Advancing Inclusive Excellence Award

Overview

The UCI School of Physical Sciences Advancing Inclusive Excellence Award was created with support from the Office of Access, Outreach and Inclusion and modeled after the Office of Inclusive Excellence’s Faculty Spirit Awards. The Advancing Inclusive Excellence Award has been developed to offer modest financial support to Physical Sciences students, staff, postdocs and faculty who plan to develop an activity, event or project that will support the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and initiatives across the UCI Physical Sciences community. Awards will typically be granted up to $500.

Proposals should address one or more of the goals of the award, which also align with the Office of Inclusive Excellence Action Plan:

  • Ensuring that everyone, regardless of function, contributes to a thriving and healthy campus environment;
  • Fostering opportunities for everyone to maximize their potential at UCI;
  • By promoting health and welfare of the Physical Sciences community.

Timeline

For funding consideration for 2023-2024, please submit your proposal by Monday, October 30th, 2023, 5pm PT. Selected proposals will be announced in early November. *Applications now closed*

Types of Projects that Could be Funded

New projects, activities or events should have the potential to promote the importance of DEI within Physical Sciences, contribute to a welcoming school climate and inspire meaningful action from others in the community. We are committed to supporting creative ideas that you have. Examples of projects may include, but are not limited to:

  • Efforts for building community with Physical Sciences (i.e. cultural celebrations);
  • Efforts for broadening participation in research or pursuit of graduate study.

Award Criteria

Proposals will be considered based on the impact to the Physical Sciences community, the feasibility of its completion during the current academic year and sustainability beyond the award period. In addition, it is strongly encouraged that the home department of the individual(s) submitting the proposal has committed to matching or co-funding a portion of the budget.

Application and Award Process

Please submit the application prior to the deadline. Please note that you will need to submit an itemized budget, projected timeline and letter of support from your department. 

The application will need to be submitted by a Physical Sciences student, staff, postdoc or faculty member. You’re welcome and encouraged to submit an application as a ‘team’ if you will be collaborating with multiple members of our community (groups, departments, student organizations or committees) but you will need to have 1 main point of contact who submits the proposal on behalf of the group.

Proposal Form

To apply, please complete the application form which also includes submission of a document (max of 500 words) that addresses the below criteria AND a brief letter of support from your department chair. If your department will be co-funding or sponsoring a portion of your project, please indicate that in the letter of support. There will be a space to upload these documents at the end of the application form.

  • Project Title
  • Name(s) of individuals leading the project
  • What are you proposing to do and how will you do it?
  • What are the projected outcomes of your project?
  • Project's Proposed Audience/Number of People Impacted
  • Project/Activity/Event Timeline (i.e. when will this be completed?)
  • Itemized Budget for Project/ Activity/Event
  • How does the proposed project address one or more of the goals of the award?
  • If the project is a continuation of a previous project funded by AIE Award, briefly summarize the outcomes of the previous project. 

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Advancing Inclusive Excellence Award, please contact the Office of Access, Outreach and Inclusion at aoi@ps.uci.edu and Cc Associate Dean Mu-Chun Chen muchunc@uci.edu. We look forward to receiving your proposal!

 

Spring 2022 Awardees

  • A Spring Celebration for SoPS Graduate Students of Marginalized Genders
    Prof. Alessandra Pantano (Math), Prof. David Kirkby (Physics and Astronomy) and Prof. Jenny Yang (Chemistry)
  • Establishing a Neurodiversity Support Group for the School of Physical Sciences
    Prof. Albert Siryaporn (Physics and Astronomy)
  • Fostering Community in the Department of Chemistry: Student-Led Organizations Mixer
    Rakia Dhaoui, Ali Younis, Cynthia Wong, Alissa Matus, Brooke Carpenter (Grad Students, Chemistry)
  • Improving Culture and Community in Earth System Science through Shared Coffee Hour Experience
    Prof. Elizabeth Crook (ESS) and Ada Na'Bila Acobta (Grad Student, ESS) 
  • NOBCChE (National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers) Regional Social Gathering
    Alissa Matus (Grad Student, Chemistry), Isaiah Speight (Postdoc, Chemistry), Prof. Tayloria Adams (Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering)
  • Think Tank Matemáticas
    Samuel Lopez (Grad Student, Math), Prof. Natalia Komarova (Math), Deborah Tonne (Grad Student, Math), Daniel Simonson (Grad Student, Math), Thomas Beardsley (Grad Student, Math), Siyang Wei (Grad Student, Math), Anthony Zamora (Grad Student, Math)