The Multicultural Student Mentoring Program is a gem on campus that not all students are aware of, said Natalie Toney, program coordinator at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

It was developed in the late 1980s and has since been overseen by the newly-named ODI. Toney said the purpose is to facilitate retention, academic success and development, as well as to ensure graduation of students.

The program mostly targets minority and first-generation students and is open to freshmen and incoming transfer students.

Once in the program, students are paired with a mentor — much like the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. These mentors are sophomores and older, and are matched according to similar majors and group interests.

“Say a student wants to join the [Student Activities Council], the mentor will help the student get connected with the group and answer any questions they may have,” Toney said. “It’s like a social connection.”

But the Multicultural Student Mentoring Program (MSMP) has even more to offer, Toney said. It also provides developmental workshops, personal development classes, seminars with the Office of Money Management, testing, student success classes and this semester, it is providing information from Student Health Services.

Toney said the MSMP program has been around for several years, but within the last two years, there has been added changes, such as additional community service and social activities.

This year, the program has about 280 students from first to fifth year enrolled, 19 peer mentors, around 15 tutors and 21 professional mentors. Toney said the program is a blessing to have on campus.

“It really has helped many students,” Toney said, “and it’s just wonderful being able to see the success of these students and a lot of it is because of this program.”

The MSMP hosts events every Tuesday at Shocker Hall and every Wednesday in room 203 of the Rhatigan Student Center. For more information about MSMP, contact Toney at [email protected].