As a part of our commitment to academic success, the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center (MEC) Study Tables are designed to foster a community of learning in an inclusive environment where seamless support for the pursuit of academic excellence is evident. MEC Study Tables provide a comfortable setting where students exchange information and resources, including textbooks available in the MEC Library, computer lab use, quiet and group study space as well as tutoring from faculty members in (i.e., math, chemistry, physics, and more). Students are encouraged to create objectives for completing assignments during study table hours, while either working by themselves or collaboratively with others. 

Contact MEC - multiethnic@udayton.edu for more information regarding study tables.

ASA are a team of students who assist with the recruitment and retention of multi-ethnic students. ASA’s support their peers achieve academic excellence by coordinating Study Tables, Study Breaks aimed to support socio-emotional health, and Success Steps educational workshops on topics of relevance for the MEC community. 

ASA’s recruitment efforts consist of supporting Enrollment Management efforts such as Open Houses, serving on panels for prospective students, the MEC Overnight!

To learn more about their programs visit MEC’s Instagram: @UD_MEC 

The Multi-Ethnic Engagement and Education Center facilitates the Navigation mentoring program that pairs students with faculty, staff, or an alumni who will serve as their Navigation Partner throughout their journey at the University of Dayton. A Navigation Partner can answer questions, be a listening ear, and connect students with resources and opportunities for success. 

Student engagement with faculty members outside of the classroom has been consistently found to promote student persistence, educational aspirations, and degree completion (Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991, 2005). Positive faculty relationships have been shown to predict student learning and other positive outcomes for African-American, Latino/a, Asian, and Native American students (Kuh & Hu, 2001; Pascarella & Terenzini, 1991; Tinto, 1993). We offer this program as we believe that this is an experience that all students will find valuable.

Program Goals:

• Promote the academic success and academic engagement of multicultural students through increased faculty and staff interaction outside of the classroom
• Promote retention and persistence of multicultural students
• Increase the sense of belonging of multicultural students within the UD community
• Promote the exploration of leadership opportunities both on and off campus
• Assist students in reflecting on their career goals

Learning Outcomes:

• Name at least one other faculty or staff resource with whom they have met during the semester
• Name at least one campus resource
• Describe at least one leadership or involvement opportunity
• Describe at least one semester goal they set for themselves and 2-4 mini goals or actions they took to work toward achieving their goal

Textbooks can be pricey! While UD packages students with a textbook scholarship every semester as part of their financial aid, we know that it doesn’t always cover the full cost of books. That’s why MEC, in partnership with Alumni Donors, developed a Textbook Scholarship & Exchange Library. If the textbook you’re looking for isn’t in our library, you can apply for a MEC Textbook Scholarship to cover the cost of the textbook. At the end of the semester, students are asked to return the book to MEC so that it can be added to the Textbook Exchange Library so that other students can have access to it. This sustainable communal effort makes the UD education more financially accessible and equitable. 

MEC Textbook Exchange Library

MEC Textbook Check-Out Form

MEC Textbook Scholarship Application

At UD we define First-Generation Students as:

1. Anyone who is first in their family to attend college or whose parents did not graduate with a bachelor's degree.
2. Anyone who has siblings in college but whose parents did not earn a bachelor's degree.
3. Any community member who self-identifies as having had limited exposure to the college going experience.

If you identify as a First-Generation Student, we invite you to join UD's First Generation Community so we can support you throughout your academic journey. To partake in the First-Gen community, please submit this form at your earliest convenience.