Scholar Programs

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) provides engaging experiences throughout the year that support the university’s goal to create a sense of belonging and provide leadership development and academic support for UMKC students. The office is home to three scholar programs: AACE Mentoring Program est 2016, Avanzando Mentoring Program est. 2011, and the Emerging Research Scholars Program est. 2021. All Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) events and scholar programs are designed to specifically identify predictors of student attrition and develop solutions to support the increase in retention and graduation rates of UMKC students.

AACE Mentoring

The goal of AACE is to encourage academic excellence by providing mentoring and academic support to first and second year UMKC students; these services promote the improvement of academic excellence, sense of belonging, persistence, and ultimately successful graduation. AACE programs and services include intrusive academic support check-ins, monthly success workshops, matching scholars with professional mentors and peer mentors, and cohort activities.

Avanzando Mentoring  

Avanzando is a guided pathway that enhances scholar access to mentorship, and academic support events that foster sense of belonging and resources.

Emerging Research Scholars

Emerging Research Scholars is a program that offers undergraduate students research opportunities with faculty mentors in their field of study. Scholars will receive academic, social and financial support while becoming integrated into the intellectual climate of the university. Scholars will attend presentations, panel discussions, workshops and gain information to prepare them to present at the annual UMKC Symposium of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship each Spring.

Lift As You Climb

The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs is a proud grantee of AmeriCorps and receives funding to operate the Lift As You Climb program.

The Lift as Climb program consists of service members who provide peer mentoring to students in our scholar programs; likewise, they assist in the planning and execution of academic success and social programming. This program is also geared in providing outreach to K-12 pipeline in Kansas City, Missouri. AmeriCorps logo       logo-2.png