Jefferson Opens College’s First Multicultural Center

Published on Oct 23, 2017

Louisville, KY – Serving the largest number of students considered “underrepresented minorities,” Jefferson Community & Technical College proudly cut the ribbon today to signify the opening of its new Multicultural Center on the Downtown Campus. Jefferson President Ty J. Handy joined students, staff and community leaders in launching a new effort to promote inclusion, spearheaded by college’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement.

The Multicultural Center was born out of research from the Achieving the Dream Initiative,  a non-governmental reform movement for educational success helping more than four million students have better economic opportunities. The center will host events surrounding diversity dialogues and cultural heritage month celebrations, will offer advising and tutoring and will also be the hub for the 15,000 Degree-Jefferson Rise Together Partnership.

“In order for us to succeed as a college, it’s important that Jefferson’s learning environment is comfortable and welcoming to all,” said Handy.  “Opening a center to inspire and educate students as well as staff, faculty and the community has been a priority since I arrived more than a year ago.  It reflects our mission to open doors to all who wish to be lifelong learners.”

Jefferson educates the most African-American students of any college in Kentucky. In the Fall 2016 semester, 30 percent of the Jefferson student population identified as an “underrepresented minority” (e.g. 19-percent African American, seven-percent Hispanic, and 4-percent American Indian, Native Hawaiian, or two or more races).

Jefferson Community and Technical College is the largest of the 16 colleges forming the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Jefferson prepares students for transfer into baccalaureate programs and for high wage, high-demand careers.