The Nia Black Scholar Living-Learning Community offers a residential experience for students with a shared interest in centering Black people and people of the African diaspora. Nia allows students to build strong community, explore racial identity and understand what it means to be Black and African American in Oregon and at Oregon State University. Nia, one of seven Nguzo Saba, Kwanzaa principles, means “to make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness."
“I think it’s important to live around people who share the same cultures as you. When you are around people who are like you, you tend to feel more like yourself.”
Destiny
former resident of Nia Black Scholar LLC
Goals of the Nia Black Scholar LLC
- Create a stronger sense of community with Black and African American students
- Cultivate student leadership and involvement
- Explore the history of Black and African American people in Oregon and beyond
Benefits of the Nia Black Scholar LLC
- Live with students of shared or similar interests in Black and African American communities
- Attend the Educational Opportunities Program Bridge Program Orientation
- Engage in community events and celebrations
Academic curriculum
- In fall, students living in the Nia LLC are expected to take Ethnic Studies 223, Survey of African American Studies. During winter term, Ethnic Studies 101 will be offered for both munk-skukum and Nia LLC community members.
Campus community
There are many opportunities to connect with the Black community on campus. The Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center has programs such as Black Connect that connects students with Black faculty on the first day of school in fall term. There are also large programs like Pre-Kwanza, Black Excellence Celebration and Juneteenth that celebrate the Black experience.
The Educational Opportunities Program and Black Student Access and Success Initiative help to make a large campus feel small and accessible by connecting students to resources that support their academic, cultural and professional development. Courses from Ethnic Studies will help students explore the African American experience while creating meaningful interactions with faculty of color.
Facilities
- Located on the first and second floors of Poling Hall
- Students in the Nia LLC live on the same floors as students in the munk-skukum LLC.
- Close to:
Designed by students
During the spring and summer of 2020, two OSU student designers created a color palette and four large murals to transform the first floor of Poling Hall.