The program provides a stipend of $3,000, calculated to cover air travel, ground and local transportation, including ride-shares for site visits, luggage fees, some meals not offered by the institute, other incidental and personal expenses you may incur during your nine-day stay in Chicago, and a payment for your time and participation. The program covers your lodging on the UIC campus at the Academic and Residential Complex (ARC) and most of the meals.

Payment of Stipend: Please note that UIC only processes stipends at the end of the Institute, with payment scheduled in mid to late July. UIC does not provide advances.

When making your flight reservations, please keep in mind these dates: 

Arrival: Friday, June 12, 2026 We have a scheduled welcome dinner at 6:00 pm.

Departure: Sunday, June 29, 2025 in the morning. Check-out from rooms is 10:00 am. There is no luggage room in the building, and you cannot leave luggage unattended.

There are two airports serving Chicago:

O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Midway Airport (MDW)

Both are equally convenient and served by metro. If you are booking your own flight, get the best fare which will allow changes.

Arrival Date: Friday, June 12, 2026 1:00-5:00 pm

Arriving in Chicago: You will fly into Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) or Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Both are served by public transportation such as CTA trains: MDW by the Orange Line and ORD by the Blue Line. 

Participants should arrive at UIC between 1:00 to 5:00 pm. If you have a later flight, just let us know. Once in Chicago, you should go to:

Academic and Residential Complex (East Campus)
940 West Harrison Street
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 355-7800

Going to UIC Academic and Residential Complex from ORD:

CTA Train: If you are arriving at ORD and want to take the CTA Blue Line train, it will take about 35 minutes (depending on the time of day) to reach the UIC stop: UIC-Halsted. The station is 0.1 mile from the Academic and Residential Complex. (See map)

Going to UIC Academic and Residential Complex from MDW:

CTA Train: If you are arriving at MDW and want to take the CTA Orange Line train, you will need to transfer to the Blue Line-Forest Park to the UIC stop: UIC-Halsted. The station is a 0.1 mile walk from the Academic and Residential Complex

*If you are arriving later than 6 pm, we recommend you take a taxi or ride-share.

CTA Metro: Cost of tickets vary but are most likely about $5 +. See: CTA Bus and Rail Map  

Taxis and Rideshare: About $38-$50+ for Taxis, Uber, or Lyft. Please use apps to check prices.

Academic and Residential Complex (UIC ARC East Campus Residence Hall)

940 West Harrison Street
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL 60607
Front desk phone: 312-355-7800

During your nine-day stay at UIC, you will be staying at the UIC Academic and Residential Complex in a fully-furnished private room in a semi-suite double with a shared bathroom. All suites include linens (pillow, blanket, flat sheet, fitted sheet, pillowcase, bath towel, and washcloth + toilet paper), shower curtains, furniture, and high-speed internet. Please note that UIC does not provide trash cans or bins in the rooms; We will provide trash bags. You are responsible for placing trash in the chutes.

As an award-winning new building, it features multiple social and/or study lounges on each floor, free laundry facilities (you must provide your own detergent), and a 10th-floor sky lounge with a beautiful view of Chicago's skyline.

Upon arrival, please conduct a visual inventory of the premises and items. If you encounter any problems whatsoever, please report them immediately to our program staff, Frida Sanchez-Vega.

UIC housing code: Please familiarize yourself with the UIC Housing Code found here. All rules and regulations will be in effect during your stay.

Semi-suite assignments: We strive to create a dynamic experience by pairing participants with students from universities other than your own, so you can meet new colleagues and expand your emerging scholar network.

CHECK OUT IS ON SUNDAY, JUNE 21 at 10:00 am

Please note that check-out is at 10:00 am. The building does not offer luggage storage, and you cannot leave your luggage unattended. All linens must be left in rooms upon final departure. All trash must be disposed of. Please drop keys/access cards at the front desk. You are responsible or lost keys/access cards.

Dress code: Casual and comfortable. Bring walking shoes as we walk across campus and will have site visits to museums and neighborhoods. It is summer and we will be in air-conditioned rooms. We suggest you bring a sweater, jacket, hoodie, etc.

For our site visits: Chicago's sun in the summer can get very strong. We suggest you bring a baseball cap/hat, sunglasses, and a water bottle.

