Southeast Asian American Student Center
Our History
In the 1980s, students who were refugees and/or children of former refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam began attending UW-Milwaukee. As first-generation college students, many experienced difficulties navigating campus life and understanding academic expectations. The Southeast Asian American Student Academic Services office was established to help bridge the gaps. For many years, the office provided academic advising and social support to students and families. In 2019, its name changed to Southeast Asian American Student Center (SEAASC, pronounced sea-zick). The SEAASC continues to play an important role in the recruitment and retention of Southeast Asian American (Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, and Vietnamese) students at UWM. We work closely with faculty, staff, families, alumni, and Southeast Asian American community leaders to ensure student success.
Our Mission
SEAASC’s mission is to provide culturally sensitive supportive services that are essential for Southeast Asian American students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to achieve their educational goals.
Our Services
We achieve our mission by carrying out programs and activities that help to create a friendly campus environment that enables Southeast Asian American students to fully engage in the process of learning and discovery.
- Assist students and families with the admissions and financial aid process
- Visit high schools to meet with prospective students and coordinate campus visits
- Provide frequent and individualized success coaching to help students work through personal & academic challenges
- Administer scholarships and emergency grants
- Host social & cultural programs and events
- Celebrate Southeast Asian scholarship recipients and graduates
- Collaborate with campus partners to promote cultural discussion and awareness
- Connect and engage with multicultural student leaders
- Outreach at community events in the Greater Milwaukee Area and throughout WI, MN, and IL
Check out these pictures from our past events!
- Preparing goodie bags for HSA 2021 Rice Bowl
- Karoake & Khao Piak for Mindful Midterms
- Setting up Khao Piak
- Vietnamese Ice Coffee and Painting
- Pachoua Lor, Dao Vang, Dr. Chia Vang
- HSA 2021 Gathering
- Yoga
- Enjoying the Hmong New Year and providing information about SEAASC
- Bahn Mi and Bowling night
- Performers for the Asian Universe event
- Exploring Mindfulness with Tuk Tuk Box
- Enjoying lunch with Bea (Left) and Christy (Right) from Tuk Tuk Box
- Snacks in the SEAASC office with information on Tuk Tuk Box
- Dragon boat competition in summer 2022
- Dragon boat team
- Learning Hmong Paj Ntaub (Hmong story cloth)
- Sewing a Hmong Paj Ntaub design
- Learning Hmong Paj Ntaub (Hmong story cloth)