Welcome Students!

Twin Cities website: http://www1.umn.edu/wishyouwerehere/welcome/

Welcome Students,

The Graduate School Diversity Office (GSDO) would like to inform you of unique academic and professional support programs that are available for graduate students on our campus.   Our mission is to coordinate and to lead the Graduate School initiatives in the area of recruitment, funding, retention, and graduation of a diverse student body.  For more information about the GSDO, we invite you to visit our website at: www.grad.umn.edu/outreach. The list below presents some of the resources that are highlighted on our website.  For more information please click on the title.

The Community of Scholars Program (COSP)

The COSP, based in the Graduate School, aims to create an institutional environment that supports the academic and professional success of graduate students who have historically been under-represented in academia. Through the Summer Institute, workshops, and individual counseling, COSP assists students to develop supportive relationships with advisors and mentors, and to provide resources for academic and professional development. COSP builds a sense of community through partnerships with University departments and Twin Cities organizations/ institutions to connect students to research, teaching and civic engagement opportunities. COSP participants are US citizens and permanent residents. 

Tips on Financing your Graduate Education

Teaching, research, and administrative assistantships and fellowships provide the most common form of support for graduate students.   Since departments award assistantship appointments and nominate students for fellowships and traineeships, contact your program for more information.   Please be aware of the Diversity of Views and Experience (DOVE) Fellowship that is administered by our Office.  The DOVE Fellowship (an award for which students must be nominated by their department) is awarded to first-year students from under-represented groups and provides a stipend, tuition, and subsidized health insurance for one academic year.    

Graduate Student Organizations

Students are encouraged to participate in one of our many graduate student organizations.  We invite you to network and build a supportive community by becoming an active member in a graduate student organization.

The Office for Equity and Diversity (OED)

Under the direction of Vice President and Vice Provost Nancy “Rusty” Barceló, OED is responsible for the University of Minnesota’s system wide equity and diversity initiatives and programs, and for infusing the core values of equity and diversity into all aspects of teaching, learning, research, service, and outreach at the University. 

The University Counseling and Consulting Services (UCCS)

UCCS offers programs specifically designed to meet the needs of graduate students, including dissertation and thesis support groups, and individual academic and personal counseling.

Please contact us if you have specific questions.  We are glad to help.

We look forward to working with you,

The Graduate School Diversity Office Staff

The Graduate School Diversity Office

University of Minnesota

333 Johnston Hall

101 Pleasant Street S.E.

Minneapolis, MN  55455-0216

612-625-6858

gsdo@umn.edu

www.grad.umn.edu/outreach