For two decades, the CIC has sponsored a fellowship program to enhance the opportunities of employment in academe for outstanding minority candidates. Based in Champaign, Ill., the CIC is an academic consortium of Big Ten universities, plus the University of Chicago. The fellowship program began as an effort to enlarge the number of minority candidates with doctoral degrees competing for university faculty positions. Outstanding minority students are selected for the honor and receive opportunities to attend conferences and network with others in the academic community.
Fellowships provide a stipend and tuition payment.
Another 365 currently are CIC fellows. Additionally, the Lilly Endowment Inc., a major contributor to the Predoctoral Fellowship Program, is based in Indianapolis.