Oklahoma State University
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

Office of Multicultural Affairs/Affinity Groups The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) is a place for students of different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences to come together in an effort to learn more about each other and about themselves. OMA takes a holistic approach to empower Oklahoma State University students to think and act in ways that will embrace and promote a more inclusive world. We aim to assist students in achieving academic excellence, developing their personal and professional character, and engaging in the campus and greater community. OMA is also the home to several of Oklahoma State’s cultural affinity groups, including the African-American Student Association, Asian-American Student Association, Hispanic Students Association, Native American Student Association, Vietnamese American Student Association, Sexual Orientation Diversity Association, National Organization for Women, and the Women’s Resource Center Student Alliance. OMA is here to serve all students. • African-American Student Association (Afro-Am). The purpose of Afro-Am is to unify and promote the cultural heritage of African- American people. This effort will be to define the interaction between the academic, social, and political lives of the Black students attending OSU. The purpose is also to create a more functional relationship with the general community on the OSU campus. • Asian-American Student Association (AASA). The purpose of the organization is to foster a sense of unity and camaraderie among the Asian Americans and other organizations at OSU, and nurture leadership skills among members and promote goodwill through community service. • Hispanic Student Association (HSA). HSA was established in 1978 with the purpose of promoting awareness of Hispanic culture and to foster the development of social and educational opportunities for Hispanic students at OSU. HSA encourages superior scholarship, promotes leadership opportunities for its members, and participation in community activities which enhance the Hispanic tradition. HSA also promotes friendship and mutual understanding among all people, regardless of national origin or ethnic heritage. • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The mission of the NAACP Youth and College Division is to inform youth of the problems affecting African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities; to advance the economic, educational, social and political status of African Americans and other ethnic minorities and their harmonious cooperation with other peoples; to stimulate an appreciation of the African Diaspora and other people of color’s contribution to civilization; and to develop an intelligent, militant effective youth leadership. • National Organization for Women (NOW). NOW is the largest organization of feminist activists in the United States. NOW's goal is to take action to bring about equality for all women. NOW works to eliminate discrimination and harassment in the workplace, schools, the justice system, and all other sectors of society; secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women; end all forms of violence against women; eradicate racism, sexism and homophobia; and promote equality and justice in our society. The OSU chapter of NOW is a feminist organization that has been active in several arenas, from demonstrating for reproductive justice to putting on a benefit production of The Vagina Monologues. • Native American Student Association (NASA). NASA is an organization that provides opportunities for Native American students to participate in culturally relevant activities that foster a closer union and activities that perpetuate individual tribal traditions and customs, on and off campus. NASA works to promote our Native American heritage and educate others through activities and educational opportunities. • Sexual Orientation Diversity Association (SODA). The mission of SODA is to strengthen the presence of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community and its allies on the campus of Oklahoma State University and in the community of Stillwater; to provide a safe and educational environment for the GLBT community and its allies; to provide opportunities for its members to develop effective leadership skills; to promote tolerance and understanding between all races, religions, creeds, genders, ages, and sexual orientations; and to further our struggle for equality. • Vietnamese American Student Association (VASA). VASA was established in 1979 at Oklahoma State University. The goal is to create an organization that will foster greater friendships and unity among members in order to promote Vietnamese culture and language. In this process, a link between VASA students at OSU and other Vietnamese students across campus and across the country will be formed. • Women’s Resources Center Student Alliance (WRC). The purpose of the WRC Student Alliance is to support and lead the Women’s Resource Center to provide a non-political information center for women. This group promotes causes and programs that benefit the health, safety, and well-being of women in the OSU community and assists all women in achieving their potential. Women’s Programs: Women’s Programs works to create and support policy changes that provide opportunities and diminish institutional barriers for women. Women’s Programs is charged with engaging the university community in ways that will lead to including women as equal members. Mentorship Programs (Office of Multicultural Affairs): The purpose of the Mentorship Programs is to promote the successful transition of incoming first year, sophomore, and transfer students to the OSU community as well as promoting mentorship, leadership and community for all students in order to assist them in achieving their academic goals and preparing them for life after graduation. Additional opportunities for involvement include academic seminars, cultural experiences, service opportunities and social programs. The mentorship programs available for students are African American Mentor Program, Retention Initiative for Asian American Student (RIAAS), Hispanic And Latino Student Success Initiative (HALSSI), Native American Resiliency through Education and Leadership Program (NARELP), Leaders Advising, Mentoring, and Building Diversity Allies (LAMBDA), and Women's Mentorship Program (WMP). Living Learning Communities in Residential Life Williams Diversity LLC The Williams Diversity Living Learning Community (LLC) is for Oklahoma State University students who are interested in developing a broader base of knowledge about diversity and inclusiveness. It is designed to foster and create a rich atmosphere of student interaction and engagement focused on academic success, extracurricular activities, social interactions, cultural and spiritual education as well as overall wellness. Ketchum House LLC The Ketchum House has been established through a collaborative effort of the Department of Residential Life and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The objective of the floor is to expose students to the Native American culture through a variety of social and cultural programming activities as well as to increase retention and to aid in the transition to a comprehensive University. Priority will be given to Native American students, but it is open to all who wish to be a part of the community.

