Student Services

ODPS provides assistance to individual students, group and leadership development for cultural organizations, programming for and about specific Mason communities and sponsorship of cultural celebrations and heritage awareness observances.

Staff members have an open-door policy and welcome students' participation in all events and services. Students are encouraged to contact the office for assistance in academic, social, or personal matters. ALL students are welcome to take part in ODPS' activities.  More specifically,

• Administer the Student Transition & Empowerment Program (STEP).  
• Orient new students to the appropriate services available at Mason so as to ease and facilitate their scholastic, cultural, and social transition.
• Promote cultural awareness, understanding, and a sense of belonging.
• Promote student leadership, involvement, and cultural program development.
• Counsel students experiencing personal and academic issues.
• Educate the campus community about issues related to diversity through workshop presentations and seminars.
• Facilitate opportunities for under represented student group leaders to learn the importance of group dynamics, including interpersonal communication and issue-debate by encouraging their participation in Organizational Roundtables/Discussions.