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About Us

Established in 1975 as the Office for Minority Affairs, the OMSA's central mission is to identify, recruit, and support—through scholarship, tutoring, mentoring, and cultural programming—African-, Hispanic-, Native- American and other formerly underrepresented students, now to include students from Kentucky's Appalachian Region.

We endeavor to make UK an even more open, supportive, and friendly environment for these students. In addition, the OMSA encourages and sponsors their active engagement in the total university. The OMSA is the office of first resort for rational dialogue and appropriate action on all elements of those variables and differences that make for a rich university atmosphere: race, gender, lifestyle, sexuality, disability status—the full gamut of diversity and multiculturalism. We put a face on the University's valuing, sensitivity, and awareness of an inclusive living and learning environment.

After 30 years as a vital part of UK, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs takes pride in our central role in the life of this Great University.

Mission

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) supports the University of Kentucky’s commitment to embracing difference and promoting increased knowledge of diversity and its significance as a constitutive value of the University community. OMSA provides support services needed to ensure the academic success and personal development of all ethnic minority students. Further, OMSA provides cultural programming to promote mutual respect and attributes of global citizenship on the part of students from all backgrounds.

Vision

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs [OMSA], through its programs, services and resources, seeks to enhance and advance the climate for diversity throughout Kentucky while preparing students for professionally successful and socially responsible lives within and across diverse communities.