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Minority Students

The Office of Minority and International Students works within the realm of four major focus areas to achieve our mission and goals:

  • Student Advising & Leadership Development
  • Education & Advocacy
  • Targeted Population Programs
  • Community Outreach

Student Advising & Leadership Development

The Office of Minority and International Students advises 13 ethnic and minority student groups on campus through attending individual group meetings and events, providing resources and logistical aid for student-initiated programming, and offering individual support to minority students.

Additionally, the Office of Minority and International Students plans and facilitates Heads of State Meetings during each block. Heads of State leaders are comprised of the Co-Presidents of each minority group.  At these meetings, training is conducted on policies and procedures for accessing programming funds, student leaders are given the opportunity to share ideas and collaborate on events, guests are brought in to bring pertinent information or opportunities to students, and general support is given to group leaders.  The Office of Minority and International Students also works in conjunction with the Center for Service and Learning and Campus Activities to offer leadership development workshops for student leaders each semester. 

The Glass House, a multicultural themed house located on the East Campus, receives advising and support from the Office of Minority and International Students in conjunction with Residential Life for programming assistance, leadership development and guidance regarding residential, cultural, and interpersonal issues. 

Education & Advocacy

The Office of Minority and International Students works to support all multicultural efforts on campus through offering educational training, resources, collaboration, and promotional assistance to campus departments and centers.  This includes support of discussions/series on classroom climate with the Teaching and Learning Center, co-sponsorship of minority guest lecturers and speakers with various campus departments, and co-collaboration on such on-going efforts as the Sustained Dialogue initiative, First Generation Program, and the Glass House.

The staff of the Office of Minority and International Students also serve on a number of campus committees such as theMinority Concerns Committee, Diversity Task Force, Student Conduct Committee, Sexual Assault/Sexual Misconduct Response Team, Parents’ Working Group, and Racial and Ethnic Studies Steering Committee in an effort to lend educational/resource support, accountability, and leadership to the Colorado College community regarding issues of diversity.

The current Student Cultural Center, located on the East Campus in the Student Activities Quad, is cared for and managed through the Office of Minority and International Students.  Not only is the SCC a place for students to study, hold group meetings, and hang out; but it also houses the Cultural Library, which contains a broad and unique range of resources collected and donated through the years by minority students, staff, and faculty.   

Targeted Population Programs

The Office of Minority and International Students continually strives to meet the needs of minority and international students, staff, and faculty at Colorado College in order to ensure their on-going physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual well being.  In this manner, specific programs have been developed targeting particular populations.

First Generation Program - The First Generation Program at Colorado College provides support to those who are one of the first in their families to attend a four-year college or university.  To learn more about this program, click here. Contact Darlene Garcia (389-6893) or Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi (389-6198) for other details.

Parents of First Generation Students!  Click here for tips on providing support for your student as she or he enters college.

Mind, Body & Soul – The purpose of Mind, Body & Soul is to create a safe peer community and support network for females of color, gathered around the important cultural aspect of food, and is hosted twice a block by students.  Please contact Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi (389-6198) for details.

El Mariachi Tigre de Colorado College – A mariachi ensemble sponsored through the Music Department with support from the Office of Minority and International Students.  For more information, please contact Rochelle Mason (389-6338).

Community Outreach

The Office of Minority and International Students and Colorado College are involved in extensive outreach to the Colorado Springs community through involvement and/or sponsorship of events and activities aimed at supporting diversity and enhancing academic achievement for local minority youth.  A number of these programs and events occur on a regular basis.

Friends of CC Host Family Program – This outreach program pairs minority, international, and first generation students with friends in the community for events several times a year both on and off-campus.  For more information, please contact the Office of Minority and International Students.

Balagokulam Group - Balagokulam is a weekly program where Indian/East Asian children in the Colorado Springs community learn about Hindu culture and values in an enjoyable atmosphere.

NAACP College Prep Day – A time for high school students and their families to learn about financial aid preparation, take the PSAT, and learn about college life.

Juneteenth – A city-wide celebration planned in conjunction with the local NAACP.

African American Youth Leadership Conference – An annual conference for over 400 students and their parents. This event is supported in conjunction with the local school district, African American fraternities and sororities, and community leaders.

PrideFest Family Fun Day - An event for GLBTQ families in the Colorado Springs community hosted in conjunction with the citywide PrideFest Celebration.