Office of Multicultural Affairs
Madelyn Rodriguez, Director
229 Kehr Union Building
Phone: (570-389-4510 Fax: (570) 389-5003
Email: st_mulcult@husky.bloomu.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Mission Statement:
The Office of Multicultural Affairs (formerly known as the Multicultural Center) was established in 1993 with the support of Bloomsburg University, The State System of Pennsylvania and the Community Government Association.
Just as experiential learning programs provide credit and opportunities for individuals to advance their education, units such as the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) serve two purposes: to support the social and academic development of multicultural students through specific academic support services, and to educate the entire academic community through sponsored/co-sponsored programs.
Institutions of higher learning that have supported the founding of multicultural affairs offices recognize that such units provide a distinct level of programming and educational services that addresses the specific challenges and issues faced by historically under-represented individuals and/or groups (HUIs) include, but are not limited to, United States citizens of African, Asian, Hispanic/Latino/Chicano and indigenous descent, disabled, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender individuals, women and religious groups. The OMA staff is dedicated to helping students succeed and graduate from Bloomsburg University.
Specifically, the OMA can assist students with the following:
- Awareness of university policies, procedures, and regulations
- Student retention support through various mentoring initiatives
- Careers, internships, graduate and professional school, education abroad, and job opportunities
- Provide educational programming, including study groups and seminars
- Act as an advocate for students in dealing with the complex makeup of a large university
- Promote an understanding and awareness of diversity and multiculturalism at Bloomsburg University through lectures and professional conferences
The OMA further recognizes and advances the belief that:
- Every student must have equal opportunity to achieve her or his full potential
- Every student must be prepared to competently participate in an increasingly intercultural society
- Recognizes that all challenges and problems require the involvement of a caring community
- A commitment to achieving social justice, intellectual honesty, and integrity within our university and beyond.
Programs offered through OMA:
- OMA Mentoring and Advisement Program
- Latino Banquet (September)
- OMA Student and Faculty Advisory Board
- Study Hall Sessions
- Graduate School Tour
- Career Internship Expo
- Personal and Professional Development Workshops
- GLBT Student Conference
- First World Graduation Ceremonies
- The Sankofa Conference
- Multicultural Orientation, Friends and Family Brunch
Multicultural Organizations
- Asian Culture Associations
- Black Cultural Society
- BU Gospel Choir
- Catholic Campus Ministry
- Free Spirit (GLT)
- Global Awareness Society
- Heightening Awareness by Learning
- Hillel
- International Student Organization
- Korean Association
- Minority Organization of Righteous Educators (M.O.R.E.)
- Native American Cultural Society
- Protestant Campus Ministry
- Students Helping Students
- Student Organization of Latinos (S.O.L.)
- Students Together Alleviating Racial Tension (S.T.A.R.T.)
- Tranquility
- Vegetarian Society
Multicultural Greek Organizations
- Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc.
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
- Kappa Alpa Psi Fraternity, Inc.
- Lambda Sigma Upsilon Lationo Fraternity, Inc.
- Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.