The Office of Campus Culture (OCC) at Illinois Wesleyan University fosters a vibrant
and respectful Titan community by encouraging thoughtful exploration of all cultural
backgrounds, perspectives, and traditions.
We are committed to cultivating a sense of belonging and personal understanding through
educational programs, cultural celebrations, and spaces for civil discourse. Grounded
in mutual respect and a spirit of inquiry, we strive to equip our campus community
with the tools necessary to navigate complex conversations, strengthen community bonds,
and contribute thoughtfully to our ever-evolving world.
The Office of Campus Culture is open to all students, and all students are encouraged
to participate in the activities and programming offered.
The Office of Campus Culture facilitates a variety of important activities to support
the mission of the university.
Educational Initiatives
- 3C Series: Campus Culture Conversations — This series includes lectures, discussions, and workshops that center around current
cultural events that require critical examination of complex topics.
- Cultural Traditions — OCC will sponsor educational posts and programming around cultural history/heritage
months (such as Women’s History Month, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month,
etc).
- Summer Enrichment Program — The Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is a six-week, paid internship opportunity
for students committed to learning about and fostering a workplace environment that
respects and celebrates the cultural backgrounds of all employees. Students work at
an internship site in their field of interest and participate in professional development
focused on culture in the workplace.
Building Bridges Initiatives
- Bridging the Gap/Deliberative Dialogue — One of the hallmarks of a strong educational community is the ability to engage in
difficult conversations with civility and respect. This program emphasizes the skills
necessary to think critically from multiple perspectives, actively listen to different
views, and discuss topics with respect.
- IMPACT Pre-orientation is open to all students who are committed to actively contributing to a welcoming
and inclusive community at IWU. The program assists first-year and transfer students
from various backgrounds in their initial transition to IWU and works to develop skills
related to relationship-building, deliberative dialogue, empathy, and belonging.
Belonging
- STEP peer mentors — First-generation college students are navigating a new university language and
exploring opportunities for academic, professional, and personal success. This program
pairs upperclassmen with first-year students to ensure a smooth transition to Illinois
Wesleyan University.
- Cultural and Spiritual RSO support — RSOs are supported in a variety of offices throughout campus (fraternities/sororities
in the Office of Student Involvement; athletic RSOs through the Athletic Department;
academic organizations within their academic department, etc).
Cultural and Spiritual RSOs will find support in the Office of Campus Culture as they
develop campus programs that support the vision for a united campus. The Council for
Inclusion and Awareness (CIA) is a collaborative of cultural and spiritual RSO student
leaders who partner around programming and assist the university in continuous understanding
of the experience of today’s students.
- Campus Culture Incident Reporting — To ensure a positive campus culture free of incivility, harassment, and discrimination,
the Dean of Students office and the Office of Campus Culture partner in reviewing,
investigating, mediating, and responding to campus incidents.
Celebrating Campus Cultures
- In collaboration with Student Senate, OCC supports the annual Unity Gala, a social
celebration where students, faculty, and staff honor our differences and recognize
how those differences positively contribute to one, united Titan community.
- OCC will also sponsor and support cultural celebrations representing the many different
cultures within our campus community.
Our ultimate goal is that all IWU students feel a sense of belonging and connection
to peers, faculty, and staff who encourage everyone to express themselves with authenticity.
"Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every
place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever
you can."
— John Wesley