l Advocacy l Leadership Development l Mentorship l Cultural Awareness l College Access

The Office of Multicultural Student Services (OMSS) promotes the intellectual understanding and appreciation of diversity, inclusion and social justice by creating opportunities for learning and leadership development for our campus community. In addition, we provide meaningful

support to assist in the transition, retention and graduation of our underrepresented student populations.

SPRING 2016

SPRING 2016

OMSS AT A GLANCE Administrative Staff

Matthew Chaney, Director Trudy Roersma, Secretary Danyelle Gregory, Coordinator of Pre-College Programs Michael Wade, Assistant Director

Annual Events and Activities Transitions to Success Minority Student Orientation Program Minority Student Get Acquainted Day Cultural Connections Open House Hispanic/Latin@ Heritage Celebration Native American Heritage Celebration Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Black History Month Celebration Women’s History Month Celebration Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration The OMSS Annual PIGNIC The OMSS Graduate Recognition Program

Programs and Initiatives Michigan GEARUP

AmeriCorps VISTA The “Imagine More” Minority Student Life Bus Tour Center for Intercultural Engagement and Learning

TOWERS Leaders BLACK Male Network

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pg. 1 OMSS at a Glance Pg. 2 Ferris Michigan GEARUP Pg. 3 From TOWERS to Housing Pg. 4 OMSS Upcoming Events & Initiatives Pg. 5 Multicultural Advisory Pg. 6 OMSS Contact Information

SPRING 2016

FERRIS MICHIGAN GEARUP

Reality Remixed, a Teen Empowerment Summit On Thursday February 11th, 2016 Ferris State University Michigan GEAR UP

hosted an event entitled Reality Remixed, a teen empowerment summit. Sixty seven students from five Michigan high schools

gathered at Ferris State University for Reality Remixed. This conference style workshop was designed to motivate students to

achieve educational goals and address post-secondary life. The Reality Remixed conference started off with motivational speaker

and former Harlem Globetrotter, Melvin Adams. Through real life scenarios, jokes, and interaction with the students, Melvin Adams

empowered the students to reach their goals. After the motivational speaker, students were dismissed to their pre-determined

breakout sessions. The interactive breakout sessions included the realities of life after high school in the following areas: social,

financial, professional, and relationship. Through examination of the survey results, learning objections were met for each of the

breakout session. After the breakout session, students were dismissed for a lunch catered by Ferris State University Catering. The

day concluded with a “Price is Right” style game where students were given the chance to win various prizes. Throughout the day

prizes were raffled off to the students. The day was packed full of educational fun. The students learned about the reality of life

after high school. Click here for the video recap of Reality Remixed

College Positive Volunteerism Michigan Campus Compact has developed a sustainable training curriculum for college students;

one that can be incorporated into the training of all volunteers who work with young people. This College Positive Volunteerism

(CPV) curriculum provides college students with training, tools and knowledge that will enable them to become ambassadors of

higher education to the K-12 youth and adult learners that they serve. College students acting as tutors, mentors, and active

community volunteers can have a profound impact on how young people view the possibility of going to college. The College

Positive Volunteerism training helps college students to grow as knowledgeable resources to K-12 youth and/or adult learners

regarding their post-secondary futures. MiCC’s College Positive Volunteerism curriculum includes training for CPV trainers, training

for new CPVs, a portable CPV Toolkit, and additional resources on our website. There has been 70 students who have been CPV

trained at Ferris State University. If you are interested or have any questions about College Positive Volunteerism, contact

Chrissy Melton-Davis at meltonc3@ferris.edu or Sierris Smith at smits179@ferris.edu.

SPRING 2016

FROM TOWERS TO HOUSING

TOWERS is a Leadership Development program coordinated by our department. TOWERS seeks to provide opportunities for

students of color on campus to receive resources that focus on leadership development, campus engagement and learning. We

asked a few students in TOWERS about their experience in Residence Life. Jordan Dawkins is a sophomore majoring in Accounting

and Finance from Saginaw, MI and Jasmine Nettles, a junior majoring in Technical Communications from Flint, MI are currently

serving as Residence Hall Advisors. Here is what they had to say!

Jordan Dawkins Jasmine Nettles

1. What inspired you to become a Resident Advisor? Jordan: My RA inspired me to apply for the position. He was very good at helping us freshmen meet people and

participate in events around campus, and I applied so I could do the same for others.

Jasmine: I wanted to make it known that minority students are indeed leaders on campus and in every department. I

want to continue helping to promote academic success, as well as leaving my mark at Ferris in the most memorable way.

Residents will remember you forever.

2. What has been the most rewarding experience thus far? Jordan: The most rewarding experience I have had thus far involves helping others. I love knowing that I can help others

through giving advice or just listening.

Jasmine: Being able to get students involved, whether it's personally or just pointing them in the right direction, the

gratification of that is priceless.

