Multicultural Graduate Network originated in 1999 as the PARTNERS for SUCCESS program. This program matched newly admitted minority graduate students with continuing students who served as their connection to academic excellence and social networks. These networks fostered a welcoming environment and inspired a comfortable transition into the graduate school experience.
For three years the program was only held in the Fall semester. Due to overwhelming success, in 2002 the program was granted a permanent home in the Graduate School and extended to an academic year program, with events in both Fall and Spring.
Because of the university’s commitment to diversity via Plan 2008, there
are many more programs to serve targeted minority and disadvantaged graduate
students than ever before. Due to this progression, PARTNERS for SUCCESS has
also changed. Instead of matching incoming students with continuing students,
we now focus on fostering and inspiring graduate students to network with each
other, their faculty and university community via our Signature Events, thus
the name change to Multicultural Graduate Network. Additionally, one of the
new goals for MGN focuses on the continual support of newly admitted graduate
students as they make their transition to the UW-Madison.