Graduate Diversity Programs

UC Irvine Graduate Council Diversity Statement

Diversity is critical to the success of graduate education and is a key priority for our campus. Diversity enhances excellence by opening programs to talented and accomplished individuals who represent and reflect a rich tapestry of perspectives and identities. Having diverse graduate populations also ensures that a broad range of approaches, questions and solutions are incorporated into scientific inquiry, scholarly study, and artistic creativity. Our commitment to an equitable education environment for all is crucial to our continuing capacity to be a national model for inclusive excellence. Graduate Council, therefore, strongly encourages all programs on campus to develop and implement initiatives, such as supportive mentoring, to enhance diversity and to create an inclusive and equitable climate for graduate study (Please note that initiatives must comply with Proposition 209).

A. General Program Overview

Diversity is an essential component of excellence in all aspects of the mission of UCI: teaching, research and service. The University of California’s longstanding goal is to achieve a student body and faculty that reflect the diversity of the state, inclusive of those traditionally under-represented in various academic disciplines and of all cultural, linguistic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. To achieve academic excellence, the university places a high value on a diverse graduate student population because diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives that are essential to advanced research.  In addition, graduate students form the pool of future academic leaders.

The Graduate Division has developed a comprehensive program designed to serve diverse students, while also complying with Proposition 209. Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents selected from groups whose participation in higher education is and has been historically low.

The program focuses on five major areas: outreach, recruitment, retention, financial support, and graduation.  It encompasses program development and support services.  The overall goal is to develop and implement strategies that promote a positive academic environment that supports the completion of master’s and doctorate degrees.

In order for the University of California to continue to sustain its diversity goals, we have initiated strategic planning for effective outreach, recruitment and retention programs.  These programs include, but are not limited to:

  • Recruitment
    • Structured recruitment at local and national events geared towards underrepresented students
    • Participation as a member of the Southern California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education planning committee
    • Assistance to academic units that seek additional support in developing or adjusting their existing recruitment methods
    • Supporting major on-campus graduate diversity recruitment events that are open to all students
    • Coordinating summer research and graduate preparation opportunities for undergraduate and master’s students that meet the UC definition of diversity and are interested in doctoral education at UC Irvine
  • Retention
    • The Graduate Division is home to the DECADE (Diverse Educational Community and Doctoral Experience) which supports a positive campus climate for all students.
    • Competitive Edge Summer Research Program for entering Ph.D. students who meet the UC definition of diversity. This program provides a four week summer pre-entry format designed to introduce students to their new campus.
    • Programming through the Graduate and Postdoctoral Scholar Resource Center that is open to all students and targets professional, academic, career and personal development.
    • Various peer mentorship and student groups are provided as a forum for students to engage other students, take on a leadership role and become engaged in their campus

Central to the success of these programs is the willingness of academic programs and their faculty to systematically evaluate and improve their recruitment and retention strategies.  The resources provided by the Graduate Division are intended to facilitate departmental flexibility in developing student support offers that are both competitive and successful in attracting the best students, and in retaining these students and facilitating their success. 

B. Diversity Fellowship Eligibility

Nominees for any diversity fellowship must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.  Awardees must be admitted to graduate study in a full-time program leading to a Ph.D., except for the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship where M.F.A. students are also eligible.    Students beyond UCI’s expected time-to-degree for their discipline are ineligible to receive diversity fellowships. Eligibility requirements vary but are Proposition 209 compliant.  Therefore, it is essential that the guidelines for each fellowship be reviewed.  Fellowships are awarded only to first-year students entering a graduate program during the fall quarter admission cycle.  Continuing student nominations are considered in a separate competition during spring quarter (March-May).  Faculty advisors are encouraged to review eligibility criteria for each specific award category.

C. Fellowship Nomination Procedures

The Graduate Division centrally administers diversity fellowships.  Nominees will be evaluated on academic merit and the strength of their qualifications. All potential nominees shall first be considered by academic units for traditional forms of assistance.  Diversity fellowships are only awarded based on a nomination by the diversity fellow’s home school or department.

To assist academic units in the diversity fellowship process, the Graduate Division conducts 2 information sessions each year – both in January.  The sessions cover the fellowship criteria, changes to the nomination processes, and funding levels for the coming cycle.  Dates for the information sessions are published each fall.