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What is ADVANCE? |
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Current Events
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Co-sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Community Involvement Center, and the Student Center, ADVANCE (Advocating Diversity and the Need for Cultural Exchange) is a dynamic program that provides Rice University students with opportunities to learn necessary skills for leadership and career success, to explore and debate cultural issues, and to engage the greater campus in dialogues of community and/or social relevance. Perhaps most important is the program's aim to create a community environment that embraces individual differences and emphasizes the unity of humankind. We view the exploration of such differences and commonalities as an integral part of education provided by institutions of higher learning such as Rice University. ADVANCE continues to evolve as a respected and valued campus resources, with student members on a quest to ensure issues of diversity and difference are consistently and judiciously addressed on our campus. The organization continues to reach new heights in accomplishing its desire to serve as the multicultural resource for the campus community. The ultimate mission of ADVANCE is to create an environment at Rice that embraces individual differences, since it views such differences as enriching to the education offered, while emphasizing the unity of humankind. Such enrichment is necessary to prepare Rice students to be successful in a diverse workplace. In carrying out this mission, the goals of ADVANCE are:
Historically, ADVANCE was designed to target ethnic minority students and tackle related cultural and social issues, but students representing a variety of cultures and nationalities have been selected to participate. The multicultural focus of the group reinforces the concept that the skills being taught as part of the ADVANCE program are not unique to minorities, but indeed necessary for all students to be successful as leaders in a diverse workplace. Enrollment in ADVANCE is intentionally limited, and thus, highly competitive. It involves approximately 30 diverse students in a year-long program that provides small group opportunities to learn and exhibit leadership skills, contemplate multiculturalism while challenging their own views and misconceptions, and educate the greater campus community on issues of diversity and social relevance. Budget constraints and pragmatism necessitate that membership remain manageable around 30 students. The Program ADVANCE's primary activities are developmental. They include first and foremost, leadership training. The philosophy of ADVANCE is that in order to be successful in the workplace, students must learn to be effective leaders. ADVANCE members routinely acquire and exhibit valuable leadership skills as both committee chairs and members, thus giving every member experiential learning opportunities. Much of this leadership training occurs informally as members implement programs and design retreats, but some training is formal. |
2005 © (Catherine Clack). |
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