Environmental Justice + Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

The mission of the Multicultural Office for Student Access, Inclusiveness and Community (MOSAIC) is to support and create opportunities that assist all UCCS students in developing a sense of community and place on campus, with an emphasis on supporting and advocating for students from underrepresented communities. MOSAIC strives to create a safe place that encourages and nurtures connections and engagement across social identities, cultures, international status, experiences, gender identities and sexual orientations.

The Matrix advances research, curriculum, and faculty development examining the dynamics of oppression and privilege in the United States and around the globe. Our central focus is on the intersections of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexuality, as they interact with each other and with other dimensions of inequality. We strive to foster an intellectual climate that supports inclusion and collaboration among our faculty, students, and the community.

The Women's and Ethnic Studies Program was founded as an interdisciplinary center that coordinates the Women's Studies minor, sponsors colloquia and lectures, fosters curriculum and faculty development, and encourages students to fully explore their potential. It is the study of the histories and cultures of ethnic minority groups in the U.S. and their relationship not only to each other, but to dominant culture as well. An important goal of the program is to build on the knowledge and research grounded in the experiences of the U.S. racial/ethnic groups that have been marginalized and excluded from full participation in society.

The Cesar E. Chavez Student Conference and Scholarship Competition is specifically designed to give students the opportunity to submit scholarly work that focuses on a wide range of diversity issues. Diversity is defined in accordance with the University of Colorado's definition; it is, therefore, understood as referring to subjects/issues which pertain to traditionally underrepresented and historically oppressed target populations, primarily ethnic and racial minorities, women and LGBTQ+ persons and persons with disabilities.

The Rosa Parks Scholarship Competition was designed to give students an opportunity to express in any medium the ideals that Rosa Parks represents (see below*). The competition is open to all undergraduate students currently matriculating at UCCS; and each student is encouraged to explore how best to express his or her own ideas and opinions regarding ideals such as equality, justice, multiculturalism, diversity, and cultural pluralism or issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia, social inequality, or injustice*.