MEC Welcome Programs
Please visit the links below to get connected with our student agencies. We look forward to seeing you at our annual fall welcome programs!
New Black Student Weekend: August 19, Spanish Oaks Terrace, 7pm
New Black Student Weekend is a welcome program sponsored by Afrikan American Affairs (AAA), an agency of the Multicultural Engagement Center. The weekend is filled with a block party, leadership workshops and team games.
Adelante: August 25, Gregory Gym Arena, 5pm
Adelante is a welcome program held by Latinx Community Affairs (LCA), an agency of the Multicultural Engagement Center. Adelante is an opportunity for you to find you familia at UT. Join us for a night of music, free food, t-shirts and goodies. Students will have the opportunity to learn about various student organizations and resources available to the Latinx community.
Bloq Party: August 26, WCP Ballroom, 5pm org fair, 6pm headliner
Bloq Party is the annual welcome program hosted by the Queer Trans Black Indigenous People of Color Agency (QTBIPOCA), a student organization within the Multicultural Engagement Center. Join us for free t-shirts, learn about Queer student resources and hear inspiring words from our guest speaker.
Four Directions: August 30, Black Box Theater, 5pm
Four Directions is a welcome program by the Native American Indigenous Collective (NAIC), an agency of the Multicultural Engagement Center. This community event has a resource fair, blessings by the local Indigenous elders and musical dance expressions.
CultivAsian: September 1, Texas Union Ballroom, 5pm-6:30pm org fair, headliner 6:30pm
CultivAsian: Embrace Your APIDA Identity, formerly known as You Bring Out the Asian American in Me (YBO), is an event cohosted by the Asian Desi Pacific Islander American Collective (ADPAC), an agency of the Multicultural Engagement Center and the Asian American Culture Committee with the Events and Entertainment office. This welcome program aims to welcome and provide resources to incoming and current Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) students to the APIDA community on campus and in Austin.
Work in the MEC!
We are looking for excited individuals to spend the next year as employees in the MEC! We are seeking to hire up to 5 Student Associates and 1 Graduate Assistant for the 2022-2023 school year. All information concerning responsibilities, benefits, compensation, deadlines, and scheduling can be found on the posting. Applicants should apply via Handshake, but are welcome to contact the Multicultural Engagement Center at mec@austin.utexas.edu if you have any questions. We can’t wait to review your applications materials!
News and Events Feed
We post all our event info on Instagram (and repost to Facebook and Twitter).
Who We Are
The Multicultural Engagement Center (MEC) is a student resource office which is a part of Student Diversity Initiatives, a unit within the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, that supports a culturally diverse campus and helps cultivate a positive campus climate.
The MEC houses six student-run agencies, provides leadership development opportunities, presents peer-facilitated social justice and education trainings, offers a number of support services to student organizations, and hosts community outreach programs such as culturally relevant campus tours and student panels. For many students, the MEC is a great place to access resources and for others, it is a home away from home.
Our History
Originally named the Minority Information Center, the MEC was established by students in 1988 as an agency of Student Government (SG) to support Black and Latino students. During the early 1990s, the Center expanded its bylaws to include Native American and Asian American students. In 1998, the Center became part of the Office of Student Affairs and two full-time staff members were hired to oversee the office’s operations. In addition to administrative changes, the Center added a new agency, Students for Equity & Diversity and changed its name to the Multicultural Information Center to better reflect the expanded mission, which included resources for students who were not considered to be “minorities.”
In 2007, the Center became part of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement which was created under the direction of President William Powers to foster a more inclusive climate on campus. In 2009, the Center added a new student agency, Queer People of Color and Allies. In January 2011, the Center relocated to its current space in the newly built Student Activity Center in the heart of campus. Along with the move, the Center adopted a new name, the Multicultural Engagement Center, to better reflect its evolving mission. The MEC continues to serve as a resource for students of color at The University of Texas at Austin as well as empowers them to be the agents of social change.
Student Support Services and Resources
- Students can call Student Emergency Services at 512-471-5017 with emergency food needs or fill out this request form (requires UT EID to access): https://bit.ly/2vGpg8m
- UT Counseling and Mental Health Center’s Crisis Line (512-471-2255) will continue to operate 24/7; during regular business hours (M-F, 8-5), students seeking CMHC services or who are experiencing a crisis should call 512-471-3515 and choose option 3.
- To get more information about applying to the GSC Crisis Fund, email gsc@austin.utexas.edu.
- Dean Reagins-Lilly’s resource list: https://studentaffairs.utexas.edu/working-through-these-remote-days-ah
- College Student Resources for Covid-19