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WELCOME TO 2
Each individual student brings a unique perspective and background enriching our campus culture and community. At EKU, you’ll find a sense of belonging and connection. You’ll broaden your horizons, make lifelong friends, and be part of a vibrant community of students, faculty and staff.
EASTERN UNIVERSITYKENTUCKYCELEBRATES AND WELCOMES DIVERSITY
TO EKU
Take advantage of the services and support systems available to you. In the next pages of this guide, you’ll learn about opportunities available to EKU students of varying identities and abilities to include: African American, Hispanic and Latino, international, LGBTQIA+, Deaf and hard of hearing, students with disabilities, non-traditional students and veterans. In addition, EKU offers culturallyenriching academic programs (page 11), and provides an abundance of resources (page 12) and scholarships (page 14) with you in mind. When you’re ready to take the next steps and apply, refer to page 15 for guidance.
Your journey starts here.
The Center for Inclusive Excellence and Global Engagement (CIEGE) works with students and the EKU community to retain underrepresented minority students. The CIEGE staff provide intentional support for historically marginalized/underrepresented students by creating an inclusive environment where they can thrive, by celebrating their national and international cultures and supporting their personal and professional development. This 7,000-square-foot space is centrally located in the Powell Student Center. CIEGE signature programs include Global Leaders Unite (GLU), The Empowerment Network: The Brotherhood and Sisterhood, and Queer and Trans Connections!
“Being a Colonel means that you are a member of a diverse community that prides itself on self-improve ment, adversityovercomingandwideningthebreadthoftheworld’sknowledge.”
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For more information about the services and resources available through CIEGE, visit inclusive.eku.edu.
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CENTER FOR INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities. Currently, EKU has eight NPHC chapters: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Zeta Phi Beta Sororities; and Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternities. greeklife.eku.edu/NPHC
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Several student organizations are available for African American students, including the African Student Association, Black Christian Students in Action (BCSIA), and Black Student Union, among others.
AMERICANAFRICANSTUDENTS
GREEKgo.eku.edu/engageLIFE
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SUPPORTisa.eku.eduWITHOUT
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STUDENTSNATIONALINTER
The Office of Enrollment Management Operations and Communications supports international students from the application process to settling in on campus.
ISA helps incoming international students in their adjustment to college abroad. It provides an opportunity to connect with campus life, stimulate friendships and further language growth.
counselingcenter.eku.edu
ENROLLMENT SERVICES
INTERNATIONALinternational.eku.eduSTUDENT ASSOCIATION
BORDERS
Support Without Borders is a support group for international students and/or for students who have family members without documentation.
Support groups run by, or in partnership with, the Counseling Center support students at any stage of the coming out process.
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT GROUPS
The Center for Inclusive Excellence and Global Engagement, and its LGBTQ+ Initiatives office, provide a space for students to feel safe and included, plus a staff advocate dedicated to their needs. These needs include navigating identity, academics, health and wellbeing, belonging and many more.
PROGRAMS
Closet TRANSform is a donation-run clothes closet offering students the opportunity to update their wardrobe.
STUDENTSLGBTQIA+
The Alphabet Center is the LGBTQ+ Registered Student Organization (RSO) at EKU. The organization prioritizes belonging, advocacy and student engagement.
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Queer and Trans Connections (QT Connections) is an ongoing program that provides students the space, time and critical thinking tools to discuss the intersectional ways gender and sexuality impact their lives at EKU and beyond.
Lavender Graduation is a pre-commencement ceremony which celebrates the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ graduates in an intimate setting among peers and allies.
Regular educational and social programming at the Center for Inclusive Excellence and Global Engagement provides LGBTQ+ students opportunities to relax, make friends and connect with mentors and other resources.
Students can request an English to ASL interpreter for classes and events. aslie.eku.edu/request
DEAF +
Learn More at accessibility.eku.edu or aslie.eku.edu HARD STUDENTSHEARINGOF
SERVICES
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION
INTERPRETINGgo.eku.edu/asla
ASLA strives to increase the understanding, respect and equality of deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people, while encouraging students of all levels to get involved and stay connected with the Deaf community.
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Learn more at accessibility.eku.edu
DISABILITIESSTUDENTSWITH
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The Center for Student Accessibility provides consultations, accommodation assistance, support, academic coaching and tutoring to benefit academic performance for students with disabilities.
