Mission Statement
The Mills International Center is a meeting place for the world. As a catalyst for international experiences, we provide guidance, information, and programming to promote global understanding. The Mills Center integrates its resources with our international and local university communities through active, creative, informative, and supportive partnerships and events.
Values Statement
The Mills Center values all peoples of the world, both as individuals and in the community. We encourage individuals to explore the world and thus learn more about themselves and others. In creating this meeting place for the world we are establishing an atmosphere of mutual respect, communication, and international understanding which celebrates a dynamic global perspective.
History
The Mills International Center, which started as the International Resource Center in 2000, has seen remarkable growth. Until 2022, the Mills Center was funded entirely by student incidental fees, via the ASUO (student government). Its first funding came from a two-year ballot measure, passed by students in March 2000. In 2022, the Mills Center officially became part of the Erb Memorial Union and is funded by the student union fee.
Major renovations in 2007 marked a milestone in Mills Center history. To fund the renovation, the UO Office of International Affairs (now known as Division of Global Engagement), which was the Mills Center’s administrative home at the time, raised $1.3 million from many sources, the largest part ($800,000) from the Student Building Fee Committee. Significant amounts were contributed by other donors, including UO international alumni in Japan, Hanyang University of Korea, the EMU itself, and the UO Office of the Vice President for Research. The renovation made the center more attractive, flexible, and technologically up to date, increasing our exposure and use.
We are proud to have nearly 15,000 visits a year and host around 100 events. We hope you will visit us to check out travel books from our lending library, attend an event, or just hang out on the most comfortable couches on campus.