Mission

Multicultural Student Services (MSS) is dedicated to fostering intercultural engagement, celebrating diverse perspectives, and promoting student success for all students. We offer mentoring, leadership opportunities, and programs that encourage cross-cultural understanding, build inclusive communities, and empower students to explore and express their identities while cultivating their unique strengths and potential.

MSS works for and with students to develop programs offered through the Multicultural Student Center (MSC), LGBTQ Center, Latinx Student Center, Interfaith Student Center, and Asian American Student Center, all located in Newcomb Hall. These important centers of student life have been designed to meet the needs of multicultural students to find community, access support services, expand their learning, and strengthen their sense of belonging. The Centers offer meeting and program space for student groups, study space with computers, and comfortable lounge areas. These centers are open to everyone.

Multicultural Student Center

Opened in 2016, the Multicultural Student Center (MSC) serves as a student-centered, collaborative space dedicated to supporting the success, engagement, and empowerment of a diverse student body. The MSC fosters personal development, encourages dialogue to build understanding across diverse experiences, and equips students with the tools to become socially conscious citizen leaders. Through these efforts, the MSC seeks to cultivate cultural fluency and a shared responsibility to uphold the dignity and respect of all individuals.

The MSC was created through student advocacy led by the Multicultural Student Center Initiative (MSCI). In the fall of 2014, a coalition of students from various organizations formed MSCI to advocate for a multicultural center on Grounds. The group conducted research on peer institutions, assessed student needs, and explored repurposing the Kaleidoscope Center for Cultural Fluency, ultimately developing a comprehensive proposal for the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Less than two years after the initiative began—and before the proposal was finalized—the Office of the Dean of Students began identifying potential locations within Newcomb Hall. Thanks to the generosity of The Cavalier Daily, which agreed to relocate its offices, the future MSC secured a space on the lower level of Newcomb. In April 2016, the MSCI and the Office of the Dean of Students jointly announced that the MSC would open that fall.

Throughout the summer, the new formed Multicultural Student Services unit within the Office of the Dean of Students prepared for the fall opening. After months of planning, the MSC opened on Friday, November 4, 2016.

In spring 2020, in response to the growing needs of multicultural communities, the University expanded its centers. The MSC moved to Level 2 of Newcomb Hall, the LGBTQ Center relocated to Level 3 alongside the newly established Latinx Student Center, and the Interfaith Student Center found its home on Level 4.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning (LGBTQ) Center

The LGBTQ Center provides educational programs, advocacy initiatives, and community building opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and alumni of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Opened in 2001 with generous financial support from the Serpentine Society, the LGBTQ Center works to raise awareness and inclusion of sexual and gender minorities as important contributors to the broader University community.

Latinx Student Center (LSC)

Opened in February 2020, the Latinx Student Center (LSC) fosters awareness and understanding of Latinx experiences, cultures, issues, and identity through educational and community building initiatives.   Years of student involvement, research, and advocacy led its creation, with significant momentum from the Our University to Shape proposal (Fall 2018), the Latinx Leadership Institute's culminating research project and symposium advocating for the LSC (Spring 2019), and Student Council's efforts to survey and assess University support forthe Latinx community (Spring 2019). 

In May 2019,  as part of the strategic plan to enhance services and support for multicultural students, President Jim Ryan announced the expansion of the existing Multicultural Student Center and LGBTQ Center, along with the creation of the Latinx Student Center (LSC) and Interfaith Student Center.  Throughout the summer and fall of 2019, Multicultural Student Services (MSS) professional staff collaborated with Latinx students to develop the LSC. Student played a central role in shaping every aspect of the center's operations, from crafting its mission and defining programmatic focus areas, to making decisions space use and design. The LSC's programmatic areas of focus include: leadership, Latinx culture and identity, community and belonging, success, and recruitment and alumni engagement. 

Interfaith Student Center

Opened in February 2020, the Interfaith Student Center (IFSC) aims to provide a welcoming, comfortable, and safe space where students of diverse backgrounds and beliefs can practice their own faith, spirituality and mindfulness and learn about those of others. The IFSC supports interfaith dialogue, education, and relationships while recognizing the many vibrant religious communities on Grounds.

During the 2005-2006 academic year, UVA designated Room 105 in Pavilion VIII as a Silent Meditation Room. In response to student requests for a larger, more centrally located space, the room was relocated to Newcomb Hall, Room 456, during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Continued student involvement and advocacy led to the creation of the Interfaith Student Center (IFSC), with significant momentum stemming from a proposal submitted by the Virginia Interfaith Coalition in April 2019. The IFSC now serves as a larger, dedicated space for prayer, meditation, spiritual practice, and community building for UVA’s interfaith community.

Asian American Student Center

Opened in October 2023, the Asian American Student Center (AASC) is committed to honoring and increasing awareness around the vibrant and complex cultures, histories, experiences, and issues of the Asian diaspora.  The AASC seeks to educate, engage, empower, and amplify the Asian American community through active participation, dialogue, and community-building. The center provides programs, services, and resources for students who identify as Asian/Asian American and educational opportunities for the entire campus.

Led by students representing CIOs within the Asian Leaders Council (ALC) and inspired by the We Are Not Invisible report submitted to the University by the ALC in October 2018, the proposal for an Asian American Student Center emerged in Fall 2021. Through student involvement, research, and advocacy, the center was approved in Spring 2022.

During the 2022-23 academic year, student leaders collaborated with Multicultural Student Services staff to shape all aspects of the center’s design and operations. The opening of the Asian American Student Center reflects the University’s commitment to expanding programming, support, and services for an increasingly diverse student body.

The original Multicultural Student Center, which opened in 2016, was made possible by the generosity of the UVA Parents Fund whose financial gift provided the furnishings, technology, and carpet for the center.  The expanded Multicultural Student Center and LGBTQ Center, as well as the creation of the Latinx Student Center and Interfaith Student Center in 2020, were funded by the Office of the President, Jim Ryan, along with additional support from the UVA parents fund.  The creation of the Asian American Student Center in 2023 was also entirely funded by the Office of the President.  We are eternally grateful for their support.