At the MOSAIC Center, we believe it is important to know, honor, and celebrate our past. The work of creating meaningful opportunities for student access, inclusion, and community is rooted in a rich history of staying attuned to the ever-changing needs of an increasingly diverse student body.
In 1969, Seattle University opened the doors to the Office of Minority Affairs (OMA) as a result of student activism and advocacy. In its inception, OMA provided academic support services for students of color through tutoring and English support programs. Over the 50+ year history, the office went through several changes in leadership and department name (most recently the Office of Multicultural Affairs) and expanded its charge to support students from historically underrepresented and minoritized backgrounds, including but not limited to BIPoC, LGBTQ+, and undocumented students.
In 1996, thanks to the thought leadership of former SU President Fr. Sullivan, Seattle University launched the Collegia Program to support the needs of commuter students. The Collegia Program provided much needed space for students to congregate and create community. Over the course of 20+ years, the Collegia Program grew in scope to address the unique needs of transfer students, graduate students and adult learners, first-generation college students, and veteran/military-connected students under a new name, Student Success & Outreach.
At its core, the mission work of OMA and the Collegia Program was about removing barriers and supporting the thriving of students from diverse backgrounds and life experiences. It’s with this core mission in mind that the MOSAIC Center was born.
In the Fall of 2023, we launched the new MOSAIC Center.