Diversity and Multicultural Student Services Alignment 2010-2011
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Outreach and Collaborations
Resource Development
Cultural Centers
Paulette Watanabe
Outreach and Collaborations: Outreach increased significantly during the 2010-2011
academic year as programs implemented pipeline strategies for target populations.
Programs in DMSS presented over 60 workshops and/or outreach sessions, either as sole
presenters, or as collaborators with both campus and off-campus organizations. Numbers
attending these sessions ranged from small groups of 6-16, to large audiences of 150-300.
Many sessions were tailored to answer questions commonly asked by first generation
students, and students from under-represented, multicultural backgrounds. A variety of
topics, such as general PSU, SSS, and DMSS information, scholarship and financial aid
“hands-on” workshops, high school-college transition, finding community on campus, and
discovering cultural identity were covered. Of special note was the DMSS staff participation
on the Oregon University System Middle School Outreach Consortium, a system-wide effort
to promote higher education to middle school students and their families. The department
has also worked closely with the new Office of Diversity and Inclusion, providing information
about multicultural students (data, retention program information), scholarships
(promotion, management/review of applications), and numerous other efforts of outreach
and support initiated by ODI.
Resource Development:
To help fund some of the department’s new initiatives and
activities, 6 proposals for internal funding were submitted for Diversity Mini-grants. Four of
the proposals received awards and funds were used to support the department’s
community-building (DMSS Wellness Challenge) and leadership-service-career development
activities (networking session, community service participant support), and community
partnerships (educational pipeline with Black United Fund). A proposal to the U.S.
Department of Education College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) for over $2.0 million
for 5 years was submitted in January, 2011; notification of the competition is expected by
the end of June, 2011. A proposal for the AmeriCorps Retention Mentoring Project 20112012 was submitted, but funding for project grants was less than expected and we have
been invited to submit a proposal for the 2012-2013 competition.
Cultural Centers:
Three cultural centers are now under DMSS and each is at a different
stage of development. The newest, “La Casa Latina,” is a collaborative program with the
Office of Diversity and Inclusion and is a key component of the President’s Initiative to
Improve Latino Student Success. DMSS staff has been closely involved with the planning
and implementation of La Casa and will guide the development of this Center and supervise
the operations. The Native American Student and Community Center has operated under its
2009-2010 re-organization plan a full year and will end the 2010-2011 year with almost
$50,000 of revenue from user fees, a significant increase from prior years. Work days to
“beautify” (clean) the NASCC have been held quarterly to involve students and community
members in the Center and help reduce cleaning costs. The Multicultural Center used the
2010-2011 year to begin moving way from use of the space primarily for events to a
welcoming environment that builds a community of inclusiveness for P.S.U.’s diverse
students; student participation in the Multicultural Study Community held twice weekly is an
example of this effort. The numbers of students and campus and community members
participating in the week-long programming to commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., the Multicultural Center Open House, and the Roots Festival increased
significantly during 2010-2011.
DMSS Alignment - Watanabe
SALT Work Day – June 2011