Intercultural Student Engagement

Our Mission

      To develop and maintain a socially just and inclusive environment where all students can engage in dialogue, challenge barriers, and build supportive and collaborative relationships.

 Our Vision

      To enhance the academic excellence, personal growth, and leadership development of all undergraduate and graduate scholars at UAlbany. 

Our Values

Inclusive Academic Excellence

We contribute to the academic mission of the university by facilitating thought-provoking and participatory learning experiences in collaboration with our scholar-leaders.

Connect to Our Community

We actively build an inclusive and positive environment for all members of the University at Albany community.

Form a Family

We encourage our scholars to create social support networks on campus; peers who are there to offer emotional, cultural, and informational support in times of need.  And to help celebrate their accomplishments in times of joy.

Social Justice

We inspire individuals and groups to examine systems of privilege and oppression.

Empowerment

We engage individuals and groups to develop their own sense of power in order to bring about social change.

Intersectionality

We recognize the interconnected nature of social categorizations as they apply to individuals and groups, which create overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination and disadvantage.

We recognize the complex and cumulative ways the effects of different forms of discrimination or advantage combine, overlap, and intersect to inform the experiences of marginalized or privileged groups.

Intercultural Student Engagement Staff sponsor and co-sponsor activities and events that increase the cultural competency of students, faculty and staff and manage safe and respectful spaces for students to learn more about themselves and others and where meaningful intercultural experiences and dialogues embrace the uniqueness of the many cultural, religious, and identity groups present in our diverse society.

Additionally, we provide support and advocacy for students from historically underrepresented communities, including, but not limited to students of African, Latino, Asian, and Native American (ALANA) descent, various religious communities, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) and Ally community and first generation college students to succeed socially and academically

1. Leadership Development
   Conduct annual student leadership retreat and other educational programs designed to enhance the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to exercise effective leadership. Advises the Multicultural Student Advisory Committee (MSAC) which is made up of elected, appointed and emerging ALANA and LGBTQ student leaders on campus.  The purpose of the organization is to assist students in recognizing their individual and collective influence. The Advisory Council   seeks to foster a cooperative and supportive relationship among the participant groups in an effort to create a greater sense of unity among the overall student population on campus.

2. Cultural and Social Programs
   Sponsor and co-sponsor cultural, educational and social programs such as the Dr. Martin Luther King/African Heritage Month Luncheon, Annual National Latino Collegiate Conference, Asian Occasion and Lavender Graduation.
3. Pre-professional Opportunities
   Provide information, placements and referrals for summer as well as academic year internship and laboratory research assistant opportunities.
4. Recognition Programs
   Sponsor the annual Dr. Seth W. Spellman Achievement Awards recognizing the accomplishments of African, Latino, Asian and Native American heritage students in the areas of scholarship, leadership and community service. Sponsor the Lavender Awards celebrating faculty, staff and students who contribute to LGBTQ inclusion across campus.
5. Recruitment
   Co-sponsor campus visitation programs in cooperation with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and participate in college nights, recruitment fairs, and related recruitment and admission activities.
6. Counseling
   Professional staff and peer student staff work collaboratively with the University Counseling center to provide information and advice on personal and social matters and make referrals as appropriate; professional staff monitors student academic progress and recommends strategies for improving academic performance.
7. Academic Support
   Work collaboratively with the Office of Academic Support Services to inform students of upcoming seminars and workshops on note taking, test preparation, time and task management and other classroom and study skills.
8. Career Services
   Work collaboratively with Career Services and other professional agencies to coordinate seminars designed to prepare students for professional careers. The seminars include mock interviews, resume preparation and critique, networking skills, and acquiring internships. Also provide assistance in preparing for GRE, MCAT and LSAT exams.