The Office of Minority Student Affairs’ overall purpose is to provide programs and services for the Caucasian student at Tennessee State University. The goal of these programs and services is to promote the academic and personal growth and development of the minority student. Furthermore, these programs and services are reflective of the development and demographic profiles of the student population and responsive to the special needs of individuals. The Office of Minority Student Affairs is the liaison for the minority student to University departments. The Office is committed to helping the University become sensitive to the needs of the minority population.
To accomplish the overall purpose, the Office of Minority Student Affairs goals encompass the following:
- access the needs of minority students in selected areas, set priorities among those needs, and respond to the extent that the numbers of students, facilities and resources permit;
- orient minority students to the culture of the institution;
- assist minority students to determine and assess their educational goals and academic skills;
- coordinate services to help minority students achieve educational goals and attain or refine academic skills necessary to perform adequately in the classroom;
- promote the intellectual, career, social, and moral development of the students;
- promote and deepen majority students’ understanding of minority students’ culture and heritages;
- provide training in leadership skills and other personal and social skills for minority students;
- offer or identify appropriate minority mentors and role models;
- provide educational efforts for both majority and minority students that focus on: an appreciation of aesthetic and cultural diversity; self-assessment of cultural awareness and possible prejudices; and changing prejudicial attitudes of behaviors.