DEI Student Organizations
DEI Engineering Student Organizations
Chemical Sciences through Community (C2)
C² aims to foster excellence in chemical sciences at Illinois. Undergraduate chemistry and chemical engineering majors from underrepresented groups (African American, LatinX, and Native American) are encouraged to apply. By partnering with graduate student mentors and engaging in monthly networking and professional development events, C2 brings together faculty and students from the School of Chemical Sciences to build a community of scholars in which diversity and excellence thrive.
Monthly professional development workshops and networking events are combined with one-on-one peer mentorship, and student affiliates are also eligible to apply for Summer Research Scholarships sponsored by the 3M Corporation and competitive Travel Awards to present their research at national conferences such as NOBCChE, SACNAS, and ABRCMS.
Mentoring Undergraduates in Science and Engineering (MUSE)
The Grainger College of Engineering MUSE (Mentoring Undergraduates in Science and Engineering) Program facilitates connecting undergraduate students to graduate students and foster mentoring relationships. We will offer two (2) mentoring workshops that involve both mentors and mentees throughout the year. We are seeking graduate students interested in mentoring undergraduate students in various aspects: general advice, advice regarding graduate school and/or research. Participants decide the goals of their mentoring relationship.
For inquiries, please email engr-ugr@illinois.edu.
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
The mission of NSBE is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally, and positively impact the community.
NOBCChE is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to assisting black and other minority students and professionals in fully realizing their potential in academic, professional, and entrepreneurial pursuits in chemistry, chemical engineering, and allied fields. We invite you to browse our website, engage with us on social media, talk to our members, attend our programs and discover the NOBCChE spirit for yourself.
Retention, Inclusion, and Support Efforts for Underrepresented Persons (RISE-UP)
RISE-UP stands for Retention, Inclusion, and Support Efforts for Underrepresented Persons. We are a student-powered initiative that strives to improve the experience of underrepresented persons at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. We seek to build an inclusive community for STEM students that identify as members of any underrepresented group, be it racial/ethnic identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.
We are supported by the Grainger College of Engineering IDEA Institute GIANT grant (#GIANT2020-07).
Society for Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science(SACNAS)
We are the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Student Chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicano/ Hispanic and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS) and Friends. We are an all-inclusive chapter and we welcome the participation of all individuals who support the mission of SACNAS. One of our goals is to promote diversity in STEM by encouraging and providing students with resources to succeed in the sciences. We believe in being inclusive of all people in order to promote diversity in the sciences. Thus, we have added “Friends” to our chapter name in order to reflect the welcoming of individuals who are interested in joining our cause as our allies. It is our intention to foster a sense of community to students of all backgrounds.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
SHPE changes lives by empowering the Hispanic community to realize their fullest potential and impacts the world through STEM awareness, access, support and development. SHPE's vision is a world where Hispanics are highly valued and influential as the leading innovators, scientists, mathematicians and engineers.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
For more than seven decades, SWE has given women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering industry. Our organization is centered around a passion for our members’ success and continues to evolve with the challenges and opportunities reflected in today’s exciting engineering and technology specialties.
Womxn in Chemical Sciences at UIUC (WiCS)
We are building a professional community of students and alumni from the school of chemical sciences @ UIUC, dedicated to advancing representation and inclusion both in academia and industry.
DEI Engineering Graduate Student Organizations
Academic Women in STEM (A-WIS) is geared toward improving communication amongst peers about issues facing women through facilitating conversations as well as providing recommendations surrounding women’s issues and providing an open and welcoming space to all genders in efforts to learn about women’s experiences and needs in the academic environment through discussions, workshops, seminars, activities, and community outreach.
Graduate Engineers Diversifying Illinois (GEDI)
GEDI seeks to develop STEM graduate students in the following areas: professional journal publication, industry and academia preparation, interdisciplinary research discourse, research grant proposals, and course/examination skills development.
Graduate Society of Women Engineers (GradSWE)
GradSWE is a support community and advocate for graduate women in engineering and for undergraduate women interested in pursuing graduate studies in engineering. We encourage women to pursue graduate school, support them throughout their graduate education, and help prepare them for their future careers after they complete their degree. GradSWE provides events that cater to the needs of graduate students and undergraduate students interested in pursuing graduate school.