3 in 1:

New Center combines minority services; its director receives local award for her work

by Becky Rickard

Three in one. That's one way to look at the new Office of Multicultural Relations, which will merge three minority resource programs.

The African American Scholars Retention Program, Student Support Services Program, formerly part of the Center for Academic Development, and African American Student Relations, of Academic Affairs, have combined efforts to form the Multi-Cultural Relations/Academic Affairs office.

The office will be located in 110 Clark Hall after the asbestos is removed and construction is finished.

The Multi-Cultural Relations Office offers a variety of different services geared toward, but not limited to, minority students, including one-on-one interviews, seminars and workshops.

The goal of the center is to the enhance academic success of students and to provide academic support.

Gwendolyn DeLoach-Packnett, director of Multi-Cultural Relations at UM-St. Louis and recent recipient of the Stellar Performance Award from the St. Louis American newspaper, believes in variety and diversity.

"Everybody deserves to receive the services of the University that they attend," Packnett stated. "There is a need to combine our forces so that we can service even more of the population of African American students and other diverse groups."

The Multi-Cultural Relations Office has released a calendar of upcoming events open to any UM-St. Louis student, including Student Networking Programs, a Mid-term Academic Success Workshop and three Student Dialogue Brown Bag series dialogues. The dialogues will concern race relations and minorities and how these groups interact with the UM-St. Louis Police, administration and faculty.

The Guaranteed 4.0 Seminar that occurred last Wednesday proved to be a well planned and highly attended seminar. The follow-up seminar will be held on Oct. 3.

According to UM-St. Louis Chancellor Blanche Touhill, the money allotted to the three groups has been pooled into the new Multi-Cultural Relations Office. In fact, the new program has received even more money.

One reason more money has been given to the newly formed office is that Packnett intends to formally begin an organized system of records. When a student makes an appointment to meet with one of the five staff members, they will be asked to fill out an academic evaluation form. The staff member will conduct an interview with the student. After the interview, the staff member will combine the evaluation and interview to help the student create a plan of action. Follow-up interviews are also encouraged.

Some minority students have expressed grave concern regarding the merger of the three cultural programs. Touhill has met with a few students to explain and defend the action.

"I think it is a period of change, and change is very difficult," Touhill said.

To receive services from the Multi-Cultural Relations Office, call 516-6807 or visit 440 Woods Hall until the office moves to its new location.