In 1985, in response to a significant increase in the number of ethnic minority students admitted to the University, James Madison University Student Affairs made a conscious decision to expand the programs and services of the Office of Minority Student Affairs. With the hiring of a full-time Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Minority Affairs, the office began the task of creating opportunities for the involvement of ethnic minority students in all aspects of student life. Additionally, intentional efforts were made to increase the opportunities for academic growth and development of this target population, with particular emphasis on African-American students.

In 1986, the office assumed the responsibility of directing the Virginia Student Transition Program, which launched the beginning of a series of efforts to retain ethnic minority students at JMU and broadened the scope of our university-wide recruitment and retention efforts. This change in direction brought about a significant increase in staff and ultimately strengthened the commitment of Student Affairs to provide holistic retention activities through graduation for students of color at JMU.

During the 1986-1987 academic year, the office was renamed the Office of Minority Student Life and the scope of the office was expanded. The office increased its programming responsibilities and began to develop collaborative programming activities throughout the university community, working specifically with academic departments, University Advancement and other major programming units within Student Affairs. Furthermore, the office increased its involvement with the multicultural student organizations and strengthened existing programs such as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Black History Month and on-campus recruitment activities.

In the spring of 1992, the Office of Minority Student Life acknowledged the expansion of programs, services and staff along with an increase in the number of different ethnic groups and individuals benefiting from its services. In the fall of 1993 as a result of an increase in student services the Warren Hall 245 location was renovated and the department was renamed, becoming the Center for Multicultural Student Services (CMSS) and servicng as a hub of activity for the promotion of diversity and retention of students of color at JMU.

In 1999, the Center was renamed the Center for Multicultural/International Student Services (CMISS), expanding its focus to include international student development along with its other functional areas - recruitment/retention, cultural programming and awareness, leadership development and student support.

In 2005, the international focus of the Center was moved to the newly created Office of International Programs. Thus, the Center refocused its efforts and energies on ethnic and cultural programming and education and changed its name once again to the Center for Multicultural Student Services (CMSS).

Inagural Class of Multicultural Attaches, 2006

In 2006-2007, CMSS enhanced its New Officer’s Leadership Program with greater participation throughout the division of Student Affairs and University Planning. The CMSS Multicultural Attaché Program was created and implemented to provide support to first year students in designated residence halls. The Center also saw an increase in the number of students attending its Student Leadership Conferences (African American and ECAASU). Two new Hispanic student Conferences were added: The U.S. Hispanic Leadership Conference and the Northeast Latino Student Leadership Conference.

In 2007 CMSS also added five new student organizations under its umbrella: Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), Chinese Student Association (CSA), Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Gamma Sigma Sigma Service Sorority and Multicultural Women for Change. In addition, the Center reestablished its collaboration with Community Service Learning (CS-L) through the annual CMSS Alternative Spring Break trip.

In 2007-2008, through the support of two Student Affairs and University Planning (SAUP) innovation grants, CMSS hosted its first Fall Motivational Leadership Retreat for its student executive board members and enhanced CMSS Greek life by attending the National Summit on Black Greek Letter Organizations for the first time. The Black and Latino Greek Caucus (BLGC) also hosted its first off-campus retreat.

In 2009 The Black Latino Greek Caucus (BLGC) became the Inter-Cultural Greek Council (I.C.G.C.).  I.C.G.C. represents three individual Councils, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) and The National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association (NAPA) and the Independent Greek Council (IGC).

In 2014 CMSS relocated and increased its office space to Madison Union Building, Suite 207.  The new space included five private offices, two reception area desks for full-time professional staff (Director, one Associate, two Assistant Directors, one Fiscal Manager and one Administrative Assistant). The facilities also includes three additional computer workstations shared by three graduate assistants and 10 DEEP Impact student staff as well as Work Study and Institutional student staff.  Much larger open spaces include a student lounge area, conference room and three additional computer workstations with printers, open to all students who visit the Center. 

In 2014 the DEEP IMPACT program began with the support of a Student Affairs Innovation Grant. DEEP Impact allowed the department to reach a wider audience beyond the previous Multicultural Attache program.  D.E.E.P. Impact started with three primary focus areas: Diversity Dialogues, Cultural Series, and Outreach Requests.  

In 2016 The CMSS Diversity Education Empowerment Program (DEEP) Impact was the recipient of the Division of Student Affairs Program of the Year Award.

During the 2016-2017 academic year CMSS accepted three new student organizations under its umbrella: Filipino Americans at Madison (FAM), Fostering Abyssinia, and Native American Student Union (NASU).

In 2017 CMSS designed its first 3 credit-hours academic course HRD 101/201: Exploring Multicultural Competence for Effective Facilitation.  Through partnership and collaboration with the College of Education the first course was launched in the fall of 2017.  Two courses (HRD 101- 1 credit/HRD 201- 2 credits) combined made up the three credit hours. This experimental course was designed to allow students to explore diversity and their individual identity-development. Students also learn valuable facilitation skills and how to manage difficult conversations and how to effectively provide ally support.

In 2017 CMSS held its first Multicultural Student Leadership Awards Banquet as a department to recognize student organizations for their outstanding contributions with multicultural programming and diversity awareness. In previous years in collaboration with and during the NAACP Image Awards Ceremony the CMSS awards would be presented.

2017 -ROSE LIBRARY DIVERSITY MOSAIC PROJECT: CMSS student organizations and staff were invited to partner with JMU Libraries artist and staffer Mrs. Serafina Swanlund to participate in three workshops in order to design original pieces to be included in the second Diversity Mosaic which is currently on display on the 2nd floor of the Rose Library.

In the fall of 2018, through a minor renovation, CMSS expanded its current office space in Madison Union by removing the wall between Suites 207 and 205.  The additional space will allow more staff in the future and includes two additional private offices for full-time professional staff, a Graduate Assistant desk, and three new computer workstations for DEEP Impact student staff exclusively.  The extension includes an additional open multipurpose student lounge area and three new workstations with a printer open to all students all day and beyond normal business hours, until the building closes.  

During the 2018-19 academic year the CMSS academic course HRD 101/102 D.E.E.P Impact: Exploring Multicultural Competency for Effective Facilitation was approved as a permanent course by the College of Education and is placed under The Learning Technology and Leadership Education curriculum. As such the course would no longer be 2 classes combined but became a full three credit hours course listed as HRD 123 in the undergraduate course catalog.

In 2019, a new Associate Director for Multicultural Programs and Engagement position was added to the Center. This is a brand new position in the department and will provide additional assistance to the management and functions within the unit.

In 2019 The Diversity Educational Empowerment Program (D.E.E.P. Impact), now completing its fifth year, was approved to be fully funded as a permanent budget within CMSS. The program was funded through a Student Affairs Innovation Grant for the past five years, but going forward will be a permanent annual budget of $20,000.