Celebrating peace, inclusion and equity.
The Office of Diversity Initiatives (ODI) serves students, faculty, and staff from underrepresented groups to develop a nurturing and empowering support system at Wilkes University.
The center helped me completely reinvent myself. It has been an experience I could not receive anywhere else. The growth in my personal and professional networks are all thanks to the office.
Cindy Peralta Nin ’21 | Criminology Major, Global Coffee Hour Coordinator
Student Services
The ODI welcomes the opportunity to assist students with personal, academic and career concerns that impact their academic success. These services are intended to help students successfully complete their degree program. This may include managing roommate conflicts, resolving a bursar balance, understanding university holds or faculty/student conflict resolution.
The ODI can assist students in a variety of areas such as:
- Adjustment to life as a college student in the Wilkes-Barre area
- Navigating the college experience as a first-generation student
- Interpreting university policies and procedures
- Understanding major admission requirements
Visit the Office of Diversity Initiatives at the Max Roth Center on the corner of South Franklin and West South Street or call 570-408-7856 to schedule an appointment.
Programming
The ODI provides programming to the campus and community to increase awareness and understanding of diversity that build skills for effectiveness in a diverse world, celebrate differences, and foster learning across social and group boundaries to build an inclusive community.
Diversity Student & Leadership Conference
This leadership conference is a collaboration between the Office of Diversity Initiatives and the Office of Civic Engagement. This one day conference in the fall semester focuses on diversity, equity, leadership development, LGBTQIA+, building community and social justice topics. Sessions are led by local speakers, faculty, staff and student leaders. The students will be able to walk away with new perspectives, cross-cultural communication skills,advocacy information, networking opportunities and leadership skills. The conference is free for Wilkes students. Neighboring college students pay a small fee. All participating students will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the conference.
Frederick Douglas Transcribe-a-Thon
The transcribe-a thon is held on the birthday of Frederick Douglass on February 14th. ODI collaborates with Global Cultures and the E.S. Farley Library to celebrate the contribution of Black History and transcribed the work from Frederick Douglass Library of Congress.
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
An annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., highlighting legacy and preserving his memory. The Wilkes campus community comes together to honor his work. In social justice, peace and human rights. Through this event the office reaffirms his legacy while continuing to create a better future for our Wilkes and local community.
Taste of the Town
Every semester, students have the opportunity to dine together at one city of Wilkes-Barre diverse local restaurants while learning about its culture and taste the wonderful cuisine.
Welcome to our Neighborhood Social
This social is an opportunity for our first year students to meet and engage with the Office of Diversity Initiatives. They are encouraged to come and connect with upper classmates and engage with other resources on campus. Examples of some of these resources include Civic Engagement, The Office of Academic Success, and Residence Life.
More about upcoming ODI Programming
Mentoring Programs
Rise and Metamorphosis are mentoring programs for persons of color on campus seeking to transform their leadership, community building and professional skills. Participants learn to foster respectful and diverse spaces with the support of peers and mentors.
MORE ABOUT ODI Mentoring Programs
Colonel's Cupboard
Max Roth has an extension for the Colonel's Cupboard, Wilkes University's community food pantry, located at 215 South Franklin Street. The extension is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (swipe access is required).
MORE ABOUT THE COLONEL'S CUPBOARD
Title IX
Wilkes University is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex. The Title IX Compliance Office at Wilkes provides many resources to students, faculty and staff to address concerns relating to discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes sexual misconduct. The Title IX provides a form for anyone to report incidents of harassment and discrimination to the University, including Civil rights offenses, sexual harassment and misconduct, relationship violence, retaliation, stalking, bullying.