Skip to main content

Cultural and Spiritual Life and its constituent centers offer a range of learning opportunities grounded in the following themes:

  • Community building
  • Student leadership development
  • Learning across difference
  • Peer mentoring + education
  • Culturally-affirming spaces

While centers may orient their program offerings differently, these learning opportunities have always been open and accessible to all students. We invite you to consider a range of entry points and learning opportunities and encourage you to engage as best as you feel suitable.

EMPOWER Students' Collective

Empower Conference 1024x575

 

Since its founding in 2011, EMPOWER has been the cornerstone of connecting culturally-diverse student communities on campus.

The idea for EMPOWER began in Spring 2010 with the recognition of a need for more intentional connections among historically underrepresented students. While cultural centers existed on campus and have been open to all students, there were no structured spaces fostering collaboration between the communities that engaged with each center. In its early years, the two signature programs anchoring the EMPOWER Students’ Collective were an off-campus student leader retreat (usually in the fall semester) and a peer-led conference (spring semester). The conference offered a space to examine identity and leadership practices among students of color.

In 2014, the Fellows program was introduced. Designed to have student representation from various cultural centers, the outcome of the program was to strengthen design and delivery of programs and offer a pulse for the student experience, especially among historically underrepresented communities. Up to five student fellows were appointed annually to support programming and engage intentionally in collaborative partnerships across campus. Over the past decade, key partners beyond the cultural centers have included the Center for Student Involvement (including Lead360),  Residential Life, Office of Belonging, and the Office of Scholarship and Opportunity Programs.

In 2025, the EMPOWER Fellows Program will be paused temporarily to allow for intentional review, design, and will be relaunched in an expanded format. Watch this space for more!

Cultural and Spiritual Life Program Fund

Cultural and Spiritual Life will assist student organizations in funding of programming that is:

  1. Collaborative in nature
  2. Experiential
  3. Address at least one of the following topics:
    • Educating across difference
    • Building Relationships
    • Strengthening dialogue
    • Advancing learning/cultural activities that lead to a more inclusive Environment

Request for funding should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line (“Request for Funding”): Submissions should include the following:

  1. Title of event
  2. Date of event
  3. Location of event
  4. Do you have a confirmed room booking? [yes/no]
  5. Amount requested (max request: $1000)
  6. Are there other student organizations involved? [yes/no]. If yes, please specify.
  7. Rationale for the event? [How does this event connect with some of the key outcomes highlighted above?]
  8. Describe the program in no more than 1,000 words. You may include the main outcomes of the program. 
  9. Are there any other funders? Please list them out.
  10. Have you received funding before from Cultural and Spiritual Life? [Yes/No]

Learning Development and Delivery Consultations

Interested in exploring and examining options for learning and development around issues and experiences of culture and difference for your student organization, student leaders, student staff, or administrative department?

We are available to support your learning needs through consultation including resourcing and delivering engaging and interactive workshops that may be customized to your need.

Please contact [email protected] to arrange a time for us to connect where we can discuss your needs and what we may be able to offer you.