As a multicultural and/or international student, you will benefit from programs, services, activities, and scholarship help designed specifically to help you get the most out of your St. Kate's experience — and your future.
We provide college-wide educational support on diversity and cultural initiatives and advocate on behalf of international, domestic, immigrant and refugee students of color within the University. MIPS provides time, space and resources to students of color so that we can create a nurturing, expressive and supportive environment.
Programs to Assist the University Community
Corn Bread and Chili Nights
This event series brings together members of the St. Kate's community to share a warm meal and discuss pertinent multicultural and social justice issue that impact our daily lives.
Graduates of Color Recognition Dinner
MIPS assists students in preparing a semi-formal ceremony and dinner to recognize graduating international students and students of color. This ceremony recognizes both male and female graduates at all degree levels (certificate, associate, bachelor, and graduate).
Heartwork and Other Workshops
These workshops allow the opportunity for authentic dialogue about challenging oppression and dismantling the systems that keeps it in place—specifically fear, ignorance, and power. We offer a variety of trainings to increase multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills for students, faculty, and staff.
Peer Mentoring
The MIPS Peer Mentoring program provides incoming first year multicultural students with the academic and social support to succeed by pairing them with current multicultural upperclassmen. Contact us if you are interested in becoming a mentor. Applications will be available in the MIPS office in the early spring.
Trainings on Equity and Inclusion
MIPS staff provides trainings and facilitates discussions on issues of identity, inclusion, oppression, micro-aggression, and privilege. Contact us to discuss!
Events
Fall Leadership Retreat
The MIPS Fall Leadership Retreat provides students a place to learn new leadership skills, connect with other women of color, to reflect on their stories and experiences, and to learn more about themselves and others.
This two-day experience takes place at a True Friends Conference and Retreat Center. Throughout the weekend, retreat participants will have a chance to:
Sometimes, we all need to set time aside to be reflective of our lives and our goals, so that we can nurture parts of ourselves to become even stronger.
Contact us if you are interested in participating. A required deposit of $30 will be returned to you, if and when you attend the retreat.
Women of Color Full Circle Gathering
St. Kate's graduates of color are invited to dinner and/or dessert at the Multicultural and International Programs and Services (MIPS) Women of Color Full Circle Gathering. Reconnect with each other and the MIPS staff, past and present, as well as current students of color as we continue to build relationship one conversation at a time.
This event is free and occurs every other year.
Friendship Families
The Friendship Family Program matches new international students of St. Catherine University with American families. As friendships develop, students and families have the opportunity to appreciate how others live and look at the world and develop a better understanding of their own culture.
- Participate in team activities and dialogues
- Learn from student-led workshops on topics relevant to their experiences as student leaders and as women of color
- Find time to reflect quietly on their past journey and the journey ahead
- Express their hopes, frustrations, barriers, dreams and stories
- Meet other students of color and create sincere relationships
- Have fun and relax
- Students from around the world
Families have an important role in shaping the experience of young women from all over the world. These are some of the countries students have traveled from to study at St. Kate's: Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Gambia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Some stay for a full 4 years and some for just a semester or year.
- Think of her as your daughter
As part of the program, the University will consider the student of the family to be their “daughter” and subsequently the Friendship Family will be invited to Parent Weekend, for example, or to send their “daughter” a basket of fruit or a rose to encourage them during exam periods.
- International Potluck
At the end of the school year, the MIPS office hosts a large potluck dinner of international food, education and entertainment, to which all Friendship Families and international students are invited.
- Expectations
We ask that you:
- Pick her up at the airport when she first arrives and house her the first night
- Help her move into her residence hall
- Initiate contact and befriend her to help ease the initial adjustment period
- Introduce her to U.S. culture, e.g. invite her over for home-cooked meals
- Inform the MIPS office of progress and difficulties
You are not asked to:
- Host her overnight or during vacations unless you want and are able to
- Give her any money or provide any services that are inconvenient
- Resources
The Multicultural and International Programs and Services (MIPS) office administers the Friendship Family Program and the staff members are available as resources for any questions participants may have.
First Step Institute
Preparing young women of color for higher education, the First Step Summer Institute is a free and unique college immersion experience offered at our St. Paul campus.