Office of Diversity & Pluralism Programs
Support and Advocacy
Students, staff at all levels, faculty, and administrators should feel free to come to the ODP to express issues and concerns. You will receive a supportive, listening, confidential environment as well as assistance, advocacy, referrals, and other support to address and assist in helping resolve your concerns.
Graduate Students
Graduate studies are a great way to advance your post baccalaureate knowledge.
The Office of Diversity and Pluralism supports graduate students in food,
agriculture and natural resources fields. Information of interest to graduate students can be found on the
Graduate Students page of this website.
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), and Its MSU Roots
In 1985, a van load of students who were members in the student organization Minorities in Agriculture & Natural Resources Association (MANRA) at Michigan State University (MSU) traveled to The Pennsylvania State University to meet with a student organization called Minorities in Agriculture (MIA).
Dr. Eunice Foster traveled with them as the faculty adviser and at that time was the Department of Crop & Soil Sciences at MSU. Marquita Chamblee, a doctral student and staff member in the College of Agriculture at Penn State was the MIA adviser. The students wanted to interact with each other regarding the various aspects of being students in colleges of agriculture and natural resources.
As a result of this meeting, MSU MANRA members, Ms. Chamblee, and MIA students decided to host a national meeting at MSU in 1986 to organize students and faculty in the agricultural and natural resource sciences. Thirty participants from six colleges and universities attended the first conference.
To view MANRRS today click here
Recruitment:
- Video - ODP is producing a video to inform diverse students and communities about opportunities for graduate studies within CANR.
- ODP Recruitment Network - Funding is available for CANR units to bring 5 faculty members and 5 seniors from the 1890's Land-Grant (18) to MSU in October or November 2009 for a campus recruitment visit.
- Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS) - March 25-27, 2010 Orlando. FL
- Faculty Travel - There are also opportunities for faculty travel cooridinated by ODP using a cost-share with The Graduate School units.
- Advance to Adventure - Funding is available through The Graduate School for CANR faculty to bring promising graduate school applicants to MSU for a recruitment visit in Spring 2010. ODP coordinates this effort for CANR.
- Academic Achievement Graduate Assistantships (AAGA)
Retention:
1st Tuesdays mixers are held to provide an opportunity for CANR graduate students to mingle with faculty, administrative staff, and various guest speakers.
The sessions are held 4:45 pm - 6:30 pm at Spartan Dining Room, Holmes Hall, The East Neighborhood, located on Shaw Lane, between Bogue and Hagadorn.
http://maps.msu.edu/interactive/index.php?location=hlm
Outreach:
ODP reaches out to the community to inform them about majors and careers in agriculture and natural resources, and opportunites within CANR at MSU. some of our past and planned collaborations include:
- Agape Life Skills
- Black Men Incorporated of Greater Lansing
- Shabazz Public School Academy
- St. Stephen's Community Outreach Center
- The Farm Research Cooperative