Office of Multicultural Affairs

ALANA students at graduation
OMA Mission

The mission of the Office of Multicultural Affairs is to deliver programs and services that support, retain and graduate ALANA students. We also provide opportunity for all Ithaca College students to increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the ALANA populations.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs works to foster academic excellence and cultural diversity in the social and learning environments of Ithaca College. We work with departments, offices, and individuals campuswide on a variety of projects throughout the year, including Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations and cultural heritage month celebrations.

We provide specific services to several segments of the student population -- in particular African, Latino/a, Asian, and Native American (ALANA) students. The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar Program and Ithaca Achievement Program (IAP) are administered through OMA. We also work with two student support networks, Brothers 4 Brothers and Sister 2 Sister.

In addition to our campus population, we maintain strong connections with our alumni, which provide the basis for a strong networking program for students. These relationships also feed our mentoring program and networking events.

OMA strives to create a supportive, inclusive environment on campus, resulting in graduates who are culturally competent citizens, agents for social change, and leaders in a global society. Our goals are

  • to retain a diverse student population
  • to improve diversity awareness across campus
  • to enhance students' personal and professional development