Diversity and Inclusion

The Natural Resources Science and Management graduate program is committed to the principles of diversity, inclusion, and equity for all UMN students, faculty, and staff. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all individuals within our community feel valued, respected, and safe. Please see below for resources available to UMN students, and contact [email protected] with any additional information you would like to see added to this page.

Connecting with the Campus Community

A good place to start when researching community resources at the University of Minnesota is the Office of Equity and Diversity's Welcome to Your Community guide.

Student Groups

There are a number of student groups at the University of Minnesota which have a multicultural and/or diversity focus. You can find a list of such groups here. Several groups which may be of interest to our students are the Graduate Students of Color Alliance (GSOCA), University Women of Color (UWOC), the LGBTQIA Mentor Program and/or the Black Graduate and Professional Program Student Association (BGAPSA).

LGBTQIA Resources

There are a number of LGBTQIA groups on campus. You may wish to visit the Queer Student Cultural Center to start getting connected. In addition to the Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life website, students can reference the Gender Open Housing and Gender Neutral Restrooms webpages for additional resources.

Disability Resource Center

The mission of the UMN Disability Resource Center is "Advancing Access for Everyone." If you have questions about accessability or accommodations for students at UMN, visit the DRC website.

Student Mental Health Resources

The University of Minnesota is dedicated to raising awareness about issues related to student mental health, effecting policy change, improving conditions on our campus for students with mental health conditions, and serving as a model of collaboration for our campus and other universities. Visit the Student Mental Health website for more information.

Women's Center

The UMN Women's Center seeks to advance gender equity and "educate and inspire feminist leaders, advance an empowering intellectual environment, and advocate for an equitable University culture and community." Visit the Women's Center website for more information.

USDA-NIFA Grant to Recruit BIPOC Students and Support Tribal Study

Our program is the recipient of a $241,000 award to help recruit and support BIPOC graduate students and expand our offerings of tribal natural resources management. 

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

The ISSS office is an invaluable resource to international students at the University of Minnesota. They can assist with questions related to travel, visa requirements, employment, legal services, living in Minnesota, and more!

Twin Cities Multicultural Resources and Services

This directory was developed to assist students living in the Twin Cities area with finding available resources and services. The directory is broken down by category and primary community.

Financial Resources

While many NRSM graduate students will receive funding in the form of Research or Teaching Assistantships with their advisor(s), there are specific fellowships and grants available to specifically to self-identified students of color, McNair Scholars, and/or students from 'underrepresented groups' (e.g. students with diverse ethnic, racial, economic, and/or educational backgrounds and experiences). See below for more information.

Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship

The DOVE Fellowship is awarded to first-year students (U.S. citizens or permanent residents only) from traditionally under-represented groups and "diverse ethnic, racial, economic, and educational backgrounds and experiences." The fellowship provides a stipend, tuition, and subsidized health insurance for one academic year. Applicants are encouraged to inform us if they are interested in being nominated for this award. We may also nominate applicants on our own, so individuals who feel that they may be competitive for this award are encouraged to submit a strong "diversity statement" (Statement #2 in the online application). Please read more about eligibility and requirements at the DOVE website.

NRSM applicants who are awarded the DOVE Fellowship for their first year of study will also receive a full second year fellowship administered by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS).

CFANS Diversity Scholars (Graduate & Postdoctoral Funding Opportunity)

The CFANS Diversity Scholars Fellowship is administered by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS). This fellowship is awarded to first-year students (U.S. citizen or permanent resident only) who self-identify as a student of color. The fellowship provides a stipend, tuition, and subsidized health insurance for one academic year. Applicants are encouraged to inform us if they are interested in being nominated for this award. We may also nominate applicants on our own, so individuals who feel that they may be competitive for this award are encouraged to submit a strong "diversity statement" (Statement #2 in the online application).

The Graduate Opportunity Fellowship may be deferred by students who are also selected to be DOVE Fellowship recipients.

Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change Fellowships

The ICGC at the University of Minnesota offers fellowships for both incoming and current graduate students. Successful nominees for these various awards have backgrounds, experiences, and interests which indicate they are committed to the interdisciplinary study of the global south (particularly Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East) in the context of global change. This award requires a program nomination, so please let our office know if you are interested in being nominated. Please read more about eligibility and requirements at the website.

Diversity and Inclusion Professional Development Grants

All CFANS members (students/staff/faculty) can apply for a grant of up to $1,000 to further their learning in the areas of diversity, multiculturalism, equity, or social justice.

For more information, visit the CFANS grant webpage.

Additional Resources

Unfortunately, we cannot hope to include all of the resources available to University of Minnesota students on our website. If you have questions about additional resources, contact your advisor or the NRSM program office ([email protected]). You can also visit the NRSM Student Services and Resources webpage for other helpful links.

The graduate program in Natural Resources Science and Management is committed to the principle that all persons shall have equal access to its programs and facilities without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.