What to bring: Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap/body wash, shampoo, detergent for washing clothes, etc.), seasonal clothing, cell phone, cell phone charger, laptops and accessories, medication, Government issued photo ID, masks (optional and yes, COVID-19 is still around us although we will have them available), hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, water bottle, and anything that will make your ten-day stay more comfortable. If you are interested in visiting one of Chicago's 24 beaches, bring your swimsuit.

How to make your stay more comfortable: This is up to you. Based on last year's group, some of the participants purchased an extra pillow, an extra blanket, nicer sheets for the bed, a towel, etc. In calculating your stipend, we have already factored in these kinds of expenses as personal incidentals.

Where to buy: There are stores within walking distance: Marshalls, Target, Ulta, Walgreens.

The Summer Institute program is intense, with a fantastic lineup of instructors and panelists.

We will start the day at 8:30 am with coffee/breakfast. Sessions start at 9:00 am. Some days, will go to until 4:00/5:00 pm with a few scheduled after-hour activities. 

Be on time: We require you to be on time as in any professional development program/job.

Attendance: Attendance to all sessions and activities is required for you to be receive the Crossing Latinidades Mellon Fellowship.

Summer Institute Meals: We will provide coffee/breakfast and catered boxed/buffet lunches when the Institute is in session: Saturday, Monday-Saturday.

In addition, a welcome group dinner is planned for Friday, June 12, and another one is TBA. If you do not find the food to your liking, you can use your incidental funds in your stipend to purchase your preferred food.

Each instructor has assigned readings for her/his/their module. You will find the link to readings under each instructor’s daily schedule and here. The readings must be accessed with a provided password.

Please familiarize yourself with the readings for discussion during sessions. These also provide additional sources as you think about your dissertation projects and future courses you want to design. You will have access to these via the website.

On the last two days, you will deliver a final 7-minute presentation of your dissertation project, engaging the theoretical positions and methodologies you've been exposed to during the Institute. Dr. Deanna Ledezma will provide the links to folders for you to update your PowerPoints.

You will be asked to introduce yourself a few times. We would like you to prepare an elevator pitch short enough for a 30-second introduction - who you are, what you do, and your research interests/dissertation topic. Keep it short, focus on the essentials, be positive and upbeat, and practice!

The following links provide examples on how to create an elevator pitch:

Crafting an Elevator Pitch

Elevator Pitch Examples

Elevator Pitch Examples and Writing Tips

This is a great exercise you can fine-tune as your research and interests evolve and is helpful for networking.

COVID-19 and UIC Guidance 
COVID-19 is still among us as it is now endemic. UIC has developed its own website with information.

Masking
UIC has instituted the optional use of masks in classrooms, lecture centers, research labs, the libraries and learning/success centers, health care settings, and on UIC shuttles and buses. Masking is a personal decision based on a personal assessment of risk. We will have masks available for those of you who would like to use them.

UIC Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy
The University of Illinois Chicago has a long-standing commitment to supporting and maintaining a drug-free environment for its students and employees. In keeping with this history, we provide a link below to the current UIC Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy and the University Statement on a Drug-Free Workplace.

Campus Safety
As on any college campus, please exercise the utmost care when walking on the street at night. Do not walk alone.

Please download the UIC Safe App - Campus security tool:

Download the UIC Safe App from the App Store (iOS)

Download the UIC Safe App from the Google Play Store (Android)

Guidelines

THINK! about personal safety

THINK! About safety during outdoor activity

This third-largest city in the U.S., Chicago features 77 community neighborhoods with many ethnicities; 600 parks; more than 24 beaches; and an incredible array of cultural attractions. Crossing Latinidades staff will be sharing their favorite places to visit in the city.

Institute Staff

Olga Herrera                         
Email: oherre15@uic.edu
Mobile: 703 282-0219 (text/calls)

Frida Sanchez-Vega              
Email: fsanch7@uic.edu

Academic and Residential Complex
Main Desk Phone: 312 355-7800

UIC Campus Police 
Emergency: 312 355-555
General 312 996-2830    
Address: 943 West Maxwell Street, Chicago, IL 60608-1563 (map) 

Fire Department
Emergency: 312 996-3473 (6 F-I-R-E) or pull nearest alarm box.

Urgent Care at UI Health
Phone: 312 996-2000
Address: 1220 S. Wood St, Chicago, IL 60608 (map)

University of Illinois Hospital Emergency Room
Phone: 312 996-7297
Address: 1740 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60612

Deliveries to Academic Residential Complex:

[Your First and Last Name]
 Your Room Number (including letter)
940 West Harrison Street
Chicago, IL 60607