MSS offers programs for everyone

Greg Burghardt

CMU’s Minority Student Services offers more than just involvement on campus.

The group offers a wide range of activities for both minority students and
students who want to be more aware or educated about issues that are explored
through the activities and services MSS offers.

“Minority Student Services has leadership initiatives by providing opportunities
to students who have received scholarships,” said Jeanette Smith, MSS
administrative secretary. “The Multicultural Advancement Scholarship,
the Multicultural Advancement Award of Distinction and the Lloyd M. Cofer Scholarship
are scholarships that promote diversity.”

MSS is responsible for coordinating multicultural affairs, forming the committees
for different cultural programs and promoting academic excellence and growth.
It also assists students at the middle school, high school and university levels
with special programs which encourage academic preparation and success, Smith
said.

“CMU Minority Student Services is a comprehensive office which provides
academic, personal, social and cultural support to students,” Smith said,
reciting a portion of the MSS mission statement. “To empower and retain
students, the MSS team provides and enhances a campus environment where diversity
is celebrated and understood.”

MSS Assistant Director Dulcie Telfer said students can benefit in many ways
through MSS.

“I think students should be involved to gain awareness of other people,
the background and also to celebrate the diversity on campus,” she said.

Smith said students should be aware of the many programs offers by Minority
Student Services.

“The King/Chavez/Parks Extended College Day Program works with middle
and high school students with low income to give them the experience of college
life two weeks during the summer. The Student Enrichment Mentor Program helps
incoming freshmen and transfer students adjust to college life. The college
education enhancement program assists high school students to raise their grade-point
average to be admitted to CMU in the fall. This is a six-week summer program
offering a supplemental instruction program. It helps CMU students succeed
in traditionally difficult courses,” Smith said.

“We have a cultural program where we coordinate Asian heritage month,
the Unified Holiday Celebration, Get Acquainted Day, Hispanic heritage month,
Black history month and others. We work with the academic, professional and
social minority groups on campus. These programs are to help broaden the awareness
and appreciation of the rich cultures of some of the students on CMU’s
campus,” she said.

For more information about MSS, visit the office at the lower floor of the
Bovee University Center or visit www.diversity.cmich.edu/mss.

Life Staff Writer Nicole Williams contributed to this story.