George Washington University
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

The University has a formal Opportunity Hiring Initiative that is designed to help hire outstanding individuals who are of special interest to the University, schools and departments and who will advance GW's goal of becoming an even more inclusive and increasingly excellent academic institution. The Initiative aspires to increase the number of diverse faculty by enabling departments to hire the top two candidates from a single search or enabling departments to recruit a senior distinguished scholar. To address the national need for a more diverse faculty, GW has a Provost Graduate Fellowship program to further diversify the faculty pipeline. At steady state the program will have 20 fellows and cost approximately one million dollars. The university established a Center for Undergraduate Fellowships & Research to provide GW undergraduates and alumni with information, guidance and support as they learn about and apply for research opportunities and national fellowship competitions. Several university offices offer a number of financial opportunities for underrepresented students to pursue and continue their higher education studies. Scholarship opportunities exist for military veteran’s and/or their spouses and students with disabilities. GW is a partner with the Pat Tillman Foundation in providing financial support to military veteran’s and/or spouses through the Tillman Military Scholars Program. The Office of Disability Support Services awards a number of scholarships to currently enrolled, degree seeking students including incoming freshman students. The GW Cisneros Hispanic Institute provides financial and mentoring support to help qualified students attain academic success, build leadership skills, and engage in a long-term commitment to making a difference within the Hispanic community. The Institute consists of several opportunities for financial and mentoring support for students. The Institute provides a postdoctoral fellowship program which seeks to promote student and faculty diversity at GW, and throughout higher education, by supporting scholars with a demonstrated commitment to advancing educational diversity as it pertains to the Hispanic/Latino experience. A pre-college summer program provides a full scholarship program for academically talented high school juniors who have demonstrated a commitment to leadership and service within the Hispanic community.