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University Housing at Â鶹ÊÓƵ recognizes the benefits derived from the inclusion of diversity in our residence halls. We actively encourage participation by members of underrepresented groups based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, religious preferences, sexual orientation, disability or identification as a veteran in all our programs and activities.

Multicultural & Diversity Programs

Exploring and learning to live within a large and diverse community is an exciting and fast-paced experience; that’s why the residence hall staff offers support to help each residential community member develop and refine skills in communication and interaction. These skills and experiences allow us to celebrate and showcase the differences that help make the residence halls at Â鶹ÊÓƵ a vibrant and stimulating place to live and learn. With this in mind, our staff and students present and develop: programs, activities, films, lectures, workshops, exhibits and other activities that enhance cultural awareness. Several key programs and activities are outlined below.

Kupita/Transiciones Student of Color Social

University Housing and the Student Multicultural Center collaborate in a welcome social for our incoming Kupita/Transiciones students. The purpose of this social is to provide opportunities for newly admitted students of color to interact with each other and to get introduced to university administrators and hall staff. This special event typically takes place move-in day giving Kupita/Transiciones students a chance to meet residence hall staff before campus is flooded with students. 

Kent Interhall Council (KIC) Diversity Committee

In conjunction with KIC, the Social Justice Committee within University Housing works with the Diversity Committee to promote and provide a safe and inclusive environment that brings to life the department’s core values: Community, Integrity, Restorative Justice, and Social Justice to offer support and to enhance programming activities that build and nurture our residence hall students to think critically and broadly about diversity and multiculturalism. Residence hall students interested in getting involved to plan and develop diversity programs for the halls are strongly encouraged to do so by contacting the Director of Student Relations who oversees this committee within Kent Interhall Council at 330-672-3121. The only piece missing is YOU!

SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE POSITION

Each residence hall has a Resident Engagement Council governing board which oversees the programming and overall climate of their hall community. The hall council executive board includes a position to spread awareness and understanding of underrepresented populations and to strive for diversity and inclusion within the hall, this position is called the– Social Justice Advocate. This individual is responsible for promoting the awareness and celebration of diversity in the hall(s). They also:

• Attends all weekly Executive Board and Hall Council meetings
• Votes as a member of Resident Engagement Council
• Attends KIC weekly meetings
• Coordinates and facilitates at least one program per semester touching upon issues or celebrating diversity in the hall
• Informs their hall of all campus-wide programming dealing with the topic of multiculturalism
• Represents the needs and interests of underrepresented/underserved populations in the residence halls
• Serves as a member of KIC’s Advocacy Committee

Community Partnerships

In support of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ and University Housing missions, residence hall staff seek to foster an environment of civic engagement among the students living in the residence halls. To support this effort, University Housing has partnered with Community Engaged Learning since 2008 to pair each residence hall with a local non-profit community agency to provide students with community service opportunities and an understanding of the purpose/need for the agency. These relationships have yielded over 10,000 hours of service by residence hall students and have brought recognition to the individual residence halls! Through these experiences students living in the KSU residence halls are reminded throughout the semester of the importance of service and giving back to the community where they currently live!

We encourage our residence hall students to contact their hall staff to learn more about the community partnership in the hall where they live.

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

The Social Justice Committee works to provide an array of professional development opportunities, in-services and training sessions focused on social justice and diversity related topics for all students as well as professional and paraprofessional staffs. The committee strives to raise awareness on social justice related topics, concerns and issues in efforts to create more diverse, inclusive communities across campus.