University of California, Irvine
PAE-9: Support Programs for Future Faculty

UCI ADVANCE PROGRAM The mission of UCI ADVANCE is to promote an inclusive culture for faculty and graduate student excellence. A dedicated team of faculty Equity Advisors and DECADE graduate program mentors carry out this mission in the 11 general campus schools, providing a critical link between central administrative support services and individual faculty and graduate students. This distinctive model of peer-to-peer collaboration is designed to advance excellence through an intentional commitment to equity and diversity. Equity Advisors are senior faculty members who participate in faculty recruitment by approving search strategies and raising awareness of best practices. Additionally, they organize faculty development programs, with both formal and informal mentoring, and address individual issues raised by women and underrepresented minority faculty. http://advance.uci.edu/about.html FIPSE DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY AND DOCTORAL EXPERIENCE (DECADE) Sponsored by a Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, DECADE aims to increase the number of minorities and women underrepresented in their disciplines receiving doctoral degrees at UC Irvine. Additionally, DECADE seeks to establish a national model for advancing access and inclusion for women and minorities in doctoral education by using successful models established through the UCI Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Program and the UCI ADVANCE Program. To accomplish this, the Graduate Division and UCI ADVANCE have partnered to deliver a multifaceted program that features involvement of faculty, students and administration, and fosters collaborative efforts between faculty and graduate students in working to improve climate, access and inclusion. http://www.grad.uci.edu/about-us/diversity/decade/index.html DECADE FACULTY MENTORS DECADE Faculty Mentors in every school dedicate their efforts to nurturing a positive diversity climate within their academic programs by serving as a resource to graduate students in outreach and admission, as well as professional development. DECADE Faculty Mentors will also collaborate with Equity Advisors and graduate students from their school to promote an inclusive climate for all students. http://advance.uci.edu/DECADEmentors.html DECADE COMPETITIVE EDGE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM The DECADE Competitive Edge Summer Research Program is a summer pre-entry program geared to incoming female and minority Ph.D. and M.F.A. students who are underrepresented in their disciplines. Participants in Competitive Edge will conduct research under the direct supervision and guidance of a UC Irvine faculty member. The program features workshops and seminars designed to familiarize participants with campus resources, foster professional development, establish peer support networks and develop academic strategies to enhance the graduate education experience at UC Irvine. Current students are strongly encouraged to become peer mentors for the incoming graduate students in their discipline. http://www.grad.uci.edu/about-us/diversity/decade/competitive-edge.html DECADE MENTOR GRADUATE DIVERSITY AWARDS Growth and support of a diverse graduate population continues to be a top strategic priority for UC Irvine. The UCI Graduate Division seeks proposals to provide appropriate support to graduate students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in graduate education so that they feel welcome and thrive in their studies at UC Irvine. To achieve this, the Graduate Division provides $150,000-per-year in funding to support graduate program diversity efforts. One year grants of up to $30,000 each will be available to support activities that improve recruitment, climate, academic progress and career success for a diverse student population in Ph.D. or M.F.A. programs. http://www.grad.uci.edu/forms/diversity/DECADE_Mentor_Graduate_Diversity_Awards.pdf THINK – TRANSFER HONORS INTERCONNECT The Graduate Division and the Campuswide Honors Program have partnered to develop a special graduate preparation program for honors transfer students. This program consists of a series of workshops, assignments and mentoring designed to help students apply and transition into a graduate program. Beginning fall 2011, this unique two-year program brings together the expertise of faculty, graduate student mentors, and staff to support students’ journey into graduate education. http://www.grad.uci.edu/cascade/forms/diversity/THINK%20Flyer.pdf UC PRESIDENT’S POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP The University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program was established in 1984 to encourage outstanding women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers at the University of California. The current program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, faculty mentoring, and eligibility for a hiring incentive to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at the University of California. UC ADVANCE annually sponsors fall and spring workshops for graduate students and faculty. These workshops are designed to raise awareness about the President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship program (PPFP). The ADVANCE Program also coordinates campus participation in the PPFP associated hiring incentive. Since 2003, the campus has appointed nearly a dozen former fellows in a range of departments. http://www.ucop.edu/acadpersonnel/ppfp/uc_ppfp.html