In 2002, a “Vision 2010” memo was developed that outlined the direction for the Division of Student Affairs & Student and Residential Life at CSUSM. (Dr. Bridget Blanshan discusses the memo) This memo included the establishment of an Intercultural Services Center. This kernel of an idea would grow into Multicultural Programs and eventually the Cross-Cultural Center. (View a 2005 SLL "Vision 2010" goals and outcomes document.)

Multicultural Programs was created in March 2003, and founding Associate Director, Dilcie Perez was hired and tasked with starting the program. Lottery funds were used to fund the creation of a Multicultural Center, which would later change its name to the Cross-Cultural Center. (Dr. Dilcie Perez on the founding of the CCC.)

The first iteration of the CCC, the Multicultural Center, was established in Administrative Building room 4110, and was adjacent to the Office of Student & Residential Life. (Jennie Ruiz describes the CCC changing over time.) In 2007, the Multicultural Center changed its name to the Cross-Cultural Center (or “C3”) and moved into Administrative Building room 3400. Soon thereafter, the Cross-Cultural Center mural was created in collaboration with students and artist Armando Cepeda. (Dr. Perez on the first mural) | Jay Franklin recalls working on the mural) The CCC would move again in 2011, to Commons 207, and then in 2014 to its current space in the USU 3400. (View architectural plans for the current CCC space)The Cross-Cultural Center mural was relocated to the Dean’s Office Conference Room in the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavorial and Social Sciences (CHABSS).