About OME

Our mission is to promote academic excellence, build strong communities, and develop professional mindsets among students of underrepresented minority groups, with the ultimate goal of developing leaders in the academy, industry, and society.

“Vital”... “Thoughtful”... “Dynamic”...

These are among a handful of words used by MIT students, both past and present, to describe the Office of Minority Education, more commonly referred to simply as “OME.”

Students and alumni alike also use words like “comfort” and “community” when talking about OME, an office created by the Institute in 1975 to serve as a valuable resource to help underrepresented minority students navigate this new landscape known as MIT.

Matriculation to one of the world’s top schools of science and engineering comes with inherent challenges of all kinds, and the OME works closely with students who are underrepresented — including African American, Native American, and Latino students — to ensure their academic success while building an essential community among undergraduates, faculty, and staff.

Through a multitude of academic, community, and professional initiatives offered by the OME, students are empowered to thrive in a supportive setting that fosters both a pursuit of excellence and a strong sense of connection away from the comforts of home.

As one MIT alumnus explains, “The OME is not just another office on campus, but rather it is a place for students to go and get help with every aspect in their hectic lives. Spending time there was a huge part of my MIT experience, both for the growth in character and for the relationships I built while I was there.”