The physical home for the Multicultural Office for Student Access, Inclusiveness and Community, as well the LGBT+ Resource Center, will nearly double thanks to initial funding by the CU President’s Office and new fundraising efforts by UCCS to build out the space.
“We have known that this has been a top concern of our students for the last few years, and I’m excited that we’re able to move forward on this important project,” said Chancellor Venkat Reddy. “I’m pleased that our students will have a voice in creating a space to gather, access resources and strengthen a sense of inclusive belonging on our campus.”
Perkins and Will, the architectural firm leading the design of the project, is collecting student input to identify the top requests. Auxiliary Services will also be involved as the expansion will relocate the Copy Center.
The expanded space is initially being designed for flexibility, allowing for large groups when public health orders are lifted, and for multiple smaller groups to meet simultaneously.
Individual contributions for the project are also being accepted at giving.cu.edu or by calling (719) 255-5100.
“I’m really proud of our students,” said Anthony Cordova, director of MOSAIC. “This effort was driven by the students, and after petitions in the past few years and a meeting with Chancellor Reddy this summer, and I’m excited that they are able to see the first steps of their work begin.”
MOSAIC was created in 2003 with the primary purpose of advocating for the academic, personal and social development of underrepresented ethnic minority students. As the campus grew and demographics shifted, there became an important need to expand programming and resources to serve an increasingly diverse campus. The previous Office of Student Multicultural Affairs was re-developed to be MOSAIC in an effort to involve all students in multicultural educational programs. This was vital to building community and creating a more welcoming, inclusive campus environment for all. This model better represents the intersectional experiences of our students and promotes our belief that all students have a culture and deserve an inclusive learning environment.