Within the Division of Student Affairs, we strengthen and sustain diverse, thriving communities that support student belonging. At the center of this effort is Student Experiences & Engagement and supporting units like Diversity & Cultural Engagement and the Craft Center. Engaging with diverse cultures, identities and perspectives gives student learning depth and vibrance. Our division strives to help students reflect on their own identities and cultures, develop empathy and deepen their commitment to effect social change while finding connections with other students.
Cultural Resource Centers
Spaces for learning, sharing and celebrating are important. Spaces that promote respect and encouragement. Spaces that are safe for personal and cultural expression. At OSU, these spaces are the cultural resource centers, where students with different racial and ethnic backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions, socioeconomic circumstances and physical abilities come together to find support and community. Seven different centers across campus give students room for workshops, celebrations, social justice conversations, cooking demonstrations and more. They’re spaces for all students to come together, to be themselves and to learn about each other.
Celebrating the cultures of Asian and Pacific Island nations, the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center provides a meditation room, engagement opportunities, and space for students to mingle and experience community.

Celebrating Chicano/Latino/Hispanic cultures, Centro Cultural César Chávez has an event space, areas for students to study, and a comfortable learning atmosphere.

Representing ethnicities across central and southwestern Asia and northern Africa, the Ettihad Cultural Center works to provide a place for students to learn more about these cultures while also providing a relaxing area to mingle and study.

The Hattie Redmond Women & Gender Center works to empower women and educate the campus community about women's issues, resources, and opportunities both locally and globally.

kaku-ixt mana ina haws (ina haws) represents the Indigenous people of the Americas and Pacific Islands. We strive to deconstruct colonial borders’ impact on Indigenous identities while also honoring the sovereignty of tribes. The Ina Haws provides a sense of home and community for Indigenous students that helps preserve their Indigenous identities while in college. We also provide educational opportunities to educate all about the regions' tribes.

The Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center celebrates African and African-American culture in our community and beyond while also providing study areas, academic support, and cultural engagement opportunities.

The Pride Center seeks to create and provide a safe, non-judgemental and supportive community for students of all sexual orientations and gender identifications to participate.

Diversity Spotlight: Diversity Learning Assistants
While academic education is often students’ day-in-day-out focus, social justice education is just as important. That’s why each residence hall has diversity learning assistants. These student staff members run workshops, field questions, hold one-on-one meetings and foster healthy and welcoming social justice conversations. An understanding of relevant social issues gives students context for their academic studies and community involvement. Diversity learning assistants encourage and challenge students to engage in this important social discourse.
Diversity Spotlight: Multicultural Greek Organizations
Dotting the map around campus, there are 46 different fraternity and sorority houses, 46 opportunities for students to find their community, their “home away from home.” Among these are several multicultural organizations as well, chances for students from diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds to engage with their cultures and learn about each other. They’re committed to helping members thrive academically and socially while preserving cultural traditions, raising cultural awareness and promoting empathy and understanding between students.
Our division provides opportunities for students to engage in service and reflect on issues of local and global concern. Through advocacy, activism, philanthropy and service, our students can make an impact in the ways that matter to them most — while also finding connection, enhancing community well-being and developing their leadership skills.
Finding Connection
From Beavs Volunteer and Days of Service projects to dialogues exploring pressing social issues to Alternative Breaks across the West Coast, Community Engagement & Leadership (CEL) helps organize programs that educate, connect and challenge students to lead with intention and care. Students can learn about and practice relational leadership, be a part of community building, and progress positive change with CEL. Often working with division partners, like the Basic Needs Center, CEL helps students engage with and contribute to our OSU and local communities. And, depending on a student’s passion, there are lots of ways to get involved, whether through an organized OSU event or perusing the online database of service opportunities maintained by CEL.
Division Resources for Students
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The Adventure Leadership Institute helps students develop leadership and outdoor preparedness skills, while building community. Learn about our remote programming on our website.

Students who love the outdoors and adventure are encouraged to take advantage of this community — build leadership skills while participating in adventure trips, skills workshops and more.

We believe a better campus, a better community, a better experience happens when we come together. You are a student. You have a voice. Make it known — apply to be on a committee or to volunteer, register for an ASOSU internship or attend one of our events. We also have resources to help students navigate their educational experience.

The Basic Needs Center is here to support you. We provide textbook access, laptop and calculator lending and food assistance. Contact the center for peer support to help you identify and apply to resources.

The Beaver Connect program connects new-to-OSU students, peer mentors and faculty members to ease the student transition to college, facilitate faculty-student interaction and build a network of support to help students succeed during their time at OSU. Students are placed on teams that meet up to five times per term during the first year. They discuss how to be successful when applying for scholarships, finding research opportunities and exploring career paths.
Beavers Give a Dam is an interactive bystander program to create a culture committed to ending gender-based violence.
The Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life aims to empower the OSU Greek community to strive for individual and organizational excellence. Services include advocating for the interests of the Greek community; supporting community development around multicultural competence; advising governing councils and chapters; and leading development programs.

Most years, Student Experiences & Engagement oversees about 400 clubs and organizations. Find one that fits with your passion! There are lots of options to explore — from cultural organizations to clubs focusing on environmental, health or other social issues. Clubs enhance knowledge, help you develop transferable skills and complement classroom learning. Learn leadership, organizational development, team building and communication skills.
At Community Engagement & Leadership, we believe the world should be a more just, caring place for everyone and that OSU students have the power to shape the world. CEL inspires and nourishes relational leadership practices that enrich communities through collaborative learning, service, and action. Join us and get involved today!

The award-winning Diversity Learning Assistant (DLA) program in UHDS promotes inclusive and welcoming communities in the residence halls, cooperative houses and dining facilities through workshops and programs. DLAs are peer educators who work with student staff and student leaders.

This program focuses on peer-to-peer connections for international students, who come to OSU from nearly 100 countries. The team facilitates participation in community, recreational and educational activities.

Orange Media Network oversees a multitude of student media channels, including KBVR FM, KBVR TV, the Barometer, Prism Magazine and Beaver's Digest.

The OSU Program Council is a student-led, student-driven organization, which plans and produces meaningful events. We are committed to serving the Oregon State community by upholding traditions and creating inclusive programming that enhances the college experience.

Through our many programs, Student Experiences & Engagement provides hands-on experiences that can help you find a sense of belonging, build skills for employability, challenge your heart and mind, make new connections, amplify your strengths, help you connect to purpose, lift your spirit and support you living your best life.
