Our Mission

The mission of the Asian, Pacific Islander, & Desi Resource Center (APID Resource Center) is to cultivate an environment and programming dedicated to the support, belonging, and development of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi (APID) students. We strive to create a cohesive APID community while uplifting historically marginalized and currently underrepresented APID student groups on campus. All students, regardless of sex, race, color, national origin, and/or any other protected identity, who are interested in the program’s mission and focus are welcome and eligible to participate in APID events and programs.

Who Is APID

The APID Resource Center provides catered supports and programming for students of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi heritage. We acknowledge the broad usage of these terms and aim to encompass specific student communities outlined below through our support and programs. It's important to note that this list is not exhaustive or definitive; not everyone may identify with these terms, and individuals considering themselves under these labels may not all be listed. We are committed to continuous learning and growth. If you have suggestions for additional information or wish to engage in dialogue about terminology, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. 

  • East Asians: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Okinawan, Taiwanese, Tibetan
  • South Asians: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Maldivians, Nepali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
  • Southeast Asians: Bruneian, Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Laotian, Malaysian, Mien, Singaporean, Timorese, Thai, Vietnamese 
  • Other Terms used to describe students in this community: Asian American 

  • Melanesian: Fijian, Papuan, Solomon, Torres Strait, Vanuatuan 
  • Micronesian: Carolinian, Chamorro, Chuukese, Guamanian, Kiribati, Marshallese, Nauruan, Palauan, Pohnpeian, Yapese 
  • Polynesian: Cook Islands, Hawaiian, Kanaka Maoli, Maori, Native Hawaiian, Niuean, Rapa Nui, Samoan, Tahitian, Tokelauan, Tongan, Tuvaluan 
  • Other Terms used to describe students in this community: Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander, Oceania, Pacifica, Pasifika, Pasefika 

  • South Asians: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Maldivians, Nepali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan 
  • Other Terms used to describe students in this community: South Asian 

Important to Note 

  • The continent of Asia is vast and there are many groups of individuals from countries in the Central and West regions of Asia who do not identify as Asian, Pacific Islander, or Desi. Individuals who identify with the groups below often identify as Middle Eastern or other. 
  • Central Region of the continent of Asia: Afghan, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgians, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, Uzbek 
  • West Region of the continent of Asia: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey (straddles Europe and Asia) United Arab Emirates and Yemen 
  • Currently, we do not have the capacity to cater to these specific populations of students through our center. However, we encourage students of these populations to make their needs known so we can build our capacity to support them.

All students, regardless of sex, race, color, national origin, or any other protected identity, who are interested in the program’s mission and focus, are welcome and eligible to participate in all Asian, Pacific Islander, & Desi (APID) Resource Center events and programs.