Collegiate Times

Students from different cultural backgrounds gathered in the Black Cultural Center last evening to continue the dialogue on Multicultural Programs and Services, the university?s newest diversity department.

Karen Sanders, assistant provost and director of academic support services, said at the second Multicultural Programs and Services Roundtable and Update session that the department will support many projects in the coming months to enhance interaction and facilitate communication between different organizations within the community.

?MPS is seeking students to serve on the department?s Multicultural Programs and Services Student Advisory Board which will be a standing committee of Multicultural Awareness Programs, a student organization designed to help the department accomplish its goal to create a more inclusive environment,? said Rosa Jones, MPS assistant director for programming.

The Student Advisory Board will serve as a liaison between students and MPS staff, act as ambassadors for the department and provide ideas for MPS programs and services, Jones said.

Zenobia Hikes, vice president for student affairs, said MPS will be undergoing a shift at the end of the academic year in which it will move into the division of Student Affairs which already includes Student Life, the Cranwell International Center and University Unions and Student Activities.

?This is not a severing?it?s an enrichment,? Hikes said. ?I?m excited to do many great things with diversity such as increase numbers, develop new programs and create new spaces.?

Hikes said there is a search about to begin to find a new dean of students who will serve as an advocate for students to deal with issues from collective groups.

Along with the search for a dean of students, Sanders said MPS will also reinstate its search for a director.

?This position is too important to leave vacant. We are renewing the search and hope to have someone on board by March 1, 2006,? Sanders said. ?We want to recruit a student committee to help the faculty with the selection process, and there will also be an open forum.?

Hikes said MPS is looking at expanding and growing and wishes to create groups in order to discuss and meet student needs.