Diversity Scholarships
A number of financial aid opportunities are available to students who are members of historically underrepresented groups.
Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP)
The Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP) provides support and opportunities for success to students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
Multi-Cultural Council
The Multi-Cultural Council (MCC) is a student organization that serves as a liaison between the Student Government Association and other registered student organizations comprised of historically underrepresented groups.
MCC promotes awareness, understanding, and appreciation of all cultures through programming, community service, fundraisers, and other student-run events. The following organizations function under the MCC umbrella:
- Asian Student Organization (ASO)
- Association of Black Collegians (ABC)
- Chinese Cultural Advancement Club (CCAC)
- Diverse Organization of Photo & Video Enthusiasts (DOPE)
- Gender and Sexuality Equality Club (GASE)
- Human Relations Programming Council (HRPC)
- International Student Organization (ISO)
- Muslim Student Association (MSA)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Organization of African and Caribbean Students (OACS)
- Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS)
- Penn State Behrend Model United Nations
- South Asian Student Organization (SASO)
MCC acts as an advisory board to these organizations and endorses cooperation among its members. MCC also assists in coordinating other college-wide programs such as the annual Harambee Dinner, National Cultural Months celebrations, Unity Day, and many other programs.
Multicultural Resource Center
The Multicultural Resource Center is a suite of offices housing many of the member groups of the Multi-Cultural Council (MCC). Housed on the first floor of the Reed Union Building, the center serves as a central repository of diversity-related materials and information. In addition, the center meets a variety of student needs by providing a central meeting/resource area for students who participate in MCC member organizations, making diversity-related materials available to students, and demonstrating support for people of different cultures and from historically underrepresented groups.
LEADS: An Early College Experience Program
The LEADS program offers high school students who are members of underrepresented groups the opportunity to explore their options in higher education and examine possible career paths.
To be eligible, students must be high school juniors with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, who meet any of the following criteria:
- a member of an underrepresented group
- a first-generation college student
- an economically disadvantaged student
- a student who may be underrepresented in their planned field of study
In addition, LEADS participants will have the opportunity to earn college credits and participate in other workshops and field trips, all at no cost to the student.