UC-HSI Doctoral Diversity Initiative

The UC-Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity Initiative (UC-HSI DDI) aims to enhance faculty diversity and expand pathways to the professoriate for students from California Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The UC-HSI DDI program includes two main components:

  • Competitive grant awards to UC faculty and faculty administrators to support both short-term and long-term programs that strengthen and expand academic pathways to the professoriate. These efforts contribute to broader goals of increasing faculty diversity and fostering inclusive academic environments across the UC system. 
  • Funding to support graduate student preparation for faculty careers, also known as the UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship program. Fellowship resources are awarded to support a limited number of Ph.D. students—who are alumni of California HSIs and have advanced to candidacy at a UC campus—in their professional development and exploration of faculty roles. Additional funds are provided to support professional development opportunities for students, beyond the selected fellowship recipients, so a broader cohort of Ph.D. students can be exposed and encouraged to prepare to consider careers in the professoriate. 

Given California’s rich demographic diversity and the pivotal role of the University of California’s research and academic enterprise, it is essential to implement thoughtful and strategic initiatives that broaden participation and cultivate academic excellence. The UC-HSI DDI represents one of UC’s systemwide efforts to expand faculty pathways and support student success across higher education.

About Hispanic Serving Institutions

A Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is defined as an accredited, degree-granting, public or private nonprofit institution of higher education with an undergraduate full-time equivalent enrollment that is at least 25% Hispanic. HSIs are eligible for specific federal grants through the U.S. Department of Education to strengthen academic programs, facilities, and student services aimed at expanding educational opportunities.