Purdue values diversity of all kinds. A diverse community creates a dynamic environment for discovering new ideas - and ideas are at the heart of university life. Purdue offers ample opportunity for you to meet people from many backgrounds.

Facts

• Purdue students come from all 50 states and 128 countries.
• Purdue consistently ranks among the top two universities in the country in total international student enrollment.
• The diversity of Purdue's student population increases each year.

Visit Purdue's online Data Digest to learn more about enrollment of underrepresented student populations.

Black Cultural Center
The Black Cultural Center (BCC) provides a place for students, faculty, staff, and community members to study and learn about African American culture and heritage. The center and programs are open to everyone.

The BCC includes a library containing more than 7,000 volumes related to the African American experience, as well as a computer lab. A center-sponsored Cultural Arts Series features prominent scholars, performing artists, and Purdue alumni speakers who have made extensive contributions to human rights, business, education, and the arts. Talented student performing arts ensembles -- the Black Voices of Inspiration, Jahari Dance Troupe, Haraka Writers, and the New Directional Players -- provide a creative outlet for students who perform for audiences on and off campus.

International Center
The International Center is a nonprofit organization that provides programs and a meeting place for international students and visitors. The center's mission is to assist international newcomers and to promote understanding and interaction between the international and local communities. Programs are open to the public. Although the center is not an office of the University, international organizations registered with the Office of the Dean of Students may use the meeting rooms and kitchen on weekends for parties and meetings. English and foreign language conversation groups and classes are offered. The public can enjoy two international dinner series, cooking classes, dances, and the annual International Food Bazaar on the Saturday of Spring Fest. Volunteers conduct all of the center's classes and programs.

Latino Cultural Center
"Todos son bienvenidos!" "all are welcome!" Is the guiding philosophy of the Latino Cultural Center. The LCC was established in 2003 as a place to gather, learn, share, and support Latino cultures. The LCC seeks to promote diversity through education and programming. Some examples are service learning and engagement projects, language appreciation and education, cultural entertainment, poetry, and professionalism workshops. The center's facilities exist to create an environment for successful education as well as support for a culture that is both familiar and essential to the Purdue academic community.

Mentoring and Support
The Diversity Resource Office (DRO) works with other University offices, the Lafayette-West Lafayette community, and state and national professional organizations to foster diversity in the classroom, workplace, and University community and to educate the community about multiethnic and multicultural affairs. One of DRO's many initiatives includes the peer mentor program, L.E.A.D. (Leadership through Experience and Awareness in Diversity).

DRIVEN (Diversity and Retention Initiatives through Volunteering, Education, and Networking) is an organization in the College of Liberal Arts that provides multicultural students with diverse networking, mentoring, educational, and leadership opportunities designed to improve the collegiate experience for student leaders.

HORIZONS is a federally funded program whose goal is to improve the retention and graduation rates of Purdue students. It provides counseling, tutoring, basic-skills training, and special workshops for first-generation college students, income-eligible students, and students with disabilities. Approximately 360 students, first-year through senior, participate in HORIZONS.

The Minority Engineering Program is a unique program for Native American, African American, and Hispanic students. Major components include pre-college guidance, special counseling, retention seminars, and related activities.

Multicultural Science Programs support African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American students pursuing a career in science.

The Office of Multicultural Programs in Agriculture offers academic advising, mentoring, tutoring, financial aid counseling, and career counseling. The office helps students find internships, summer research experiences, study-abroad opportunities, graduate schools, and jobs.

The Technology Diversity Program provides support through mentoring and retention activities for multicultural and female students pursuing degrees in the College of Technology. It also coordinates a variety of outreach and recruitment  programs to inform underrepresented students about the career opportunities available in technology.

The Women in Engineering Program provides a comprehensive approach for the recruitment and retention of women in engineering. Activities include special seminars and plant trips, mentoring programs, peer support groups, networking opportunities, and social events.

The Women in Science Program provides support for students through peer mentoring, tutoring, and a residential learning community. The program fosters success for students in the College of Science from freshman year through Ph.D.

Student Organizations
You'll find numerous international, ethnic, and multicultural student groups at Purdue. Here is a partial listing:

• African Students Association
• Black Student Union
• CFS Multicultural Society for Excellence
• Hispanic Business Student Association
• Latino Student Union
• Minority Student Nurses' Association
• Minority Technology Association
• National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
• National Society of Black Engineers
• Society of Minority Managers
• Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences-Purdue