DURHAM— The increased efforts at UNH to raise awareness for multicultural students are starting to pay off.
According to the Diversity Progress Report in 2007, 7.7 percent of undergraduates and graduates consisted of international students and students of color in the fall of 2006 – an increase of 2.4 percent from 2004.
In comparison, minorities represent 30 percent of natural increase growth in New Hampshire since 2000; in the United States that number inflates to 50 percent, said Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at the Carsey Institute.
The increase in multicultural students attending UNH can be contributed to “doing more as an institution to enroll these [multicultural] students; collaborating with faculty and students to make them understand UNH is a place to go,” said Robert McGann, Director of Admissions.
The Diversity Support Coalition (DSC) serves as an umbrella group for five student-run organizations that include the Black Student Union, United Asian Coalition, Mosaico, the Latino/a student society, The Alliance (which is the LGBTQ student association) and Hillel (the Jewish student association).
In addition, there is also the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA). Their mission is to create “opportunities for people to participate in an inclusive community and to explore and understand diversity, injustice and equity.”
Caitlin Vaughan, coordinator of the Race, Power and Culture minor, said “it’s a responsibility to have multicultural exposure” for students.
Vaughan said minors such as Africana and African American Studies, Asian Studies and Latin American Studies are implemented to incorporate social and educational programming for all students.
The programs are wildly popular. Classes, like Anthropology 401, consistently cater to a packed house – typically filling up within days of open registration.
“Issues like race are controversial and what we have found are students who are attracted to something talkative,” said Vaughan. “The dynamics between race and culture are so important to understand the different philosophies within academic studies.”
The courses provided within the interdisciplinary minors program are one aspect of enabling students to develop a critical understanding of cultural differentiation.
Learning about foreign cultures not only exposes students to a newfound understanding, but it helps them with their own academic and personal growth.
“For students to be prepared for studying outside of the United States, they need to be exposed to different ethnic groups,” said Johnson. It is crucial students are fully equipped to acclimate to their environments in foreign cultures.
In addition, on-campus events are regularly held to integrate all students and in many cases, the families of those students.
Academic speakers, film series are helpful, said McGann. “There is no one avenue to reach everybody.”
In October, numerous speakers came to UNH and lectured on a range of issues. Xuehui “Kate” Li discussed Chinese Painting; Dr. Robyn Sladyk explored occupational justice, as examples.
Gender Film and Discussion: “Black is Black Ain’t” – an “up-front examination of racism, sexism, and homophobia within the black community” premiered October 29th. The screening aimed to make students reflect on these issues in society, according to the Diversity Initiatives Web site.
The faculty at UNH carry a lot of the weight to educate all students, but more importantly, it’s a privilege for them as well.
“Mentoring opportunities for staff to educate people with different backgrounds really broadens their horizons,” said McGann.
However, students have the greatest opportunity to raise awareness in regard to diversity. According to Sean McGhee, Director of OMSA, “the most powerful connections are peer-to-peer.”
“Multicultural students and allied students here at UNH do a great job of that,” he said.
Even more profound, McGhee said exploring diverse cultures and racial identities allows students to learn not only from each other but also about who they are in this world and their impact. “It’s an educational 360,” he said.
Student David Velazquez said “the days they have for multicultural students and their families” are particularly beneficial for raising awareness because it brings everyone together.
Through all the accomplishments UNH has made thus far, there are still hopes for improvement.
Vaughan said it is imperative to “strengthen the relationship between students and faculty to be where we ideally want to be.”
According to the Diversity Progress Report in 2007, 7.7 percent of undergraduates and graduates consisted of international students and students of color in the fall of 2006 – an increase of 2.4 percent from 2004.
In comparison, minorities represent 30 percent of natural increase growth in New Hampshire since 2000; in the United States that number inflates to 50 percent, said Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at the Carsey Institute.
The increase in multicultural students attending UNH can be contributed to “doing more as an institution to enroll these [multicultural] students; collaborating with faculty and students to make them understand UNH is a place to go,” said Robert McGann, Director of Admissions.
The Diversity Support Coalition (DSC) serves as an umbrella group for five student-run organizations that include the Black Student Union, United Asian Coalition, Mosaico, the Latino/a student society, The Alliance (which is the LGBTQ student association) and Hillel (the Jewish student association).
In addition, there is also the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA). Their mission is to create “opportunities for people to participate in an inclusive community and to explore and understand diversity, injustice and equity.”
Caitlin Vaughan, coordinator of the Race, Power and Culture minor, said “it’s a responsibility to have multicultural exposure” for students.
Vaughan said minors such as Africana and African American Studies, Asian Studies and Latin American Studies are implemented to incorporate social and educational programming for all students.
The programs are wildly popular. Classes, like Anthropology 401, consistently cater to a packed house – typically filling up within days of open registration.
“Issues like race are controversial and what we have found are students who are attracted to something talkative,” said Vaughan. “The dynamics between race and culture are so important to understand the different philosophies within academic studies.”
The courses provided within the interdisciplinary minors program are one aspect of enabling students to develop a critical understanding of cultural differentiation.
Learning about foreign cultures not only exposes students to a newfound understanding, but it helps them with their own academic and personal growth.
“For students to be prepared for studying outside of the United States, they need to be exposed to different ethnic groups,” said Johnson. It is crucial students are fully equipped to acclimate to their environments in foreign cultures.
In addition, on-campus events are regularly held to integrate all students and in many cases, the families of those students.
Academic speakers, film series are helpful, said McGann. “There is no one avenue to reach everybody.”
In October, numerous speakers came to UNH and lectured on a range of issues. Xuehui “Kate” Li discussed Chinese Painting; Dr. Robyn Sladyk explored occupational justice, as examples.
Gender Film and Discussion: “Black is Black Ain’t” – an “up-front examination of racism, sexism, and homophobia within the black community” premiered October 29th. The screening aimed to make students reflect on these issues in society, according to the Diversity Initiatives Web site.
The faculty at UNH carry a lot of the weight to educate all students, but more importantly, it’s a privilege for them as well.
“Mentoring opportunities for staff to educate people with different backgrounds really broadens their horizons,” said McGann.
However, students have the greatest opportunity to raise awareness in regard to diversity. According to Sean McGhee, Director of OMSA, “the most powerful connections are peer-to-peer.”
“Multicultural students and allied students here at UNH do a great job of that,” he said.
Even more profound, McGhee said exploring diverse cultures and racial identities allows students to learn not only from each other but also about who they are in this world and their impact. “It’s an educational 360,” he said.
Student David Velazquez said “the days they have for multicultural students and their families” are particularly beneficial for raising awareness because it brings everyone together.
Through all the accomplishments UNH has made thus far, there are still hopes for improvement.
Vaughan said it is imperative to “strengthen the relationship between students and faculty to be where we ideally want to be.”
McGann said more resources and educational forums are dependent on more funding. “Once that happens,” he said, “the opportunities will be vast.”
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