2008 Woodie Awards
Multicultural uplifting minority students for success
Joseph Spence, Sr.
Issue date: 5/9/08 Section: Features
Entering the Department of Multicultural Student Services, one will find a new dimension. There should be flags flying in the front of this office similar to the United Nations. In this office there is a diversity of cultures interacting, conversing, and blending together. In essence, out of many they are one!
Staffed by a selected mix of counselors, the department provides for the needs of students who stem from various multicultural backgrounds, including Hispanic, Asian-American, American Indian, Caucasian, African-American, economically and academically disadvantaged groups, and other minority cultures and nationalities.
The staff assists students with financial aid difficulties, bilingual communication issues, finding support, and provides services to improve the enrollment and retention of multicultural students. The students find the services to be critical to their studies.
One of the moving forces behind the establishment of the office is Mary Tate-Smith. She provides advice and counseling to students of various nationalities. She can be seen at times helping students with computer work, assisting with relationship strategies, and providing general welfare counseling. She sees the role of the department increasing as the population of minority students continues to grow.
"This office was not always here," said Tate-Smith. "It came about as a result of a sit-in from students needing help and having no place to turn. Minority students were in need of help and the Caucasian teachers could not relate to them. There were student-teacher relationship issues, insensitivity challenges, and a lack of cultural identity which still exist in some ways. The office is needed now more than ever."
Abigail, the main secretary, who is from Puerto Rico, greets students in Spanish and English. Providing preliminary contact with incoming students, she makes referrals to the counselors and other offices.
"Most of the students we assist are from a cross-cultural background," said Abigail. "We are able to assist students with language difficulties; provide them with directions to other offices at MATC, including the services they offer; assist with completion of financial aid packages, and provide counseling on a variety of other issues affecting their welfare."
Staffed by a selected mix of counselors, the department provides for the needs of students who stem from various multicultural backgrounds, including Hispanic, Asian-American, American Indian, Caucasian, African-American, economically and academically disadvantaged groups, and other minority cultures and nationalities.
The staff assists students with financial aid difficulties, bilingual communication issues, finding support, and provides services to improve the enrollment and retention of multicultural students. The students find the services to be critical to their studies.
One of the moving forces behind the establishment of the office is Mary Tate-Smith. She provides advice and counseling to students of various nationalities. She can be seen at times helping students with computer work, assisting with relationship strategies, and providing general welfare counseling. She sees the role of the department increasing as the population of minority students continues to grow.
"This office was not always here," said Tate-Smith. "It came about as a result of a sit-in from students needing help and having no place to turn. Minority students were in need of help and the Caucasian teachers could not relate to them. There were student-teacher relationship issues, insensitivity challenges, and a lack of cultural identity which still exist in some ways. The office is needed now more than ever."
Abigail, the main secretary, who is from Puerto Rico, greets students in Spanish and English. Providing preliminary contact with incoming students, she makes referrals to the counselors and other offices.
"Most of the students we assist are from a cross-cultural background," said Abigail. "We are able to assist students with language difficulties; provide them with directions to other offices at MATC, including the services they offer; assist with completion of financial aid packages, and provide counseling on a variety of other issues affecting their welfare."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Sam Blake
posted 5/15/08 @ 10:01 AM CST
This is an excellent article. We really need the Multicultural Educational Office at MATC. The opportunity it offers is really great. Thank you Mr. Spence for writing this. (Continued…)
Mary Anne Vitek
posted 5/15/08 @ 3:44 PM CST
Joseph, you were a student in a Business English class that I taught. Your work was always submitted on time and in a professional format.
This is an excellent article!
Many times the students who need help are not aware of the services such as those offered in the Multicultural Educatinal Office at MATC. (Continued…)
Francisco
posted 5/16/08 @ 2:05 PM CST
This is just a factual article. More students need to read this and visit the Multicultural Education Office. This is really an eye opener!
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