The University of Illinois Chicago offers support for graduate students through its Diversifying Faculty in Higher Education in Illinois Fellowship (DFI) and Access to Excellence Fellowship programs. Both programs offer financial support for the duration of participating students’ academic programs. Through the Fellows Mentoring and Support Initiative, graduate students have access to one-on-one meetings with the assistant and associate dean for mentorship and academic or career advising. Participating students are also paired with more senior graduate students for mentorship. The initiative offers various professional development opportunities for students to build skills and share their research, including conferences and career-related workshops.
