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AARCC Mission

 

  

The Asian American Resource and Cultural Center officially opened in spring of 2005 as a result of student efforts to ensure that UIC support the needs of Asian Americans. 20% of the total UIC student body is Asian American while 13% of faculty and staff is Asian or Asian American. AARCC is also dedicated to educating the general campus about this diverse community.

AARCC’s goals are to:

  • Provide education and resources for and about Asian Americans
  • Increase awareness of diverse Asian American issues, cultures, and communities
  • Strengthen the Asian American campus community
  • Promote the growth of Asian American Studies through curricular and co-curricular partnerships
  • Guide Asian American students in reaching their academic, personal, and professional potential

 

The Center offers social, cultural, and educational programs that promote knowledge of and foster engagement with issues relating to Asian Americans and Asian American studies. Our co-curricular programs enhance the UIC experience and provide opportunities for integrated learning and development. We collaborate and consult with other campus units to ensure that the needs of Asian American students are met. In line with the Great Cities Commitment, AARCC cultivates connections between UIC and Chicago's Asian American communities, serving as a resource for the campus to engage with off-campus Asian American organizations.

AARCC is open to all members of the UIC campus and the surrounding community who have an interest in issues relevant to Asian Americans.

 

Who Are Asian Americans?

One commonly asked question is “Who does AARCC include in the definition of Asian American?” We define the term Asian American broadly to include (and the listed examples are NOT exhaustive):

  • East Asians (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Korean)
  • South Asians (e.g. Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan)
  • Southeast Asians (e.g. Cambodian, Filipino, Vietnamese)

 

Our definition is  flexible, especially because people's identifications are wide-ranging. Also, if Arab Americans or Middle Easterners (e.g. Syrian, Iranian) or Pacific Islanders (e.g. native Hawaiian, Samoan) seek our support, we are committed to supporting and working with them; we recognize our common and overlapping experiences though we also acknowledge that their issues may often be distinct from the groups listed above.

At AARCC, we also recognize that being Asian American encompasses much more than ethnic and racial identity, and includes identifications by national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, class, and more.