With over 48,000 students from around the world, IU Bloomington’s campus is a vibrant melting pot of cultures. And to help you find your place in this diverse community, IU has six cultural centers on campus, each with their own events, programs and outreach to help all students find their home away from home.
Asian Culture Center
Located at 807 E. Tenth St., the Asian Culture Center is open to all students and promotes Asian American and Pacific Islander history, culture and awareness. The center was created in 1988 by a group of Asian and Asian American students, with help from the Asian American Association at IU.
Students can access free tutoring through the Asian Language Learning Program at the center, attend discussions with scholars and guest speakers and receive mental health counseling provided by IU Counseling and Psychological Services from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Students can also play mahjong every Monday from 4 to 6 p.m., along with other activities. For those interested, more information can be found at asianresource.indiana.edu.
First Nations Educational and Cultural Center
The First Nations Educational and Cultural Center is home to American Indian and indigenous students at IU. Located at 712 E. Eighth St., the center opened in 2007 and is run by the Office of Student Life.
The FNECC hosts events and programs that celebrate Native American and Indigenous cultures while fostering education and awareness in the community. Students can join the center to honor Native American Heritage Month in November, participate in Native American artist workshops and attend the annual Powwow.
Typically hosted in the spring, the IU Traditional Powwow is open to all ages and offers different activities and food. More information can be found at firstnations.indiana.edu.
Jewish Culture Center
The Jewish Culture Center, founded at the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center at 730 E. Third St., helps students learn more about Jewish culture and tradition. Open since 1938, the center provides weekly Shabbat dinners on Fridays, classes for IU credit, volunteer opportunities and holiday and travel programs.
At the center, students can check in at its wellness center, read from its Judaic collection, attend its chapel and sanctuary for Shabbat services or eat at its dining hall with a Sunday Sports Grille.
Some programs include the Hoosiers for Israel, Israel Around the Table, a discussion group about Israeli society and politics, and the Maccabee Task Force trip to Israel, which was created in 2015 to “combat the disturbing spread of Antisemitism on college campuses.”
Students can learn more at jewishculture.indiana.edu.
La Casa Latino Cultural Center
Founded in 1973, the La Casa Latino Cultural Center, located at 715 E. Seventh St., provides programming and support for Latino students and their family.
Administered within the Office of Student Life, La Casa offers computer facilities, a Latino-related library, tutoring services, interpreters, counseling services and room reservations. Students can also come to celebrate National Hispanic Latine Heritage Month and D í a de los Muertos, with traditional altars, food and activities.
Students can find more information about the center at lacasa.indiana.edu.
LGBTQ+ Culture Center
A program of the Office of Student Life, the LGBTQ+ Culture Center provides a welcoming and affirming space for all students. Located at 705 E. Seventh St., the center offers resources, programming and support for LGBTQ+ students while educating the campus community about queer life and experiences.
Students can learn more about LGBTQ+ issues, receive counseling and free safer sex supplies through partner services and get resources from the LGBTQ+ Library.
The center fosters connections between a variety of groups. Some include the Queer Student Union, oSTEM which offers a supportive LGBTQ+ network for STEM students and Out at Kelly and Queer Students in Healthcare, which provide communities for students in business and healthcare.
Students can access an all-gender restroom map created by the Queer Student Union, free clothing from the Gender Affirming Closet, a guide to transitioning at IU and other educational and training programs.
More information can be found at lgbtq.indiana.edu.
Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center
The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, part of the Office of Student Life, supports and connects Black IU students and faculty with activities.
Established during the late 1960s era of student activism by Herman Hudson, the first chair of the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, the center was named in honor of Marcellus Neal and Frances Marshall, the first African American man and woman to graduate from Indiana University.
The center hosts a variety of events, including a First-Year Pinning Ceremony, the Black Congratulatory Ceremony, musical performances and other activities, particularly during Black History Month.
Students can expect themed events for First Fridays, a networking event supported by different campus departments and Midday House Parties, a monthly event to check in with students, build community and exchange resources.
Located at 275 N. Eagleson Ave., students can visit the center’s library, computer lab, counseling services and get connected to other Black student organizations and Black-owned businesses. Students can learn more at blackculture.indiana.edu.
This story was originally published in the Indiana Daily Student's 2026 International Student Guide.
