The University of Idaho Argonaut

Christina Veloz, interim director for the Office of Multicultural Affairs, talks to guests at the Multicultural Dinner on Thursday Kate Kucharzyk/Argonaut

The Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Tutoring and Academic Assistance Programs held an orientation dinner for first-year and transfer multicultural students on Thursday. It was well attended by faculty, staff and students.
The dinner was created to help multicultural first-year and transfer students receive the information they need to succeed within the college environment.
“Our purpose is to help retain the students, and we felt that there needed to be an orientation geared toward multicultural students,” said Christina Veloz, interim director for OMA.

“We hope to be able to continue the program in the years to come,” she said.
The program featured presentations and included keynote speaker Margie Gonzalez, executive director of the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs.
In addition to being a forum for students to receive information on resources available to them, the dinner was a platform for students to meet faculty outside of class and to improve graduation rates, Veloz said.

Gonzalez spoke with three students prior to the dinner to discuss their goals, successes and challenges.
“It’s important to encourage multicultural students because retainment level is low for minorities,” she said.
Gonzalez has worked closely with Boise State University to develop an action plan to retain minority students.
“It’s great to see the university taking the initiative to reach out to the students,” Gonzalez said.

Bruce Pitman, vice provost for student affairs, said the orientation dinner was a great success.
“It was gratifying to see the number of staff present,” Pitman said. “The timing was excellent. Now is about the time we start the freshmen follow-up.”
Freshmen follow-up is a program through the Student Affairs Office that sets up meetings with new students in the living groups to see how they are doing and what they need. Meetings are usually arranged through a resident assistant or Greek president.

“While I may think it’s a success, the true measure of its success is with the students’ response,” Pitman said.
Victor Mazo, co-chair for UNITY, said he would like to have seen more students at the dinner.
“It was a good effort,” Mazo said. “But there needs to be more coordination, since it was difficult to get students to attend.”

The orientation dinner was originally planned for September, but the OMA moved it to October to give students a chance to know the campus.
“It needed to be planned for earlier in the semester and not around midterms,” Mazo said. “Students are overloaded with information around this time.”
Mazo said keynote speaker Gonzalez was an important part of the event.
“She brought a unique perspective, an outsider’s perspective,” he said.

Gonzalez said she was impressed with the students, faculty and staff. She encouraged students to maintain their cultural roots as it is critical to their success in higher education.
”It is in our history to succeed,” she said. “So, take one step for your ancestors and one for yourself.”