Throughout April and May, the University of Nevada, Reno's Center for Student Cultural Diversity hosts its Annual Intercultural Month (AIM), with more than 40 events scheduled that reflect and respect the rich ethnic and cultural diversity of students and faculty. Events are planned in partnership with campus and community organizations, incorporate a variety of activities and impact a wide range of audiences.

"AIM demonstrates the efforts of the University to promote the cultures of underrepresented students on campus in an effort to making campus as diverse as possible," said Reg Chhen Stewart, the director of the University's diversity initiatives, as well as the developing force behind the award-winning College Life 101 Program at the Center, which he has directed since 2003. "The Center hopes to enrich students' college experience by highlighting the diversity of such cultures."

The Center is a comprehensive program aimed at improving student retention and promoting diversity on campus. University faculty and administration continue to make a consistent, concerted effort to increase the numbers of historically underrepresented students applying to, and graduating from, the University of Nevada, Reno.

"The number of underrepresented students is at its highest point in the University's history comprising 26 percent of total enrollment," Stewart said. "The Center stands unique within the Nevada System of Higher Education serving as a comprehensive intercultural office that provides outreach, academic support and co-curricular programs to prospective and continuing students."

College Shadowing Day events on April 17 and 24, target high school seniors, and are an example of the co-curricular programs the University implements in order to enhance and add dimension to the education that students receive both inside and out of the classroom.

During College Shadowing Day, Washoe County high school seniors will get a taste of University life. High school students are matched with a Nevada student volunteers and participate in a guided tour of the campus, as well as attend one college class. The students selected for the shadowing day have participated in the University's Adopt-A-School Program.

AIM event highlights, all held or begin in the Joe Crowley Student Union, include:

• April 14: ASUN Diversity Leadership Conference, YouTube star AJ Rafael is keynote speaker and performer
• April 16-20: Ally Week and Breaking the Silence
• April 17: College Shadowing Day
• April 20: Salsabration! Celebrating Latino Graduates
• April 21: Asian American Student Association Ball
• April 23: The Hispanic Youth Leadership Summit
• April 24: College Shadowing Day
• April 24-26: Own What You Think Campaign Presentation
• April 26: Hispanic Parent-Student Program
• May 9: Mariposa Academy Parent Tour

For more information about the Center for Student Cultural Diversity and the events planned during Annual Intercultural Month, call (775) 784-4936 or email thecenter@unr.edu.