The Office of Multicultural Education & Initiatives (MEI) seeks to provide programming and support for students from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. MEI celebrates the diversity that God established in His creation and strives to instill that same sense of admiration, wonder, and awe within the Grove City College community.
Our Philosophy The Apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 12:12 (ESV), “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” The Grove City College community wholeheartedly believes this and seeks to instill an appreciation and celebration of Biblical racial reconciliation and ethnic and cultural diversity.
Events & ProgramsThe Office of Multicultural Education & Initiatives is responsible for organizing, facilitating, and providing oversight for events and programs on diversity education for the student body as well as support for minority students. Events and programs include:
Annual New Student Welcome Working in conjunction with the Office of International Education and the Director of Multicultural Recruiting and Retention, this event is specifically designed to welcome new students and provide the opportunity to meet other students.
Educational Programs These programs aim to help students develop a true appreciation and respect for others while providing opportunities to celebrate and experience the richness of cultural diversity. Offerings include Celebrate Cuisine, Stories of Heart and Home, book studies, and film viewings and discussions.
Annual Conference The Jubilee Cross Cultural Conference is an annual gathering of college students focused on Biblical racial reconciliation. In addition to the conference itself, intentional meeting and discussion times are offered to help students process their conference experience.
Common Grounds This event provides a monthly opportunity for open and honest dialogue around the topic of racial reconciliation with an emphasis on our unity in Christ. College faculty and staff typically serve as guest speakers, sharing their personal stories and experiences on race, ethnicity, and culture. These events occur off campus, at a local coffee shop, with coffee and pastries provided for attendees.
Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel Event Working closely with the leaders of Students Excited about Diversity (S.E.A.D.) and the dean of the chapel, this event is dedicated to honoring the memory and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Bus Trip This annual bus trip focuses on the theme of racial reconciliation and affords students the opportunity to visit museums and memorials such as the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Faculty and staff participate creating an opportunity for dialogue, and reflection before, during, and after the experience.
1:1 MeetingsThe Director of Multicultural Education & Initiatives is available for one-on-one meetings with students from all backgrounds to provide support for the College’s minority student population or to educate the College’s majority student population. The director welcomes students as they seek to make meaning of their experiences and better understand Biblical racial reconciliation.
Students Excited About Diversity (S.E.A.D.)Students who are passionate about racial reconciliation also have the opportunity to get involved with Students Excited about Diversity (S.E.A.D.). This student-led organization provides a safe and inviting atmosphere in which all students may engage in communal reflection and reconciliation on matters concerning race, ethnicity, and culture. S.E.A.D. works alongside the Director of Multicultural Education & Initiatives to plan weekly meetings, regular dialogues, and some of the programs, events, and initiatives listed above.