15 Year Book - Flipbook - Page 230
OFFICE OF ACADEMIC
MULTICULTURAL INITIATIVES
The Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) and CEO have a shared legacy of outreach
and preparation of pre-college and transfer students. Early on, OAMI hosted many K-12 programs
that CEO now manages (including GEAR UP). Today, OAMI collaborates with campus and external
partners on various initiatives to support students in academic success and building community,
which aids them in developing holistic skills to succeed in college and beyond. With the MLK and
Juneteenth Symposiums, the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow, and other community events, the
office contributes to U-M’s ongoing commitment to fostering an intellectually and culturally
diverse campus.
Activism Leads to New Office
Activism from the United Coalition Against Racism
and the Black Action Movement III leads to the
creation of the Office of Minority Affairs (OMA),
the precursor to OAMI.
1987
1988
1989
Michigan Student Study
The Michigan Student Study (MSS)
examines how U-M’s commitment
to diversity impacts students.
1993
Precursor to M-Connect
With state funding from the Michigan College/University
Partnership Program, M-Connect’s precursor begins,
supporting academically or economically disadvantaged
transfer students from community and tribal colleges.
1996
1997
Launch of SAMI Grants
MLK Observation
U-M formally observes the Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. holiday. OAMI becomes the
administrative home of the annual MLK
Symposium in 1988.
Black Celebratory Graduation
Black seniors organize the first Black
Celebratory Graduation Celebration. As of 2024,
OAMI hosts six additional cultural graduations.
OAMI partners with the Office of MultiEthnic Student Affairs to launch Student
Academic Multicultural Initiatives (SAMI)
grants, funding students' educational
and research pursuits and student
organizations’ multicultural projects.
