borrowing Less government assistanceLess government assistance  Loss of MAP Grant? More students may attend part- timeMore students may attend part- time More students will have to workMore students will have to work

Scholarship Opportunities & Resources Open Doors ScholarshipOpen Doors Scholarship Opportunity ScholarshipOpportunity Scholarship Tuition Assistance GrantTuition Assistance Grant The Diversity ScholarshipThe Diversity Scholarship Other Institutional ScholarshipsOther Institutional Scholarships Outside ScholarshipsOutside Scholarships

MCA’s Retention Strategy Mentorship Community Building Cultural Exploration & Exchange

Peer Support Program (PSP) Approx. 50 students participating in programApprox. 50 students participating in program 8 peer mentors8 peer mentors Up to 10 students per peer mentorUp to 10 students per peer mentor Scheduled weekly meetings, group activities, study groupsScheduled weekly meetings, group activities, study groups additional opportunities for contact between mentors and menteesadditional opportunities for contact between mentors and mentees

Newsletters Help Us Communicate With Students Student Subscription Totals Namaste – 1267 (General Multicultural)Namaste – 1267 (General Multicultural) Harambee – 617 (African American)Harambee – 617 (African American) El Columbiano – 402 (Latino)El Columbiano – 402 (Latino) Out – 526 (LGBTQ)Out – 526 (LGBTQ) Chi Tea – 233 (Asian-American)Chi Tea – 233 (Asian-American) Passport – 462 (International)Passport – 462 (International)

Cultural Student Organizations Black Student Union (BSU)Black Student Union (BSU) Latino AllianceLatino Alliance Asian Student Organization (ASO)Asian Student Organization (ASO) International Student Organization (ISO)International Student Organization (ISO) Common Ground (LGBTQ)Common Ground (LGBTQ)

Cross-Cultural Programming Tips on Tuesdays (Life Skills Workshops)Tips on Tuesdays (Life Skills Workshops) Cultural Journeys (Cultural Exploration)Cultural Journeys (Cultural Exploration) Queer In Color (Support Group - LGBTQ Students of Color)Queer In Color (Support Group - LGBTQ Students of Color) Spanish Conversation Table (Cultural Exploration)Spanish Conversation Table (Cultural Exploration) Village Lunch (Cultural Exploration)Village Lunch (Cultural Exploration)

Annual Cultural Programming Profile Diversity Weeks (September)Profile Diversity Weeks (September) FOCO Fest Latino Heritage (September)FOCO Fest Latino Heritage (September) International Education Week (November)International Education Week (November) African Heritage (February)African Heritage (February) Gender Fusions (April)Gender Fusions (April) Asian Awareness Month (April)Asian Awareness Month (April) Manifest (May)Manifest (May)

Towards the Future Build upon current success with recruitment initiativesBuild upon current success with recruitment initiatives Increase retention of diverse student populationsIncrease retention of diverse student populations Increase support for high risk studentsIncrease support for high risk students Strengthen faculty partnershipsStrengthen faculty partnerships Enhance cross-cultural initiativesEnhance cross-cultural initiatives