Building and maintaining community is critical to student success and thriving in college. For LGBTQIA2S+ students, building community and finding chosen family may be even more important.
At Spectrum Center, we hope to facilitate friendship-making, community development, and building relations both across differences and with shared affinity. We hosts and provides support for three groups open to U-M students:
- Programming Board for volunteer student leaders
- FreshSpectives for incoming and transfer students
- CenterSpace for identity-based gatherings
Programming Board
Spectrum Center Programming Board is a volunteer leadership opportunity and sponsored student organization of Spectrum Center, supporting major Spectrum Center events and hosting its own unique programming. Programming Board's goal is to create opportunity to develop and organize events that are LGBTQ+ student-centered and have input on Spectrum Center initiatives.
Members gain skills around event planning, facilitation, outreach, and activism. Students of all fields and programs—undergraduate, graduate, and professional alike—are welcome.
FreshSpectives cohort
FreshSpectives is a social group for LGBTQIA2S+ first-year and transfer undergraduate students. At Spectrum Center, we’re invested in our first-year and transfer students’ success—and we know that, when students feel connected, they are more likely to thrive. FreshSpectives builds community connections and increases student knowledge of campus resources. Some of our free social activities include ice skating, cider mill visit, cat cafe, farmers market, and more! Activities and resources may vary by cohort. Many events also include free food, along with Spectrum Center swag at the end of the semester.
Get involved
In winter 2024, we meet on a biweekly basis on Tuesday nights from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., starting January 23, 2024. Location is dependent upon the social activities that the cohort decides to do together.
Get involved in FreshSpectives by completing this form. After you successfully submit the form, you can expect to receive an email from Spectrum staff.
CenterSpace drop-ins
CenterSpace is a drop-in space for different communities within queer life at the University of Michigan. CenterSpace creates space for people of similar identities to gain support from one another while building a community of collective resources.
Pausing CenterSpace in 2023-24
Spectrum Center is deeply committed to and invested in student success and well-being. We recognize the significance, value, and opportunity that CenterSpace programs offer, and we want to make them even better. To do this, we’ve decided to strategically pause CenterSpace programs for the 2023-24 academic year in order to evaluate and restructure the program, ensuring we meet new and emerging needs of our students and promote student well-being.