Student Affairs

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STUDENT LIFE
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
The college campus introduces students
to a diverse community of people from
different races, cultures, genders, religions,
socioeconomic levels, political perspectives,
abilities and more. At Clemson, we, like
many of our peer institutions, recognize
the value a diverse community adds to
the development of all of our students and
faculty members.
Clemson’s efforts to create a campus
community where each student feels
welcome and supported has garnered
national attention by Insight Into Diversity
magazine as a 2017 and 2018 Higher
Education Excellence in Diversity Award
recipient. Multiple campus departments
work collectively to provide enriching
experiences to promote personal growth.
Supporting our Multicultural Community
The Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center exists to support all students in
enhancing their intercultural competence. Intercultural competence focuses on knowledge,
skills and abilities to engage with individuals across differences, or more specifically, with
individuals who have differing racial and ethnic identities, language or beliefs. Intercultural
competence is a vital skill employers are seeking for our global economy. As students navigate
their college experience, they will find the Gantt Multicultural Center to be supportive
advocates for all students while also challenging students to think about who they are and
what that means for how they engage in our society.
Your student’s initial engagement with the Multicultural Center will likely be through our
Community Dialogue program. Trained peer dialogue facilitators lead all new students
through a dialogue on a selected topic to discuss Clemson core values, understand the value
of different perspectives and dive into self-exploration into their backgrounds. Additionally,
the center collaborates with students, faculty and staff to implement cultural heritage
celebrations and identity-based awareness campaigns, provide education through speakers
and workshop series, and advise student organizations. For more information on the
programs and services of the multicultural center, please visit
Inclusive Student Excellence Programs
Clemson students from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds are supported by a
number of initiatives designed to advance their growth and development. These programs
range from academic-based initiatives to general student support programs.
CONNECTIONS
CONNECTIONS is an initiative designed to assist first-year students with an emphasis on
the needs of students of color (black, Hispanic and Latino, Asian, Native American and
multiracial) and/or first-generation students in their transition to college. Students have the
opportunity to live in one of three designated living-learning communities and receive peer
mentoring and support from professional staff members. For more information, visit
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
• Encourage your student to attend
events related to diversity and
inclusion.
• Ask your student how they are
navigating defining who they are
in this new stage of their life.
• Engage in conversations with your
students about their experiences
developing intercultural competence.
• If you feel your student needs support
in navigating campus due to their
identities, connect with our staff in
the Multicultural Center, Advocacy
and Success or any appropriate
inclusive student excellence program
highlighted in this section.