In November 1971, Robert Lott succeeded Harold Pollard, Assistant Dean of Students, to direct programs for minority students. Later, in 1973, Lott organized the Office of Minority Student Programs and became the first full-time coordinator of Minority Programs. In 1978, the name was changed to the Office of Minority Student Affairs. The office exists to ensure educational opportunity for those students who are identified as minorities – African Americans, American Indians, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. This office was discontinued in 2001, and the position was continued as an office within the Student Affairs Division under the Dean of Students. In 2004, the office was renamed Multicultural Student Affairs.

The Multicultural Student Affairs office offers a number of programs for incoming and current multicultural students at Iowa State. The Academic Program for Excellence (APEX) is a summer program designed to help incoming multicultural students prepare for college academics, the Carver Academy offers guidance and enrichment opportunities to its members, and the ISCORE (Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity) project allows students to participate in seminars, workshops, and conferences focusing on racial and ethnicity issues. The Multicultural Student Affairs Office also provides support to multicultural students through leadership and job opportunities, scholarships, academic support services, and cultural centers, such as the Black Cultural Center and the Multicultural Center.

Directors:

This collection (1988-2000) contains 11 videocassettes (1/2" VHS tapes) from the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Many of the videos document events associated with the summer enrichment program sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs including a banquet and talent shows. The videos also contain footage from a George Washington Carver Award and Scholarship presentation with appearances by Gene Smith, former Iowa State Director of Athletics, and Dr. George A. Jackson, then the Director of Minority Student Programs.