Recruiting Diverse Graduate & Professional Students
The Diversity Recruitment Toolkit is designed to provide faculty and staff with the information and resources they need to support and build a diverse graduate and professional student body.
gradSERU: Know Your Students' Experience in Your Program
The gradSERU is a comprehensive survey that measures a variety of graduate student experiences, including students’ perceptions of campus climate, reasons for selecting their degree program, mental health and wellbeing, and financial support. You can view the results by college and/or program. What are some data points for your program that would be helpful in recruiting prospective students?
Highlight Program Information
Today’s prospective students expect instant access to clear, compelling information. What you feature on your website—from program brochures and application details, to in-person and virtual events—can significantly influence their decision to apply. Be sure to share transparent facts and figures, insights from current and prospective student data, admissions guidance, and highlights of the exciting research being led by your faculty and students.
Additionally, direct prospective students to the Graduate School’s Admissions Guide or Application Instructions page for assistance with applying to a graduate program.
Know Your Admission & Retention Statistics
The Graduate School website provides the last ten years of Admission Statistics (application for admissions, admissions yield, admit pool characteristics, matriculation yield, and matriculation pool characteristics) and Retention Statistics broken down by masters, doctoral, male, female, international, and minority students.
View your program's statistics
Graduate Education Data Portals (Internet ID sign-in required)
Connecting with Prospective Students
Student Databases and National Programs
The University of Minnesota Graduate School is committed to recruiting exemplary students from all backgrounds. The databases below will help you connect with prospective students, introduce them to your program, and answer any questions they may have. Our research shows that faculty should not underestimate their role in the recruitment process, as faculty contact is one of the highest-rated factors that prospective students site when explaining why they selected a graduate program.
National Name Exchange
Managed by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), the National Name Exchange (NNE) aims to expand access to graduate education for the purposes of creating a robust and nimble workforce. Founded in 1976, it began as a consortium of fifty-five nationally-known universities which annually collected and exchanged the names of their students who were in their sophomore, junior or senior year of their undergraduate education. Its focus is on removing barriers to access for all students in accessing higher education.
Please contact [email protected] if your program would like access to the NNE.
McNair Scholar Program National Directory
The McNair Scholar National Directory compiles information about graduating seniors, including their undergraduate majors and areas of interest for graduate study. Please contact [email protected] if your program would like access to the National McNair Directory. Note: This is an annual list that is not available until early Fall (beginning of September) each year.
GEM Fellowship Directory
The mission of The National GEM Consortiumis to invest in America’s workforce by investing in students looking to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, physical science, and life science disciplines, and matching their specific skills to the specific technical needs of GEM employer members.
Please contact [email protected] for more information about the GEM Consortium Online Portal.
Campus Community Connection Visitation Program
The GSDO staff can assist graduate programs with the recruitment of prospective students who are invited to campus for visits and orientations by programs. Please let us know how we can be of assistance by contacting [email protected].
Graduate and Professional Schools Recruitment Council Google Group
Faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Graduate and Professional Schools (GAPS) Recruitment Council Google group at the University of Minnesota. This online Google group offers the opportunity to: discuss recruitment trends, graduate fairs and conferences, diversity recruitment and outreach; connect with colleagues across campus; and discuss ways to coordinate collaborative efforts. For more information or to become a council member, please contact [email protected].
Recruitment Calendar
What Makes the University of Minnesota Graduate School Unique?
Please contact [email protected] with questions or to discuss diversity recruitment strategies.
Graduate School Diversity Office (GSDO)
The GSDO serves as an advocate and support system for students throughout their graduate education journey.
Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE)
The DOVE Fellowship provides recipients with tuition and financial support, and subsidized health and dental insurance so they can focus on their education and research.
Community of Scholars Program (COSP)
The COSP is a welcoming and inclusive community for DOVE Fellows and DOVE-eligible graduate students in research-based programs on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses.
McNair Scholar Summer Visitation Program
The McNair Program helps eligible, first-generation undergraduate students from low-income families prepare for and enter graduate programs.
Learn More About the McNair Program
Academic and Career Support
The Graduate School is here to ensure that students have access to the resources and support needed to develop your skills, expand your knowledge, and prepare students for the next step of their professional journey.