3. What would you tell other students about why they should consider a position like a Desk Assistant or

Resident Advisor? Jordan: I would tell other students to be prepared for the amount of responsibility that comes with the positions

because it can be a lot sometimes. But I would also tell them that this has been one of the best experiences of my life.

You will get to meet and work with some pretty amazing people, and it is well worth it.

Jasmine: This job will help you improve your mindset, help you define & figure out who you are and offers one of the

greatest support systems Ferris has to offer. Being an RA is A LOT of responsibility, yes. But, if you really want to make a

difference and be active in your community this is one of the best ways to do so.

For more information about TOWERS visit www.ferris.edu/omss/towers or stop into the OMSS in FLITE 159.

SPRING 2016

UPCOMING OMSS EVENTS & INITIATIVES

Here is a listing of upcoming cultural awareness events, for all events visit the FSU Campus Calendar or visit the OMSS in FLITE

159.

1. The 2016 WILL Conference, Monday March 21 6pm University Center

2. Unsung Stories: the 2016 OMSS Women In History Student Tribute, Tuesday March 22 7pm University Center 217

3. Ferris Museum of Sexist Objects, Guest Speaker Professor Tracy Busch, Monday March 28 6pm FLITE 108

4. It’s A Girl: Feature Film Screening & Discussion, Thursday March 31 11am IRC 104 & 6pm IRC 120

5. Woman to Woman: 2016 Women’s Expo & Speaker, Thursday March 31 6-9pm IRC Connector / COB 111

6. Hunger Banquet, Tuesday April 5 6pm University Center 203

7. The International Festival of Cultures, Sunday April 10 1-5pm University Center 202

8. Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration, Tuesday April 19 6-8pm University Center 202

9. Our Students, Their Stories of Success, Tuesday April 26, 11am University Center 203

10. The Annual OMSS PIGNIC, Saturday April 30, 12-4pm North Campus Quad

11. The OMSS Graduate Recognition Program, Friday May 6 11am University Center 202

The OMSS Graduate Recognition Program is an opportunity our department coordinates each Fall and Spring semester to

recognize underrepresented students that have been approved to

participate in commencement, thus fulfilling their requirements in

earning a bachelor's degree or higher in a program at Ferris State

University. The co-sponsors of the Multicultural Graduate

Recognition program include the Office of International Education,

Center for Latin@ Studies and the Diversity and Inclusion Office.

Here are the details on how students can participate:

REGISTRATION - March 14th - April 29th students can

register to participate at the following direct link

GRADUATION STOLE - March 14th - March 30th students

can purchase a “Ferris State University Class of 2016”

Kente stole

o Cost is $25/each, *special scholarship rate if you

have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher cost is

$10/each!

o Payment should be cash or money order made

out to “FSU Office of Multicultural Student

Services”

o If you would like information on other stoles,

visit the OMSS for more information on how to

order.

Additionally, students participating will receive a certificate of

recognition, medallion, a professional photo, and a commemorative

book at the event. If you would like to receive more information, visit OMSS in FLITE 159, call us at 231-591-2617 or email

omss@ferris.edu.

SPRING 2016

MULTICULTURAL ADVISORY

The Office of Multicultural Student Services noticed there was a void in the level of intercultural connections between students on the campus of Ferris State University. To address the need, OMSS held a Multicultural RSO Mixer inviting registered student organizations to attend. At the fall mixer, 11 multicultural organization representatives in attendance had an opportunity to get connected with one another and with our department. Also students in attendance decided that future meetings need to take place in order to better connect multicultural student organizations with each other.

In order to strengthen collaborative efforts, communication, and support our department

we have developed a Student Assistant Program Manager position.

Senior, Jazmine Goode a current OMSS student assistant in the spring of 2016 took on the

role of OMSS Multicultural Advisory Program Manager. In this role, Jazmine coordinates

weekly communication with the multicultural organizations on upcoming events and

initiatives from OMSS as well as from other departments, as well as facilitates bi-weekly

multicultural advisory meetings with the student group representatives in the OMSS.

The current focus of the OMSS Multicultural Advisory is to establish a platform of

communication and connection between multicultural and ethnic minority-student focused

student groups on campus. The student groups currently involved in the Multicultural Advisory include:

1. Asian Student Organization

2. Black Greek Council Organizations

3. Black Leaders Aspiring Critical Knowledge

4. Circle of Tribal Nations

5. Hispanic Student Organization

6. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

7. Sigma Lambda Gamma

8. You Beautiful Black Woman

Our department is excited to serve as a resource for multicultural student organizations at Ferris. For more information on how

to get involved, contact Jazmine Goode by emailing our department at omss@ferris.edu.

SPRING 2016

CONNECT WITH THE OMSS

Address: 1010 Campus Drive, FLITE Library Suite 159, Big Rapids, MI 49307 Main Office: (231)591-2617 Department E-mail: omss@ferris.edu Website: www.ferris.edu/omss

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