Supporting Graduate Diversity

The Graduate School aims to increase access, inclusion, and engagement for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in the academy. We would like to partner with you to recruit and ensure the success of all students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. In addition, the Graduate School has a number of fellowships for which faculty can nominate outstanding students. See below for information on how to recommend one of your students for these prestigious awards.

Recruitment

The Graduate School has materials and supplies for recruitment. If you are interested in partnering with the Graduate School to recruit students from underrepresented groups, please contact the oie [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Office of Inclusion and Engagement) for more information.

Spaulding-Smith Fellowship

The Spaulding-Smith Fellowship supports the recruitment, retention and success of outstanding STEM graduate students from historically underrepresented groups. Named for two UMass Amherst alumni — Major Franklin Spaulding (the first African American to receive a doctorate) and Elizabeth Hight Smith (the first woman to receive a graduate degree) — this fellowship includes financial support during the first and final year of graduate school, as well as mentoring, professional development, and community-building programs.

Research Enhancement and Leadership (REAL) Fellowship

The Research Enhancement and Leadership (REAL) Fellowship aims to enhance the recruitment, retention, and success of outstanding graduate students from historically underrepresented groups. The fellowships are awarded to top graduate students seeking admission to UMass Amherst doctoral programs and include 2–4 years of summer support ($5,000 fellowship each summer), as well as mentoring, professional development, and community-building programs.