Multicultural and First-Generation Student and Parent Resource Groups

The Whitman School of Management (Whitman) has worked diligently to support becoming a more inclusive environment, to include initiatives that ensure underrepresented and first-generation students are supported. There are a variety of initiatives that work on attracting, retaining and supporting students from diverse backgrounds. Whitman’s overarching vision for this area is to be a School that is welcoming to all. 


As one specific initiative in support of that effort, Whitman launched the Multicultural and First-Generation Student Resource Group and Whitman Multicultural and First-Generation Parent Resource Group over two years ago. The goal of the Resource Groups is to ensure students and parents are aware of all the opportunities available to them, to help break down barriers and foster greater inclusion. 


The Multicultural and First-Generation Student Resource Group meets bi-monthly throughout the academic year to provide programming to our students. These include opportunities for community building, learning from and supporting each other, and accessing professional development from faculty and alums of color.


Moreover, students in the resource group are given access and membership to a variety of professional organizations that support diversity, such as the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) and Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). Students receive an annual membership and access to the resources and career employment dashboard of the NBMBAA.

 

While the partnership with NBMBAA also acts to attract underrepresented students, it primarily emphasizes the on-going career and professional development of students in the Whitman graduate program. It therefore is an important tool to include in the Resource Group. In 2023, Whitman sponsored 30 students to attend the 45th Annual NBMBAA Exhibition in Philadelphia. Students had access to over 300 recruiting companies who were specifically seeking diverse talent. Based on these interactions at the NBMBAA Exhibition, two students were offered full-time job offers, and four students were offered internships. To further build on the student’s professional development, four Whitman students are selected annually to participate in the NBMBAA Undergraduate Business Case Competition.  The competition allows students to apply critical thinking skills in developing solutions for real life business problems.  

 

Whitman would also like to highlight four other supporting programs that make it a more welcoming place for all through recruitment, professional development and financial support initiatives.



To further support our students, Whitman launched the Multicultural and First-Generation Parent Resource Group. The Parents Resource Group meets virtually once a month. Parents are presented with information, i.e., undergraduate advising services/tutoring information, career services, study abroad, financial aid, campus housing, health and wellbeing services, and resources to assist their students in navigating their academic journey. This program has been beneficial for our first-generation parents as this ensures that they have updated information and the knowledge to be able to coach and support their student. This helps overcome some knowledge gaps that might exist. The The Parents Resource Group meets virtually once a month. Parents are presented with information, i.e., undergraduate advising services/tutoring information, career services, study abroad, financial aid, campus housing, health and wellbeing services, and resources to assist their students in navigating their academic journey. This program has been beneficial for our first-generation parents as this ensures that they have updated information and the knowledge to be able to coach and support their student. This helps overcome some knowledge gaps that might exist. 


The Whitman School has a set of very strong core values. They are inclusion, excellence, integrity, innovation and collaboration. So, it is at the very heart of the School that we provide a culture of being a welcoming community. This set of resources programs provide much needed support for our unrepresented students and their parents, leading to successful educations and ultimately careers for our students.


For more information please contact Diane Crawford, Executive Director of Institutional Culture at the Whitman School, Syracuse University: 

dmcrawfo@syr.edu 
315-443-1379