Student Grants
SAMI provides funding to individual students and student organizations whose projects:
- Encourage academic growth and leadership development
- Create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration across different perspectives
- Contribute to a more informed and connected campus community
The Student Academic Multicultural Initiatives (SAMI) were created in 1993 to support student engagement in academic programs and educational activities that strengthen the university’s learning environment.
Since its creation, SAMI has helped students and organizations develop programs, research, and events that enhance learning, collaboration, and campus understanding of a wide range of topics.
Funding is provided by the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives

Before submitting an application, please review the submission deadlines and requirements
Grants for Projects or Events
Programs to enrich Michigan and the wider community
- Fund your student scholarly/academic publications on multicultural topics
- Invite a guest lecturer or artist on multicultural subjects or academic success issues
- We’re looking for projects that promote cross-cultural understanding and awareness for the campus community

The KSA Culture Show is an annual, not-for-profit event that showcases various student organizations and performance groups aiming to promote authentic Korean culture through traditional and modern art forms.

The Egyptian Student Association is hosting a Culture Night to celebrate Egyptian identity through education, awareness, and philanthropy.

Detroit Partnership Day is a day of service learning during which hundreds of UM students travel to Detroit and engage in direct service (e.g., yard work, blight removal) for various community organizations.

La Union is an event that aims to showcase the variety of cultures while involving the campus community.

The GenAPA cultural show focuses on raising awareness and showcasing the richness of Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA) culture through student performances.

The Students of Color of Rackham (SCOR) Symposium is an annual event hosted by the SCOR graduate organization.
Grants for Conferences
Funding for conferences that expand your world view
- For individual students interested in attending a conference or presentation of scholarly research on multicultural topics at a national or international conference
- For student organizations interested in attending a conference that will enhance understanding of a topic that is academic and multicultural in nature
- We’re looking for conferences focused on cross-cultural research and building multicultural understanding

The Black Graduate Research Symposium is organizing its first interdisciplinary Black Graduate research symposium form March 21st-March 23rd 2024.

University of Michigan is excited to host this year’s Annual Global Surgery Conference with the theme of innovation providing you with outstanding educational opportunities.

The first annual Women Across Teachings, Culture, and History event (WATCH ’23). WATCH aims to be an annual conference held during Women’s History Month (March).
Grants for MLK Symposium Events
Contribute to the cross-campus MLK celebration
OAMI offers a special SAMI Grant for student programs that occur alongside or thematically connect with the MLK Symposium, the university’s yearly celebration of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