CENTER FOR ACCESSIBILITY
SUPPORT SERVICES
Several support services are available for students with disabilities, including videophone locations; psychology clinic; counseling center; support services for writing, communication and research at the Noel Studio for Academic Creativity; Speech-Language Hearing Clinic and tutoring services; among others.
• Maximum credit awarded for military training and experience
VETERANSfinish.eku.edu/family
• Priority registration for veterans and service members
• Online, flexible degree programs
OFFICE OF ARTICULATION & TRANSFER SYSTEMS (OATS)
• Reduced active duty tuition rate
• Veterans clubs, honors society and co-ed fraternity
• New 3,000-square-foot VETS Center go.eku.edu/veterans
With a long-standing reputation as a top school for veterans, EKU provides a variety of services and programs specifically for veterans, active duty service members and military families.
STUDENT-PARENTSfinish.eku.edu
The Eastern Scholar House provides on-campus family housing with childcare development services and educational support systems. The Center for Student Parents offers helpful resources for student-parents navigating admissions, financial aid, childcare, transportation and housing.
LEARNERSADULT
EKU’s Office of Articulation & Transfer Systems (OATS) provides assistance for adult first time and returning students, including program and degree exploration, guidance through college admission and registration processes, and review of previous credits to maximize progress toward degree completion.
GENDER STUDIES
AMERICANafastudies.eku.eduSIGNLANGUAGE AND INTERPRETER EDUCATION
EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS
Appalachian Studies provides an interdisciplinary approach to the internal and external definitions of the Appalachian region and its place in a national and global context. The program offers an undergraduate minor and a certificate.
Earn a degree, certificate or minor, or take a class as an elective, from one of EKU’s several culturally-enriching and diversity-focused academic departments.
In the AFA Department, students engage with the histories, stories, and experiences of Africans and peoples of African descent around the world. Students can earn a minor or certificate in African or African American studies.
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Learn about the growing research on the intersection of gender, race, class, sexualities and abilities, through active and social engagement. Students can earn a minor or certificate in women and gender studies. wgs.eku.edu
ASLIE strives to promote equality and respect of deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing people and their diverse communities. Students can earn a degree in interpreting or a minor in ASL Studies.
APPALACHIANaslie.eku.edu
AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
The first academic program of its kind, EKU’s Veterans Studies program explores the identities, cultures and experiences of veterans. A minor or certificate in veterans studies complements many fields and professions.
Explore academic programs at programs.eku.edu
VETERANSforeignlanguages.eku.eduSTUDIES
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STUDIES
LANGUAGES,appalachianstudies.eku.eduCULTURESAND
HUMANITIES
This department offers degrees, minors, certificates and courses in language, literature and culture to help students become more culturally literate.
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“I had the opportunity to share with people from different background, age and culture; every day was a experiencefantasticinclass!”
GET INVOLVED
Sadie SPANISHMathewSTUDIES
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RODNEY GROSS SCHOLARS
Explore all scholarship opportunities at go.eku.edu/scholarships
TRAILBLAZER SCHOLARSHIP
FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
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This scholarship supports students who are pursuing their first undergraduate or graduate degree. Awards start at $1,000 and are distributed based on academic achievement, letters of recommendation and a personal essay.
In addition to automatic merit scholarships based on your high school GPA and standardized test scores, EKU offers several diversity scholarships.
Scholarships available through the EKU Foundation include those reserved for minority students and students from diverse backgrounds.
This $2,000 award assists students seeking to become the first in their family to earn a college degree. Serving this population has been at the heart of EKU’s mission for more than a century.
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FOLLOW EKU ADMISSIONS! @EKUAdmissions EKUStories Eastern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of age (40 and over), race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, ethnicity, disability, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information in the admission to, or participation in, any educational program or activity (e.g., athletics, academics and housing) which it conducts, or in any employment policy or practice. Any complaint arising by reason of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Office of Equity and Inclusion, 416 Jones Building, CPO 37, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3102, (859) 622-8020 or the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC. 20202 1-800-421-3481 (V), 1-800-877-8339 (TDD). Five-year employment rate reported by Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics, 2014. 2022_AMS_InclusiveExcellence_MT05 OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS Whitlock CPO 54 Eastern Kentucky University 521 Lancaster Avenue Richmond, Kentucky 40475-3102 go.eku.edu/admissions 3001501-800-465-9191 U.S.OrganizationNonprofitPOSTAGEPAIDLexingtonKyPermit#879
