MSC: Multicultural Student Center

Programs

The MSC staff and Advisory Board members work in cooperation with student organizations and various campus groups and departments to develop a wide array of lectures, discussions, receptions, cultural celebrations, art displays, and theatrical performances throughout the year. Registered student organizations may seek funding for cultural programming through the Multicultural Council (MCC). Funds are allocated in a way that is likely to provide the greatest opportunity for improving the conditions of underrepresented students of color at UW-Madison.

The MSC sponsors the following annual programs:
  • Multicultural Orientation and Reception Program (MCOR) occurs at the beginning of the year. This annual event introduces new students to a snapshot of the multicultural experience on campus. It is a way for new students to meet continuing students, faculty, staff and student organization leaders. A variety of music and cultural performances are spotlighted.

  • Leadership Summit – This is an annual weekend retreat for MSC Student organization leaders that focuses on preparing them to effectively handle the personal and professional demands that fall on organizational leaders during the academic school year. The goals are:
    • to support the individual development of leaders who represent organizational affiliated with the MSC
    • To prepare MSC affiliated organizations for successful programming and operations for the school year
    • To develop positive working relationships between and among MSC organizations and MSC staff
    • To encourage coalition-building among MSC affiliated organizations.


  • American Multicultural Student Leadership Conference (AMSLC) is a UW system initiative that brings together students of color from all UW system schools to present multicultural works in research, creative writing and art. MSC coordinates participation of UW-Madison students to this conference. The conference site is held on different UW system schools each year. October 2007- UW-Whitewater; October 2008 – UW-Oshkosh; October 2009- UW-Stevens Point; October 2010 – UW-Platteville.

  • Multicultural Career Fair (MCF) is co-sponsored by MSC and spearheaded by the L & S/Human Ecology Career Service Office. MCF has over 100 employers interested in recruiting students of color for internships and careers. The Multicultural Career Fair is traditionally held in February each year.

  • Multicultural Leadership Awards (MLA) are held in April every year. The MSC sponsors an awards recognition program that recognizes and honors multicultural student leaders on the UW Madison campus. Leaders are recognized in various categories.

Usage Data

During the 2006-2007 academic year the MSC hosted and/or sponsored 664 programs, activities, and meetings that included 9368 participants. An additional 580 students and members of the university community attended the annual Multicultural Orientation Program (MCOR), the annual welcoming event for new students of color. A total of 16,386 students utilized the MSC/SOO Infolab during the 2006-07 academic year.

The Multicultural Council funded 49 student initiated cultural programming activities and events. These programs were designed to provide out-of-classroom learning opportunities that increase cross-cultural connections, provide students with opportunities for meaningful interaction and promote cultural understanding



crn
crncrn