About MESA

The Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs (MESA) provides support and programming through celebrations, educational offerings, and building social capital through the lens of race and ethnicity.

Our mission

Using the lens of race and ethnicity, MESA engages the campus and transforms the student co-curricular experience through vibrant enrichment and belonging opportunities for all.

Student Life values

Student Life's values are the deeply ingrained principles that describe us at our very best. We strive to have them guide our actions at every level of the organization and our relationships with students, colleagues, and partners.

• Adaptability: We both anticipate and are responsive to the needs of our students and the campus community through solutions-oriented approaches.
• Compassion: We care for others through our words and actions and interact with compassion and empathy.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We strive to make our campus a place where differences are celebrated, patterns of inequity are disrupted, multiple perspectives are heard, and every individual feels a sense of belonging and connection.
• Learning and Innovation: We are committed to the learning and development of everyone in our community. We invest in improvements and innovations that advance our work.
• Partnership: We have our greatest impact when we do things together and are accountable to each other.  We are a team and value relationships and connections with our colleagues and partners.
• Stewardship and Accountability: We serve as responsible stewards of our resources, act within ethical and restorative frameworks, and value environmental sustainability in meeting the needs of our multiple constituencies. 

History

In 1970, a class boycott organized by the Black Action Movement (BAM), began a legacy of student activism at the University of Michigan. As a collective effort of several Black student organizations, the primary goal of BAM was to challenge the university’s lack of diversity and civil rights initiatives. The result of these efforts led the university to address many of the concerns around admissions, space, and support for Black students. Shortly after the Trotter House was created in 1971, the Office of Special Services & Programs began as a central area for communities of color at UM. This new unit had staff advocates that served a variety of ethnic constituencies. 

In 1977, the name changed to Minority Student Services to meet the needs of minority students and to promote the cultural diversity represented across the University. By 1995, the office changed its name to Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs, and included the Trotter Multicultural Center. In 2014, MESA and Trotter became individual units working collaboratively to support students. 

Hours of operation

Monday - Friday
9:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

Closures and coverage exceptions:

• Nov. 27: Staff available remotely
• Nov. 28-29: Office closed
• Dec 23-24: Staff available remotely
• Dec. 25 - Jan. 1: Office closed
• Jan. 2-3: Staff available remotely

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