IAC Scholars share in the prestige and opportunities that become available when they are selected.
Besides financial support, recipients will have access to peer mentoring and a large alumni network. Critical for long-term impact, the program offers continuing education and professional development opportunities foundational to obtaining leadership positions within the profession.
The Scholarship Program has three primary purposes:
- To nurture and sustain the professional development of the scholars,
- To establish a network of scholars over time who become mentors to other promising newcomers, and
- To support the information architecture and user experience design communities.
The Scholarship Program is possible by sponsors and donations from IAC attendees.
Benefits
Each year, IAC Diversity Scholars will receive:
- Main conference registration to the IA Conference
- Free attendance to IAC Scholar pre-conference activities.
The program will also support the efforts of each scholarship recipient in:
- Formal and informal mentoring opportunities
- Access to colleagues via Slack and various private and open online communities
- Access to job, internship, and residency opportunities in different types of organizations
- Networking with other Scholars and IA thought leaders
Eligibility
The IAC Diversity Scholarship is designed for students new to the field from the US as well as other countries. To be eligible for an IAC Diversity Scholarship, you should:
- identify as a member of one or more of these groups:
- Black or African
- Hispanic or Latinx
- Indigenous, First Nation, or American Indian
- Middle Eastern or North African
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- East Asian
- South Asian
- Southeast Asian
- attend an undergraduate or graduate program or certificate program in
- Information architecture
- library and information studies
- human-computer interaction
- computer science, psychology
- other related program
- be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program that begins no later than September 1st or Fall Semester
- have full or part-time student status
Application Process
Applications opened in January 2021. To apply for the Diversity Student Scholarship, please complete a personal statement answering the following questions:
- Why are you applying for the IAC Scholarship program?
- What draws you to the Information Architecture conference?
- What are your career plans and how would being an IAC Scholar contribute to your plans?
Essays should not exceed 500 words. Do not identify yourself or your school in the essay.
Review Process
This year a panel of judges from the IAC community will select up to 30 scholars. Selections will be based on:
- Potential for growth
- Potential for leadership
- Stated goals
- Quality of writing
2021 Scholarship Applications are now open. Deadline: March 13, 2021. IAC Scholars will be informed by March 20.
Questions? Contact scholarships@theiaconference.com