Rochester Institute of Technology
PAE-8: Support Programs for Underrepresented Groups

Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS) - Established in 2000 as part of an Institute wide initiative to increase student retention and graduation, the Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS) serves all RIT students, regardless of ethnic background, but primarily exists to retain and graduate African American, Latin American, and Native American (AALANA) students. Native American Future Stewards Program The Native American Future Stewards Program was established as a result of RIT's commitment to increasing the success rate and number of Native scholars (Native American, Alaska Native, and First Nations) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) along with other areas of need in Indian country. The RIT- Upstate Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ULSAMP) in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics is a centralized resource for collaborative research across STEM disciplines. The RIT Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) works to increase the number of historically underrepresented and/or economically disadvantaged undergraduate and graduate students (who are residents of New York State) pursuing a career in either science, mathematics, technology or a New York State licensed profession. Several RIT programs promote women in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The Academic Support Center (ASC) is devoted to providing academic assistance for RIT students.

The RIT AALANA Faculty and Staff Association (AFSA) is an organization of RIT men and women dedicated to the purpose of creating a learning and work environment that is conducive to the fulfillment of the needs and aspirations of African American, Latino/a American and Native American students and employees. Working together AFSA: • Facilitates networking of information and ideas among the membership, • Fosters mutual trust, respect and support for one another within the AALANA students and among AALANA employees in the RIT community at large, • Facilitates the recruitment, development and advancement of AALANA students and employees at RIT, • Provides a monitoring system which will enable AALANA employees to obtain guidance, assistance and training consistent with their present and future career aspirations, • Provides members with opportunities to develop organizational and leadership skills in the conduct of duties, activities and programs • Generates financial resources and support to sustain the activities of the organization. • Provides leadership in constructing an effective action program designed to influence policy and decision making bodies within RIT.

The program described above for faculty is a program also in support of staff.

URL's for more information on the different programs mentioned: Multicultural Center for Academic Success (MCAS): http://www.rit.edu/president/mcas/ The RIT- Upstate Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (ULSAMP): http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/lsamp/ The RIT Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP): http://www.rit.edu/diversity/cstep/ Women in STEM: http://www.rit.edu/kgcoe/women/ The Women in Technology (WIT): http://www.rit.edu/cast/wit/ Women in Computing (WIC): http://www.women.rit.edu/ The Academic Support Center (ASC): http://www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/asc/about_overview_more.php