Diversity Awards and Incentives

The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement supports the following awards and incentives in recognition of the significant professional efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Mississippi. For more information, please contact diversity@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.

Diversity Incentive Fund

The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement encourages students, faculty, and staff to create new opportunities that increase the understanding of, appreciation for, and advocacy of diversity issues. The Diversity Incentive Fund is a program specifically designed to provide support for new, innovative, and creative approaches to raise awareness, engage learners, and change behaviors around diversity and inclusion within the university community. Examples of programs that may be supported include lectures, symposia, workshops, conferences, performances, and other innovative approaches for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Mississippi. During the 2023-2024 academic year, the selection committee will prioritize funding for events and programs that advance the three overarching goals of Pathways to Equity: advance institutional capacity for equity, cultivate a diverse and equitable community, and foster an inclusive campus climate.

For more information about the Diversity Incentive Fund, please follow this link. The application for the Diversity Incentive Fund can be found at this link.

Diversity Innovator Award

The Division of Diversity and Community Engagement invites applicants for the Diversity Innovator Award. This award recognizes faculty and staff who have demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Mississippi and beyond. Diversity Innovator Award winners will receive an award package including $750 in professional development/research funding, an engraved plaque, and campus-wide recognition for their efforts.

For more information about the Diversity Innovator Award, please follow this link. The application for the Diversity Innovator Award can be found at this link.

External Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Grant Opportunities

In partnership with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement curates a list of external grant opportunities to support research related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.