The Duke University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (Duke UCEM) aims to advance research, scholarship, educational and societal equity by creating and sustaining a welcoming and inclusive environment for Sloan Scholars and the broader Duke community.
We seek to meaningfully engage scholars of a wide range of perspectives to advance high-quality graduate education, research, and community engagement in ways that leverage the rich backgrounds and full potential of all scholars.
By embracing this framework, the Duke UCEM will enrich our academic community and foster interdisciplinary collaborations that both prepare our graduates for the workplace and maximize their ability to contribute meaningfully to a global society.
Current major initiatives of the Duke UCEM include:
- Sloan Scholarships: Each year, we award up to 10 Sloan Scholarships to newly admitted students in the 10 Ph.D. programs participating in the Duke UCEM. In addition to $40,000 in supplemental funding, the Scholars receive significant support in the areas of academics, mentoring, professional development, and wellness.
- Fostering an inclusive environment at Duke:We are working to expand Duke’s current recruitment efforts and develop new partnerships to identify and engage students from a rich array of backgrounds who may be interested in graduate study in a STEM discipline.
- Duke-Sloan Boot Camp: Each October, we hold a full-day program for 15 undergraduates from around the country who may be interested in graduate study. The Boot Camp provides insights into the graduate school experience, the graduate admissions process, and the Duke UCEM Ph.D. programs.
- Cultivating a robust culture of mentoring: We recruit faculty members in the ten participating Ph.D. programs as faculty champions, who will help lead efforts to facilitate the Sloan Scholars’ full integration into the Duke research community. We also provide workshops and online resources to help faculty develop as effective mentors for graduate students, particularly URMs.
Acknowledgement
The Duke UCEM is supported by generous funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. It is a joint effort by the following Duke units:
- The Graduate School
- Office of the Provost
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Computer Science
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Physics
- Department of Statistical Science
- Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
- University Program in Materials Science and Engineering
- Counseling and Psychological Services
