Multicultural and International Programs and Services Records

In April 1978 the Committee on Evaluation of the Institutional Commitment to Minorities created a report that had a series of recommendations to help out the intercultural students during their time at The College of St. Catherine. The office of Intercultural Student Affairs was then created in August of 1978. June Noronha was the first director of this office, which was a part of the Student Affairs department. In 1999 Donna Hauer became the director of the office, while June became the Dean for Multicultural Education, and held this position until 2005. The office's main functions were to recruit students, give orientation before the school year, counsel and connect students with the right faculty, and help out with academic advising. International student orientation consisted of outlining the usage of college resources, policy interpretation, financial aid explanation, how to contact and use tutors, as well as giving the needed information as the students requested it.

A major activity the department had was the Hispanic Motivational Program, which was initiated to connect more with young Hispanic junior high girls, and work to promote highter education for them. This program was funded by a grant by The Saint Paul Foundation (TSPF).The office was also responsible for creating more campus awareness of intercultural issues and integrating this awareness into classes, activities, and events outside the classroom. In the early 1980’s the office was renamed the Office of Intercultural and Minority Programs (OIMP). Then in the fall of 1995 the office was named the Office of Multicultural and International Programs and Services, also known as the MIPS office.