The Murray State University Office of African-American Student Services & Ethnic Programs (a division of Student Affairs) has one professional employee, the Director. In addition there are usually one or two Graduate Assistants, one intern and four or five student workers who provide support to the office each year. The Director participates in Professional Development workshops or conferences at least twice a year and is a member of the Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education (KABHE). Graduate Assistants and student workers receive training internally but have the opportunity to attend student leadership conferences and workshops during the year. All employees meet the educational and career preparations necessary for each position (Human Resources, Job Descriptions).

The Office of African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs was established with the purpose of providing ongoing assistance and support to Murray State's ethnic student population prior to and following enrollment. The goals of the office are to increase retention, provide personalized assistance to African-American students, to provide information on programs and services available to African-American students, and to provide multicultural programs (African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Website).

Project Success is a combination of programs, workshops and monitoring designed to improve academic performance and overall retention of Murray State University's African-American population. Project Success includes Peer Advocates (upperclassmen) who serve as mentors to the new freshmen/transfer students. Peer Advocates are to keep weekly contact with their mentees to inform them of programs and other information from the Office of African-American Student Services and report any potential problems to the Director. Project Success begins with a retreat at the beginning of the fall semester. Peer Advocates are required to be an active part of Black Student Council. Approximately one-third of all new freshman/transfer students attend the retreat; one-half of the students attend the programs/workshops provided throughout the year (African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office).

African-American students attended Leadership Conferences in November and December 2001 and January and April 2002. Students were able to attend conferences in the states of Mississippi and West Virginia. These students are members of Black Student Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Voices of Praise Choral Ministry, and the Office of African-American Student Services student staff. Students learned leadership skills, problem -solving tactics and were able to explore career opportunities for the future. Approximately one-third of the membership from each organization attended these conferences through support from African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office.

Math Tutoring is available at midterms and finals. Tutoring is provided by four African-American students who are strong in various areas of mathematics Tutoring sessions are three to four hours in length and two or three days a week prior to midterms and finals. A program monitor is available to assist tutors with additional materials and supplies. Publicity about the tutoring program was distributed to all African-American students through the mail. Publicity was also sent to all math instructors to announce the program to their math classes and to the Athletic Department. For midterms and finals, 18 students were tutored for the fall and 24 students were tutored for the spring (African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office).

The African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office sponsors' men and women only programming. These programs are held each semester; covering issues important to African-American Men and Women on college campuses and in the workforce. A topic is chosen for discussion and games and refreshments are provided. The women have had speakers regarding careers, health and skin care, and empowerment. The men's program was recently revived with more enthusiasm. Men have had speakers regarding career choices, empowerment and relationships. In 2001-2002 there were 62 women in attendance and about 20 men in attendance including some African-American faculty and staff (African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office).

The Office of African-American Student Services works with other offices on campus to place students in on-campus job capacities. Several students have been placed in various areas on campus to work federal work-study or university jobs through referrals from AASSEP. Students are encouraged through office communications to inquire about job placement if in need. The office has established relationships with other departments and offices on campus such as Career Services, Athletics, History and Educational Talent Search. Through these relationships, more information has circulated regarding job opportunities. AASSEP and Career Services have created a time-line of activities, training and other services as an effort to specifically reach the African-American student population. Information regarding off-campus employment also becomes readily available (African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office).

The entire month of February is set aside to celebrate Black History Month. There is programming internally using local speakers. Black Student Council is in charge of a whole week during the month. AASSEP now works closely with the Lecture Chair and Multicultural Awareness Chair of the Student Government Association to sponsor worthwhile speakers and programming during Black History Month. AASSEP has also developed a relationship with the History Department and the Kentucky Humanities Council in order to receive funding for programs sponsored during Black History Month. The format for the Martin Luther King Day Celebration includes a morning march, program and candle lighting ceremony. Last year, more than eighty people attended the MLK celebration. There is also a positive response from both the campus and community in regards to the programming provided. Attendance and participation to programming has been very good. There was an overall average of forty-four people in attendance to Black History Month programming in February 2002 (African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office).

The Office of African-American Student Services & Ethnic Programs provides programs and workshops for Marvin Mills Scholarship Recipients. The Marvin Mills Scholarship is awarded to students who are residents of Kentucky and show high academic performance. The scholarship is named after one of the first African-American faculty members of Murray State University. One program is titled “The Brown Bag Luncheon” Series. Once a month, the director has lunch with all of the Marvin Mills Scholarship recipients. The director takes the time to discuss a specific topic with the scholars. The students are allowed to actively participate in the discussion and share ideas and concerns that may help other students. The Director made attendance to these luncheons. There are normally 20 to 30 students in attendance to each luncheon mandatory. Marvin Mills Scholars are now required to be an active part of Black Student Council. Based on sign-in sheets from office programming, the scholars showed a greater attendance in other office programming. One of the scholarship requirements is that students must attend five programs per semester sponsored by (African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office).

Black Student Council is an organization designed for African-American Students to cover issues on campus concerning them and implement programming combining the campus and community to uplift all African-Americans. Peer Advocates and Marvin Mills Scholars are active members of Black Student Council. There is also a “Public Forum” on every meeting agenda, which allows individuals from other organizations, departments, campus administration and the community to address the council about any upcoming events, concerns or issues. Student membership and participation in Black Student Council has doubled from the 2000-2001 fiscal year. There is presently an average of 40 students attending the weekly meetings. Black Student Council is also in the process of implementing campus and community-based programs, such as the March of Dimes and Big Brother Big Sister. Black Student Council is sponsored and supported by African-American Student Services and Ethnic Programs Office.