While you look through the entire admissions website for information on academics and campus life, feel free to use this page as a reference point for our multicultural resources. Every student is welcome to join and participate in our programs, centers, and student organizations regardless of background.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

Zarinah James
Associate Director of Admissions
Director of Student of Color Recruitment
zjames@uchicago.edu
773-702-8659

Multicultural Resource Centers and Support

The University of Chicago continually works to provide a safe and supportive environment for all community members. In recent years we’ve shown our commitment to these principles through the investment of physical space and staff dedicated to facilitating campus awareness of cultural issues and education. Our most recent addition in the winter of 2008 is 5170 Woodlawn, the new home for the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, the Amandla Resource Center, and the LGBTQ Lounge. Our students and staff also take advantage of resources across campus and the city of Chicago. The Diversity, Civility, and Equity website gives a useful list of offices dedicated to diversity issues at Chicago in addition to those listed on this page.

Academics

The University of Chicago is home to many research centers and committees interested in multicultural issues, with regular workshops, lectures, and conferences available to members of the university community, such as the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, the Center for Gender Studies, the Center for Latin American Studies, and the Katz Center for Mexican Studies. Students who are interested in exploring these topics in the classroom can take courses in departments such as African and African-American Studies or Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, study abroad in 37 countries, or learn one of over forty languages.

Student Organizations

We strongly believe that part of the college experience should focus on life and activities beyond the classroom. One of the great strengths of the liberal arts education at Chicago is our diverse student population. As a result, student life reflects this range of multicultural backgrounds and interests. There are over 400 campus organizations for students to participate in and engage with members of the community. There is no shortage of ways for students to get involved and learn as much from their peers and friends as they learn from their professors.

While dozens of student organizations make it their mission to celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity, keep in mind that students also honor different cultures through organizations devoted to dance (such as Rhythmic Bodies in Motion, the Bhangra Team, and Gingarte Capoeira), music (Soul Umoja, Middle East Music Ensemble, Central Javanese Gamelan), media and publications (Moim at the Kilmok, Blacklight), community service (Asha for Education), political and advocacy issues (M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano(a) de Aztlan)), social clubs (the Argentine Tango Club, the Chinese Calligraphy Club), and religious or spiritual organizations (Asian American InterVarsity, or Hindu Student Sangam.)

Below is a list of just some of the many cultural student organizations that exist on campus.