Continuing Student Programs
UCI’s academic schools nominate continuing students for diversity programs on the basis of relative merit and by identifying individuals whose backgrounds and experiences will enhance the level of diversity within the school’s departments. Successful efforts at overcoming socioeconomic or other educational disadvantages are viewed, in combination with other factors, as indicators of current and future performance. Strong emphasis will be placed on identifying students with a high potential to successfully meet the department’s time-to-doctorate degree guidelines. Additionally, the following qualifications are required for all continuing graduate students to be considered for diversity programs:
GENERAL CONTINUING STUDENT DIVERSITY QUALIFICATIONS
- Nominees must be current UCI graduate students in good academic status pursuing a full-time Ph.D. only.
- Nominees must demonstrate high potential and promise.
- Nominees must indicate an interest in an academic career in teaching and research*.
- Nominees must be United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America.
- Nominees must provide evidence of a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- Students must enroll in 12 units (full-time) during each quarter of fellowship tenure.
- Nominees must demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics:
- Experience of situations or conditions which were an impediment to advancing to graduate study, such as socioeconomic or educational limitations, the absence of a family member who attended college, matriculation in a school with poor financial or curricular support, having a physical or learning disability or working long hours while attending school.
- Academic research interests focusing on cultural, societal or educational problems as they affect educationally disadvantaged segments of society**.
- Demonstrated evidence of an intention to use the awarded doctoral degree toward serving educationally underrepresented segments of society**.
CONTINUING STUDENT DIVERSITY PROGRAMS
The Faculty Mentor Program (FMP) forms an important link in the continuum of support for academically promising graduate students. This award assists recipients in acquiring and developing advanced research skills under faculty mentorship. It is designed to improve mentoring for UCI doctoral students who are not yet at the dissertation stage and have not yet advanced to candidacy and is expected to increase the number of students who complete their Ph.D. degree and successfully acquire a faculty appointment.
The President’s Dissertation Year (PDY) Fellowship is intended for students in their final year of graduate school who are planning to pursue teaching and research appointments soon after the end of their dissertation fellowship year. This award is intended to assist graduate students with the completion of their dissertation and to enhance their qualifications as candidates for university faculty teaching and research appointments.
* Fellowship award recipients will be required to participate in UCI’s tracking of programs to assess student progress and eventual job placement.
** Nominations will be based on the student’s merit and his/her contribution to the diversity of their discipline/graduate program. In accordance with state law, nominees to state-funded programs are not given preferential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or national origin.
