The Department of Astronomy at the University of Illinois is committed to encouraging a diverse and supportive environment, where every student, postdoc, staff, or faculty member is provided with the opportunities and resources necessary to succeed in their career. We envision the Department as a place where all are valued and can fully participate. We do not tolerate any harassment or discrimination in this Department, and we expect our Department members to report any such behavior seen anywhere on campus or the community.
We encourage community engagement. To foster engagement, we have an established award for our undergraduate majors and minors. The Layla Suzanne Ryan Memorial Scholarship is given to a Junior or Senior major or minor in Astronomy who exhibits community service participation.
In addition, the group Society for Equity in Astronomy is a fostering network of astronomers in the Astronomy Department (and related departments) that connects people just beginning their astronomy careers with those further along the same path to offer mentoring and discussion on career experience in astronomy. SEA also hosts the Astronomy Cultural Journal Clubs to raise awareness on issues of gender and diversity in astronomy, STEM, and academia in the department.
Further campus resources on diversity and inclusion include Inclusive Excellence in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
If you have any questions about the opportunities for underrepresented groups that Astronomy at Illinois has to offer, please feel free to contact us.