The Breeze, "Hear Our Voices" supplement

Page 18

18

A timeline of diversity advocacy

History of the Center for Multicultural Student Services

1985

1986

1987

1992

JMU Student Affairs hired a full-time assistant dean of students/director of minority affairs. This position was tasked with creating opporunities for ethnic minorities, specifically African-American students.

The Office of Minority Student Affairs directed the Virginia Student Transition Program that made efforts to retain and recruit ethnic minority students at JMU.

The office was renamed “Office of Minority Student Life,” and the scope of its programs were expanded. The office solidified relationships with multicultural student organizations through involvement and programs.

The office officially became the Center for Multicultural Student Services (CMSS) and incrased student services. The spring of 1992 saw an increase in programs, services and staff.

1999

2005

2006

2007

The center was renamed the Center for Multicultural/ International Student Services (CMISS) to include international student development.

The international sector moved to a new office, and the center refocused its efforts on ethnic and cultural programming, changing the name once again to CMSS.

New Officer’s Leadership Program emerges to support first-year students of multicultural backgrounds. These students attended leadership conferences.

CMSS adds Vietnamese Student Association, Chinese Student Association, Multicultural Women for Change and Greek Life organizations.

2009

2014

2017

2019

The Black Latino Greek Caucus (BLGC) became the Inter-Cultural Greek Council (I.C.G.C.).

CMSS was relocated to Madison Union, Suite 207. The office includes workstations for D.E.E.P. Impact student staff and Work Study and Insitutional student staff.

A three-credit course, HRD 101/201: Exploring Multicultural Competence for Effective Facilitation, is designed by CMSS through a collaboration with the College of Education.

A new position, the associate director for multicultural programs and engagement, is added to CMSS. D.E.E.P. Impact was approved to be completely funded as a permanent budget item through the center.

SOURCE: Center for Multicultural Student Services


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