Please check the Institute’s dedicated website for updates. Please note we are still making a few changes to the program. You can access it at:

https://crossinglatinidades.com/summer-institute

The program provides a stipend of $3,000 which has been calculated to cover air travel, ground and local transportation including Ubers to site visits, luggage fees, some meals not offered by the institute, and other incidental and personal expenses you may incur during your nine-day stay. The program covers your lodging on the UIC campus and most of the meals.

Payment of Stipend: Please note UIC only processes stipends at the end of the Institute with payment scheduled in late July/early August. UIC does not provide advances.

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

Arrival: July 6, 2024

Departure: July 14, 2024

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.

You should make your own travel arrangements to Chicago arriving on Saturday, July 6.

If you want us to arrange your flights, we will deduct the cost from your stipend. We offer this option so that you do not have to incur additional credit card charges and fees. UIC requires us to book flights only for the official dates of the Institute — July 6-14, 2024. If you are interested in this option, please let Olga Herrera know. Jessica Seno from the Office of Social Science Research will book your flight based on your preferred itinerary. Please note that this option is for domestic flights within the United States and Puerto Rico.

You will fly into Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) or Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

Participants should arrive at UIC between 1:00 to 6:00 pm. If you have a later flight, just let us know. Once in Chicago, you should go to:

James Stukel Towers
718 W James M. Rochford St.
University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL 60607

CTA Train Options: Both airports are served by public transportation such as CTA trains: MDW by the Orange Line and ORD by the Blue Line.

Going to UIC James Stukel Towers from ORD:

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 0.8 miles, or a 16-minute walk to James Stukel Towers on the South side of campus, where the apartments are located on 718 W. James M. Rochford St.

Going to UIC James Stukel Towers from MDW:

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 0.8 miles, or a 16-minute walk to James Stukel Towers on the South side of campus, where the apartments are located on 718 W James M. Rochford St.

Taxis and Rideshare: If you are arriving later than 6 pm, we recommend you take a taxi or rideshare.

Cost is $38-$50+ for Taxis, Uber, or Lyft. Please use apps to check prices.

Apartment Check-in

James Stukel Towers Front Desk (JST) at 718 W James M. Rochford St.

During your nine-day stay at UIC, you will be at James Stukel Towers Apartments in a fully-furnished five-person suite/apartment with five private bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a shared living room and sitting area. All apartments come with linens (pillow, blanket, flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcase, bath towel, and washcloth), furniture, and high-speed internet connection. In addition, the building offers free laundry, a computer lab, lounges, and common areas.

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

UIC Housing Code

Please familiarize yourself with the UIC Housing Code found here as all rules and regulations will be in effect during your stay.

Apartment Assignments

We strive to create a dynamic experience by placing participants with students from universities other than your own so that you can meet new colleagues and expand your emerging scholar network.

Apartment Checkout

All linens must be left in rooms upon final departure from the apartment for collection. Please drop keys/access cards at the front desk. You are responsible for lost keys/access cards.

Dress Code: Casual and comfortable. Bring walking shoes as we walk across campus and visit museums in Pilsen and Humboldt Park neighborhoods. It is summer and we will be in air-conditioned rooms. We suggest you bring a sweater, jacket, hoodie, etc.

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

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

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, extra blanket, nicer sheets for the bed, a towel, etc. In calculating your stipend we already factored in these kinds of expenses as personal incidentals.

Where to buy nearby: There are stores within walking distance: 7-Eleven, Marshalls, Walgreens, Target

Institute Daily Schedule

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 with sessions starting at 9:00 am. Some days will go to until 4:00 pm/5:00 pm with a few scheduled after-hour activities.

Please be on time. We require you to be on time as any professional development program/job.

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

Session Meeting Spaces

Sunday - July 7: Student Center East, Cardinal Room

Monday-Saturday July 8: Thomas Beckham Hall, Room 180F, 180A, 180B

Summer Institute Meals

We will provide coffee/breakfast and catered boxed/buffet lunches when the Institute is in session: Saturday, Monday-Saturday. In addition, group dinners are planned for Saturday, July 6 (Lalo's), and Wednesday, July 10 (El Mezquite).

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On Saturday, July 13, you will deliver a final 10-minute presentation of your dissertation project, engaging the theoretical positions and methodologies you've been exposed to during the Institute.

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:

https://www.mindtools.com/aofwxxv/crafting-an-elevator-pitch

https://asana.com/resources/elevator-pitch-examples

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/elevator-speech-examples-and-writing-tips-2061976

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

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. See this website for more details.

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