Diversity & Inclusion - UChicagoGRAD | The University of Chicago

UChicagoGRAD Diversity & Inclusion leads efforts at UChicagoGRAD to create, sustain, and coordinate practices throughout the University that support the academic, scholarly, and career development of graduate students and postdocs from historically underrepresented and marginalized groups; and all graduate students and postdocs in incorporating diversity in their scholarly lives.

The University of Chicago’s diverse community provides the varying voices and perspectives essential to our mission of pursuing new knowledge. Our culture is enriched by the many different backgrounds of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Several offices and programs help foster this diversity at UChicago. Visit the University’s Diversity & Inclusion website to learn more about our commitment to diversity, including information for prospective and current students.

One-on-One Advising

All students and postdocs can sign up for one-on-one advising sessions to discuss issues, concerns, and experiences related to diversity as it affects their academic studies, career development, and personal wellbeing. This includes advising on diversity statements for faculty jobs, fellowships, and PhD program applications. Sign up for advising appointments in GRAD Gargoyle.

Diversity Administrator Working Group (DAWG)

A collective of diversity and equity related professionals that serve graduate students from areas across campus that meets to share best practices and resources for students. If you are an administrator that supports diverse graduate students and would like to join the working group, please email Lester Harris at lharris27@uchicago.edu.

MOSAIC

A welcome event series that provides exposure to campus resources and social engagement for incoming graduate students from underrepresented communities and backgrounds. This series occurs over a course of six weeks beginning mid-August to early September.

Campus Visits for Groups

The University of Chicago is happy to assist program coordinators with planning a visit to our campus. Please contact gradadmissions@uchicago.edu to discuss your visit options. We are currently offering virtual information sessions, and requests should be submitted at least two weeks before your desired date. Please consult the Campus Tour page for more information.

Diversity in Academics

Diversity in our academic programs supports our students of different backgrounds as well as students
interested in the many cultures of the world. Our faculty members come from different career paths, disciplines,
countries, and perspectives and are leaders, creators, healers, and explorers.

In addition to learning about diversity, our students celebrate their own. On-campus programs work to build a community of support for students of varying backgrounds.

Academic Affinity Groups are communities that exist within the larger University divisions and schools to support students of varying cultures, backgrounds, lifestyles, and beliefs.
Research and Internships enable students to perform research with our faculty up to three years before applying to graduate school. UChicago is a participant in the Leadership Alliance, the Creating Connections Consortium (C3), and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program (MMUF). For more information about diverse scholarship at the University, explore Diversity & Inclusion in Academics.

Student Resources

The student experience extends beyond academics at the University. We offer many avenues to engage with peers outside the classroom. Student resources include diversity offices, services, and opportunities, as well as many cultural student groups.

National Center for Faculty Diversity & Development (NCFDD)

All graduate students and postdocs can set up individual accounts through which you will have access to webinars, online courses, articles, board discussions and more to support your academic and professional development. Members also receive discounts for programs such as the Dissertation Success Program. Sign up for your account here.

C3 (Creating Connections Consortium)

C3 programs are designed to enhance diversity within the Mellon-supported disciplines, mainly in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. All programs target supports to individuals at critical junctures along the academic pipeline, from undergraduate studies to the professoriate. Opportunities for graduate students include:

Postdoctoral fellowships at Bates, Connecticut, Middlebury, and Williams Colleges
Targeted faculty recruitment visits to our campus by faculty and administrators from C3 partner institutions through the Liberal Arts Diversity Officers (LADO), annually as part of GRADUCon
Participation in C3 Annual Summit, an annual gathering of undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty and administrators from all C3 and LADO partner institutions

ACM-CIC Faculty Fellowship Program

UChicago graduate students, recent graduate alumni, and postdocs are invited and encouraged to register their interest in being considered for tenure-track faculty positions at any of the 14 liberal arts institutions that comprise the Associated Colleges of the Midwest. These positions are enhanced by a two-year fellowship from the Mellon Foundation, providing critical supports for research and professional development.

Diverse Graduate Student and Postdoc Listhosts

All graduate students and postdocs who self-identify in the university’s Academic Information System (AIS) as belonging to a historically underrepresented minority group can subscribe to these lists to receive news and announcements about diversity initiatives at UChicago and in higher education generally.