The Graduate Council and the Graduate Division are now accepting nominations for the 2026 Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentoring Award and the 2026 Commitment to Graduate Diversity Award. One recipient will be selected for each award; each will be recognized at the Commencement Ceremony and will receive a $3,000 prize.
All UCR ladder-rank faculty are eligible. Nomination letters may be submitted by current and former graduate students, faculty, and advisors. To be considered, each nominee must receive at least one nomination letter. We encourage nominators, including faculty, colleagues, and former students to coordinate to submit the strongest possible nomination packet. Letters should clearly describe what makes the nominee an exceptional mentor and why they are deserving of this year’s award. Please note that previous nominees must be re-nominated to be considered again.
Nominations will be reviewed by a faculty committee composed of Graduate Council members. The committee will evaluate both the quality and quantity of letters, the number of students the nominee has mentored, and their overall record of mentoring effectiveness. For faculty who joined UCR mid-career, the committee will consider their full mentoring history, with particular emphasis on their work with UCR students. If a faculty member is re-nominated this year, the committee will also review any letters of recommendation from last year that are on file in the Graduate Division.