Diversity and Community Engagement
The University of Mississippi

Awards, Grants, and Incentives

The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement supports the following awards and incentives in recognition of the significant professional efforts to advance access, success, research, and engagement at the University of Mississippi. For more information, please contact dce@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2933.

Faculty Development Grant

The purpose of the Faculty Development Grant (FDG) funded by the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DCE) at the University of Mississippi is to support development opportunities for tenure-track faculty to aid in the tenure process. The FDG will be awarded on a competitive basis to tenure-track faculty seeking ways to fund a development opportunity that will support their activities related to service, professional development, presentation of research and scholarly work, and teaching.

For more information about the Faculty Development Grant, please follow this link. The application for the Faculty Development Grant can be found at this link. 

Achieving Equity Grant

The Achieving Equity Grants Program was first introduced in 2019 and is jointly administered by the Office of the Provost, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP), and the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement. The principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the University of Mississippi’s mission of transformative teaching, learning, research, and service. This seed grant program is intended to support innovative scholarly and creative efforts at UM that advance knowledge on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The most competitive proposals will position the project in the context of challenges common to the University of Mississippi, the state of Mississippi, and beyond. Ideally, the knowledge gained from these projects will explore and broaden our understanding on issues of equity/inequity in institutions, academia, and/or broader society within and across academic disciplines. In order to maximize the impact of this important work, consideration should be given to how this internally-funded seed project can lead to larger externally-funded initiatives. ORSP is committed to working with the investigators to seek the level of external funding required to expand these seed projects into highly impactful programs.

Responsive ideas from any discipline(s) will be considered. Projects with potential contributions to advancing the Institutional DEI Strategic Plan are highly encouraged.

Please visit the Achieving Equity Grants Program webpage for detailed information regarding review process and criteria, application process and requirements, funding stipulations, timeline, and past awards.

Access and Engagement Programming Fund

The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement encourages students, faculty, and staff to create new opportunities to promote opportunities and enhance involvement. The Access and Engagement Programming Fund is a program developed to support new, innovative, and creative approaches to raising awareness, mitigating barriers, and engaging the university community. Lectures, symposia, workshops, conferences, performances, and other innovative approaches to increasing access and involvement at the University of Mississippi are examples of programs that could be supported.

For more information about the Access and Engagement Programming Fund, please follow this link. The application for the Access and Engagement Programming Fund can be found at this link. 

James H. Meredith Community Transformation Award

The James H. Meredith Community Transformation Award is a unique opportunity aimed at equipping students with leadership skills necessary for driving meaningful impact and fostering a lifelong commitment to community service. The award provides students with an experiential learning opportunity that contributes to the development of their capacity for community-based leadership. The JHM Community Transformation Award is intended to foster innovative and impactful approaches to carrying on Mr. Meredith’s legacy of courage, knowledge, opportunity, and perseverance.

For more information about the JHM Community Transformation Award, please follow this link. The application for the JHM Community Transformation Award can be found at this link. 

University of Mississippi Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award

The University of Mississippi Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award was established to identify exceptional nominees for the IHL Diversity Educator of the Year Award. This prestigious award honors faculty and staff who exemplify a strong commitment to advancing access, success, and engagement at the University of Mississippi and in the wider community. Recipients of the UM Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award will receive a comprehensive recognition package, including professional development and research funds, an engraved plaque, and campus-wide acknowledgment of their impactful work. Additionally, one awardee will be selected to represent the university as a nominee for the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award. This nominee may go on to be chosen as the IHL Diversity Educator of the Year, celebrating their exceptional contributions to fostering a more inclusive and engaged academic environment.

For more information about the UM Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award, please follow this link. The application for the UM Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award can be found at this link.