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The MCSS Center

The Multicultural Student Success Center provides services to students at Pierce College who have an interest in multicultural issues, programs and activities. Some of the services include:

Advising, Scholarship Search and Consultation

The Multicultural Student Services Office is housed within the Advising Center. Students can receive one-on-one academic advising, transfer information resources and have access to scholarship information as well as consultation for students who are looking for a customized listing of scholarships. The scholarship consultation requires an appointment with the MCSS Advisor by calling (253)964-6705.

Cultural and Ethnic Club Resource & Support

Multicultural Student Services (MCSS) supports the activation of ethnic/cultural clubs who are underrepresented in the campus community. As a form of educational support and promoting student success, student leaders wanting to start an ethnic club are invited and encouraged to meet with the Multicultural Student Services Educational Advisor.

For more information about starting a club at Pierce College, click here. Come make it happened this year. The MCSS Office will help!

Below is a listing of clubs who have existed in the past:

Multicultural Leadership Institute (MLI)

MLI is a multifaceted program with four main areas.

  1. A diversity–training workshop track
  2. A co-curricular transcript
  3. A Service-Learning overseas project & community service opportunities
  4. Cultural community events

Diversity–Training Workshops

The diversity–training track is called EMBRACE, which stands for “Educating Myself for Better Racial Awareness and Cultural Enrichment.” It consists of seven 2-hour workshops and 4 one-hour workshops. The workshops cover topics such as cross cultural communication, racism, sexism, ablism, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender issues, gender issues, classism, age discrimination, religious diversity, inter–racial relationships and multiracial identity. For a description of each workshop, click here.

To attend the workshops, students must attend an MLI Orientation.

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Multicultural Leadership Institute (MLI) Co–curricular Transcript

Selection criteria for jobs and admissions to colleges put a great deal of weight on a student's involvement outside the classroom. More importantly, job interviewers and college admissions evaluators look for people with a well-rounded knowledge of diversity, culturally enriching experiences and how much a student knows about themselves as it relates to diversity.

By becoming a participant in the MLI program, students can receive a co-curricular transcript, which details each the diversity workshops attended. In addition, students can list community service and leadership documentation within MLI as well as service and leadership performed outside of MLI. This transcript is signed by the President of Pierce College and can be used as a portfolio piece and for admissions to college and for interviews. Colleges and Universities are not requiring student to submit a co-curricular transcript, however this transcript is best utilized to capture important information for personal statement essays for college admissions and for job interviews.

To submit an MLI application, click here

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MLI Community Service Opportunities and Service–Learning Overseas Project

MLI strives to foster leadership in students by first learning about themselves through the workshops and to apply them in real settings. There are three levels of community service involvement student can choose from to give back to the community:

On-campus Level – MLI participants can volunteer to help an on campus department or office with event planning or assisting in one–time events.

Off campus and local Level – MLI participants can volunteer in projects which affect Lakewood and Tacoma or nearby areas with one–time events or can be a temporary volunteer for an agency needing help in their organizations.

Overseas Level – MLI participants can volunteer to assist in a yearlong project that serves the mountain agricultural community in the Dominican Republic. This is a service-learning project, different from a community service opportunity because there is a class credit project and written report connected to the service given.

For more details in getting involved in any of these levels, a student must attend an MLI Orientation.

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Multicultural Leadership Institute (MLI) Community Events

The purpose of the MLI Community Events is to strive to connect students, staff, faculty, and the local community outside the campus through interactive events that foster several opportunities to interact with and learn from others. These programs are open to the public. For current quarter dates of events, see MCSS Calendar

MLI Diversity Book Club

Enjoy reading? The MLI Diversity Book Club comes together to read and discuss literature and books that have a diversity/social justice theme.

MLI Munch-N-Learn Events

Love trying new cultural food? The MLI Munch-n-Learn events are opportunities to get together at different cultural restaurants to mingle and learn about the culture and history. (Note: participants are required to pay for their own meals.)

MLI Visual/Cinema Art Events

Movie-lovers and art exhibit enthusiasts will enjoy opportunities to explore cultures through cinema and visual arts. Movie sessions and art exhibits will occasionally be followed by a group discussion.

MLI World Dance Events

For dance-lovers, the world dance series provides an opportunity to learn about various cultural dances, it's history and music.

MLI Foreign Language Social Chat Sessions

Aspiring bilinguals and multi-linguals will enjoy practicing conversational skills in a variety of languages. Spend an hour practicing with a group of new friends. Each chat will be lead by a facilitator. Learn to pronounce words correctly in a fun environment. Certain languages will be offered depending on large need and/or availability of language facilitator. Languages offered are: Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, English for ESL Learners, and American Sign Language.