Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning
The Marshall Center offers a variety of programs and services to the entire college community, including individual and group academic advising, cultural month programming, advising of student clubs, and women and gender programs. The Intercultural Pre-Orientation program and New Student Orientation program, "First Impressions," traditionally kick off the academic year, which is filled with academic, social and cultural events that support Wheaton College's academic mission.
The Center's work is best understood through a three-part model of "ABCs," as developed by Beverly Daniel Tatum. We strive to:
Affirm identity. Each and every member of the community should see his or her experience reflected in the curriculum, in co-curricular programs and in social events. One example of how the center affirms identity is annual theme month programming. Celebrations include Latino/a Heritage Month, National Coming Out Day and Pride Week, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Native Peoples' Heritage Month, Black History Month, and APIMESA (Asian Pacific Islander Middle Eastern South Asian) History Month. The Center supports students, faculty and staff who wish to develop events and programs to recognize, celebrate and educate about many aspects of identity, including ethnic, racial, gender, sexual identity or orientation, or religious facets of identity.
Build community. In addition to recognizing his or her identity at Wheaton, each person should have the opportunity to learn about and share in the identities of others. Community-building programs include our Intercultural Pre-Orientation Program, monthly theme workshops for students at different points in their Wheaton careers, our specialized programming for science students, and our women and gender programs. Through such programs the center creates safe spaces for asking questions and expressing curiosity about experiences different from one's own.
Cultivate leaders. The Center aims to work individually and collectively with students toward achieving curricular as well as co-curricular success. Cultivating academic leadership and excellence through mentoring, cohort groups and individual academic advising allows our students to set meaningful, attainable goals. Students learn about the diverse array of academic opportunities available, including travel and research fellowships, graduate school opportunities, and postgraduate fellowships and scholarships. Additionally, the Center advises and mentors students to develop leadership abilities outside of the classroom. Through their involvement in campus organizations, student, staff and faculty committees, curricular and co-curricular initiatives and other activities of personal interest, students are able to develop and practice their growing leadership skills.
All programs of the Marshall Center are an extension of the college's commitment to diversity as an educational asset.