Diversity Resources

UMass Boston is committed to meeting the needs of as many individuals as possible and to creating an environment that fosters diversity. As such, there are a number of special resources available on campus to accommodate and support students, and to ensure the inclusion of all people in the UMass Boston community. Some of the many resources available to you as a student are:

The Ross Center for Disability Services has been in existence since 1971 and assures qualified students with disabilities that UMass Boston will provide access to all programs for which they are qualified. Some of the services available include:

• Priority Registration
• Testing Accommodations
• Note-Taker Services
• Textbook/Handout Alternative Format Information
• Interpreter Services
• Adaptive Computer Lab
• Disability Parking Spaces

Student Clubs – with nearly fifty recognized student clubs and organizations, UMass Boston is a microcosm of the city at large. Here are some of the clubs currently operating and open to all students:

• Albanian Club
• Asian Baptist Student Koinonia
• Caribbean Club
• Chinese Student Association
• Gospel Choir Club
• Haitian American Society
• Italian American Social Club
• Japanese Club
• Khmer Alliance Network
• Milhal
• Multi-Faith Student Organization
• Muslim Student Association
• Native American Student Association
• Pakistani Student Association
• Queer Liberation Front
• Real Life Christian Fellowship
• Thai Club
• Vietnamese Student Association

Student Centers - In addition to student clubs, UMass Boston is host to a number of student centers that work independently and in conjunction with the university to meet the needs of students. These centers are:

• Advocacy Resource for Modern Survival (ARMS) Center
• Alcohol and Addiction Resource Center
• Asian Student Center
• Black Student Center
• Casa Latina (Latino Students Center)
• Center for Students with disABILITIES
• Queer Student Union
• Veteran's Center
• Women's Center

Institutes and Centers

One of the advantages of being a public urban university is the variety of institutes and centers that make UMass Boston their home. Through research and outreach, they provide an invaluable service to the individual, the community, and the world. Students often have the opportunity to work with the centers in many ways, including co-ops and volunteering. Some of the institutes and centers are:

• The Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy promotes women's leadership in politics and public policy by providing quality education, conducting research that makes a difference in women's lives, and serving as a resource for the empowerment of women from diverse communities across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• The Institute for Asian American Studies brings together resources and expertise to conduct research on Asian Americans, to expand related studies, and to strengthen the community development capacity of Asian Americans.
• The Gerontology Institute focuses attention on the economic and social issues facing elders and provides the opportunity and ability for older people to contribute to services and policies for the elderly.
• The Mauricio Gastón Institute informs policy makers about issues vital to the Commonwealth's growing Latino community and to provide this community with information and analysis necessary for effective participation in public policy development.
• The Spanish Resource Center is affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts, and was created to enhance the teaching and study of the Spanish language and cultures throughout the Commonwealth. The center provides support for teachers, professionals, university students and all those interested in the knowledge and promotion of the Spanish language and cultures.
• The William Monroe Trotter Institute for the Study of Black Culture addresses the needs and concerns of the Black community through research, technical assistance, and public service.

In addition, there are programs affiliated with one or more of UMass Boston's colleges, such as the Center for African and Caribbean Community Development and the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Community Leadership and Empowerment (CIRCLE)