WPI Rebrands Office of Multicultural Affairs to Reflect Diversity Mission
New England Council member Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has renamed its Office of Multicultural Affairs as the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) to reflect the university’s efforts to champion a more inclusive and diverse community on campus. The new office will house various Identity Centers and host programs to offer support and resources for all students and communities at WPI.
The team at the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education (ODIME) intends to introduce new events and open Identity Centers to promote social justice and celebrate multiculturalism on campus. For support groups and centers that already have a presence on campus, ODIME aims to amplify their voice to expand their reach to help students find the support they need. New centers will be opening under the new office’s guidance, such as the Center for Black Excellence and the Lavender Lounge. The new office is leading the charge to make WPI’s campus more accessible starting with remodeling the OASIS Multicultural Center and installing a new wheelchair ramp.
WPI’s Director of Academic Programming and Student Transition Rachael Heard said, “I would love to see diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work become more sustainable across divisions and departments. DEIB work is everyone’s job, and I think there is a real opportunity here for all of our campus community members to become part of the story in an intentional way.”
The New England Council commends WPI’s efforts to support the creation of a more diverse and inclusive New England.
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