Division of Institutional Diversity The goal of the Division of the Institutional Diversity is to maintain a university system that is socially, culturally and globally competent, and embraces and promotes a more inclusive world. The Division of Institutional Diversity houses the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Diversity Academic Support, and TRiO programs, as well as serves as a resource for underrepresented faculty and staff groups. In addition to various forums and programs throughout the year, the Division of Institutional Diversity welcomes faculty from underrepresented groups each year with the New Faculty of Color Reception. This reception offers faculty a chance to meet each other, network, and become familiar with some of the resources that OSU has to offer. Affinity Groups Asian American Faculty and Staff Association: The objectives of the Asian American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) are to promote fellowship among OSU faculty and staff of Asian origin, engage in cultural and social activities as deemed appropriate by the membership, liaise with other cultural/civic/ethnic/international organizations within OSU to promote or collaborate on common activities, serve as a liaison between OSU administration and faculty and staff of Asian origin, and serve as a liaison between the Stillwater and broader Oklahoma community and OSU faculty and staff of Asian origin. Black Faculty and Staff Association: Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) serves as a resource for African-American faculty, staff, and students at Oklahoma State University through the promotion of professional development, mentoring, networking, wellness, scholarships and programs that emphasize the legacy and traditions of the African-American community. Employee Queers and Allies League: The Employee Queers & Allies League is comprised of faculty, staff, and administration of Oklahoma State University, all branch campuses, and affiliated institutions. Our mission is to establish, through our presence and visibility, a safe, supportive, and equitable environment for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and allied employees and students of Oklahoma State University. We believe that campuses and communities are enriched by the diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and are willing to assist individuals in accessing support and resources on campus and in the community. Hispanic Faculty and Staff Association: The Hispanic Faculty and Staff Association (HFSA) hopes to enlighten and inform students, faculty, and staff to the variety which one can find in Hispanic culture, and its contributions to our society. The Association brings together a group of diverse individuals and allows them to share the backgrounds, cultures, and experiences that have been passed down to them through generations. Although HFSA’s activities concentrate on Hispanic life, people from all cultures are welcome to join and have joined to celebrate the atmosphere of diversity. We encourage you to support HFSA by joining our organization and in turn, build a network of people in the Hispanic/Latino community throughout OSU campuses, our local community, the United States and the world in general. Native American Faculty and Staff Association: The OSU Native American Faculty and Staff Association (NAFSA) gives OSU Native Americans a voice in the university community by advising the OSU administration on issues affecting Native Americans. The organization also provides programs and services aimed at helping recruit and retain Native American faculty and staff. In addition, NAFSA sponsors events that showcase and celebrate the many different Native American cultures represented at OSU. As NAFSA strives to expand awareness of Native American issues and culture, its goals include the development of a Native American Institute and Native American studies degree program at OSU. NAFSA is committed to helping Native American students complete their higher education by recognizing and rewarding their superior academic achievements, leadership and community involvement. Women’s Faculty Council: The Women's Faculty Council (WFC) works to improve the status of all women at Oklahoma State University, serving in an advisory capacity to the administration and university community. We study those needs and problems that result from the changing roles of women in society and in institutions of higher education, and we recommend actions that promote progress toward equality of opportunity for women and men in all segments of the university community.

Affinity Groups Asian American Faculty and Staff Association: The objectives of the Asian American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) are to promote fellowship among OSU faculty and staff of Asian origin, engage in cultural and social activities as deemed appropriate by the membership, liaise with other cultural/civic/ethnic/international organizations within OSU to promote or collaborate on common activities, serve as a liaison between OSU administration and faculty and staff of Asian origin, and serve as a liaison between the Stillwater and broader Oklahoma community and OSU faculty and staff of Asian origin. Black Faculty and Staff Association: Black Faculty and Staff Association (BFSA) serves as a resource for African-American faculty, staff, and students at Oklahoma State University through the promotion of professional development, mentoring, networking, wellness, scholarships and programs that emphasize the legacy and traditions of the African-American community. Employee Queers and Allies League: The Employee Queers & Allies League is comprised of faculty, staff, and administration of Oklahoma State University, all branch campuses, and affiliated institutions. Our mission is to establish, through our presence and visibility, a safe, supportive, and equitable environment for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and allied employees and students of Oklahoma State University. We believe that campuses and communities are enriched by the diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and are willing to assist individuals in accessing support and resources on campus and in the community. Hispanic Faculty and Staff Association: The Hispanic Faculty and Staff Association (HFSA) hopes to enlighten and inform students, faculty, and staff to the variety which one can find in Hispanic culture, and its contributions to our society. The Association brings together a group of diverse individuals and allows them to share the backgrounds, cultures, and experiences that have been passed down to them through generations. Although HFSA’s activities concentrate on Hispanic life, people from all cultures are welcome to join and have joined to celebrate the atmosphere of diversity. We encourage you to support HFSA by joining our organization and in turn, build a network of people in the Hispanic/Latino community throughout OSU campuses, our local community, the United States and the world in general. Native American Faculty and Staff Association: The OSU Native American Faculty and Staff Association (NAFSA) gives OSU Native Americans a voice in the university community by advising the OSU administration on issues affecting Native Americans. The organization also provides programs and services aimed at helping recruit and retain Native American faculty and staff. In addition, NAFSA sponsors events that showcase and celebrate the many different Native American cultures represented at OSU. As NAFSA strives to expand awareness of Native American issues and culture, its goals include the development of a Native American Institute and Native American studies degree program at OSU. NAFSA is committed to helping Native American students complete their higher education by recognizing and rewarding their superior academic achievements, leadership and community involvement.

Several URLs exist for different programs and groups for faculty, staff and students. Most of the information is accessible from the Institutional Diversity Page (http://www.diversity.okstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=20