The Department of Chemistry seeks to foster a community that welcomes and encourages diverse individuals and ideas. Several groups in the department seek to promote and maintain a welcoming environment for all department members; these groups include the Graduate Student-Faculty Liaison Committee (GSFLC), Students in Chemistry for Inclusive Representation (SCIRep), and the department’s Climate and Diversity Committee.
In 2009, the department made specific commitments to increase our graduate student diversity. In response, the department instituted several new programs including CHOPS and Catalyst. We have made significant progress towards our diversity goals and remain committed to further progress.
Learn more about equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives at UW-Madison.
Chemistry Opportunities (CHOPs)
The Chemistry Opportunities (CHOPS) program invites approximately 20 highly qualified prospective students to the UW-Madison Chemistry Department for an all-expense-paid weekend to explore the chemistry Ph.D. graduate program.
Catalyst
The Catalyst program is designed to help first-year graduate students from underserved populations succeed in the chemistry graduate program at UW-Madison.
UW Bridge to the Chemistry Doctorate Program
The UW Bridge to the Chemistry Doctorate Program is a post-baccalaureate program aimed at increasing the number of students from under-represented minority groups who complete the Ph.D. degree in chemistry.
Women in Chemistry
Founded in 2020, Graduate Women in Chemistry (WIC) is an organization dedicated to elevating the voices and issues associated with being women in chemistry. We define the word women to include any individual that identifies as a woman and/or femme, not just those AFAB. Our programming involves four separate branches of action: (1) community building, (2) outreach, (3) promoting equity and inclusion in our department, and (4) providing a platform to amplify the research of women in chemistry.
Resources
The Chemistry Department faculty and staff truly care about students’ and postdocs’ success and well-being. Any member of the department community may contact members of the Climate and Diversity Committee at any time. The resources below are intended to help students, postdocs, staff, and faculty become more informed about climate and diversity resources in the department and on campus or navigate issues related to climate and diversity.
For a PDF version of the resources listed below please click: Climate and Diversity Resources PDF.
Links to Resources
Graduate Student Climate Survey
“As the conversation about mental health and well-being during graduate school grows nationally, graduate students at UW–Madison are leading a charge to make talking about department climate and mental health the norm.
A climate survey in the Department of Chemistry at UW–Madison is improving support for graduate students and postdocs in the department, due to leadership from graduate students with the backing of faculty, staff, and campus mental health professionals.
Broadly, the student team’s work administering and sharing results from the survey within their department has made it clear that it’s OK to talk about mental health and other challenges that graduate students face, said PhD student Tesia Janicki…”