Center for Diversity and Inclusion
Scope and Contents
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion record group documents the daily functions and events of the Multi-Cultural Center, which was later known as the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. The earliest records pre-date the formation of the Multi-Cultural Center in the 1976-1977 academic year. The last records are from 2024 when the centers were closed in response to Utah House Bill 261. The Multi-Cultural Center and later Center for Diversity and Inclusion, as well as the Q Center provided support for racial minority and LGBTQ+ students through clubs, events, awards, programs, lectures, and communication materials.
The records include general files, adminstrative files, meeting minutes, agendas, news clippings, press releases, promotional materials, reports, plans, awards, scrapbooks, photographs and media cassette, VHS, DVD, as well as print copies of the department's website prior to its debanding in 2024.
Dates
- Creation: 1958 - 2024
Access
The collection is open and freely available to researchers during Special Collections hours or by appointment. Researchers must complete an Application for Use and show a photo ID prior to accessing materials. Some materials are restricted to maintain privacy concerns.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be obtained from the Special Collections and University Archives.
Biographical / Historical
The Multi-Cultural Center at Southern Utah University was established during the 1976-1977 school year through a Title III grant that was designated to serve local tribes in Cedar City. Often referred to as the MCC, it served primarily Native American Students, Black students, Latino students, and other minority or international students. It included services such as English as a Second Language classes, counseling, tutoring, and cultural workshops and programs.
In Fall 2015, President Scott L. Wyatt changed the name of the Multi-Cultural Center to the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and was also known as the CDI. The new department provided similar resources and opportunities for involvement for minority students. In addition to the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, the Q Center was opened in 2023 to provide additional support for LGBTQ+ students. On July 1, 2024, both centers were closed as a reaction to House Bills 261, 257, and 438 and replaced by an expanded Student Outreach and Support office.
Full Extent
6.5 Linear Feet : 8 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The Center for Diversity and Inclusion record group is arranged in three series. Each series reflects evolution of the department's name. The first and last series are subdivided into additional sub-series. Arrangement is chronologial by type of materials.
I. Multicultural Center --
A. General Files, Minutes, Correspondence
B. News and Press Releases
C. Publicity
D. Reports and Plans
E. Scrapbooks and Photographs
F. Awards
G. Media
II. Utah Coalition for the Advancement of Minorities in Higher Education
III. Center for Diversity and Inclusion --
A. General
B. Q-Center
Accession Information
The majority of these items were received by an unknown donor prior to 2015. Some items have been collected, and or printed off SUU's wesite by various university employees. Items from the Center for Diversity and Inclusion, as well as the Q-Center were donated in 2024 when the two departments were closed.
Processing Information
This collections has been processed as items were received. The collection was reprocessed in November 2024 by Special Collections Staff.
- Title
- Multi-Cultural Center
- Date
- 2024
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives Repository