About Us

Our Mission

MJPW Student Resource Center (Bear Cave) serves as a central hub of support, engagement, and development for students throughout their university experience. Our mission is to empower students to succeed academically, personally, and professionally by connecting them to essential resources, programs, and opportunities.

The SRC provides direct services such as mentoring, leadership development, workshops, and peer support. It also creates an inclusive environment where students can find guidance, build community, and develop skills that enhance their college success and future career readiness.

We collaborate closely with campus partners, faculty, and community organizations to ensure students have access to the tools they need—whether that means academic support, personal growth opportunities, or professional development. In short, the SRC bridges the gap between student needs and university resources, helping every student thrive from enrollment to graduation.

Our Vision

Student Resource Center pursues a more holistic understanding of student success and academic achievement. Through the incorporation of intercultural understanding practices, we aim to enrich the lives, careers, and narratives of all students. We envision a campus that empowers, celebrates, and supports students to express their authentic selves regardless of age, disability status, socioeconomic class, veteran status, nationality, race, ethnicity, indigeneity, gender identity and expression, sexual and romantic orientation, religion and spiritual belief, or language. Through the creation of critical programming, intercommunity dialogue, and academic enrichment opportunities, Student Resource Center seeks to engage the broader MSU and Springfield communities in order to ensure the full and equitable success of all students while empowering students to become the ethical leaders of tomorrow. 

Our History

  • 1988:  "Minority Student Recruitment and Services" was incorporated into the Office of Admissions.
  • 1991:  International Student Services & Minority Student Services were created.
  • 1994:  Minority Student Services became an independent entity.
  • 1995:  The Multicultural Resource Center (MRC) was founded under Minority Student Services.
  • 1996:  The MRC moved from Campus Union - Room 309 to Wells House - Room 302.
  • 1999:  The MRC returned to the Campus Union in Room 142.
  • 2002:  Minority Student Services was retitled as "Multicultural Student Services."
  • 2006:  The Director of Multicultural Student Services was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs.
    • Student Retention Services was incorporated into Multicultural Services.
    • Multicultural Programs was founded under the Office.
  • 2011:  "Diversity Outreach and Recruitment" was incorporated into Multicultural Services.
  • 2012:  "TRIO-Upward Bound" was incorporated into Multicultural Student Services.
  • 2014:  Multicultural Programs created an "Assistant Director for LGBTQ+ Initiatives" position.
  • 2016:  The Mary Jean Price Walls Multicultural Center Annex was established in the basement of Freddy House.
  • 2020:  The Director of TRIO was promoted to AVP of Multicultural Services. 
    • New Director of Multicultural Programs is hired. 
    • Multicultural Resource Center Expansion (Phase I) is underway. 
  • 2021:   The new Multicultural Resource Center Expansion is completed and opened right on time for the Fall 2021 semester.
  • 2025: The Multicultural Resource Center was renamed the MJPW Student Resource Center (Bear Cave) to broaden its scope of programs offered to the students and campus community.

Org Chart

Organizational Chart for Student Support & Opportunity Services