Published: Feb. 9, 2017
Buffalo at sunset

Dear Postdocs,

I am writing to you today to voice my unwavering support and that of the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA) staff to each and every postdoc affiliated with CU Boulder. We are committed to maintaining CU Boulder as an inclusive and safe environment for all.

Our campus postdoc community is a vibrant and diverse group of early career researchers who are dedicated to improving the world through scholarly pursuit. Your contributions, more than advancing knowledge and the reputation of CU Boulder, have improved the world and the people in it. Each and every postdoc on campus is an invaluable member of the CU Boulder family.

Developing events and actions at the federal level are affecting postdocs on campus as well as their families, friends and peers in a variety of ways and, as a result, many of you are experiencing uncertainty, hardship and stress in your professional and personal lives. These actions and events are antithetical to the CU Boulder commitment to inclusive excellence, and the OPA recognizes the duress and anxiety that they may cause. I am here to help and support you with any issue that is affecting your professional life, even if such issues are personal in nature, through direct support or by connecting you with CU Boulder resources. The OPA is firmly committed to serving all CU Boulder-affiliated postdocs of any national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, age, marital status, family status, or ability.

The OPA joins a growing body of entities voicing support for all CU Boulder and affiliated postdocs. At the campus level, working groups are being convened to gather and provide additional resources for impacted staff and students, and International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is the central campus resource for federal updates and resources for international scholars. Please see below for a list of existing additional resources for postdocs.

If you need support, please email me at leah.colvin@colorado.edu (preferred) or call my office phone at 303-492-9137. I also offer drop-in support Wednesdays from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Kind regards,

Leah Colvin
Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs


RESOURCES

ISSS News & Alerts lists ISSS Immigration Alerts for International Students and Scholars and a FAQ on issues related to recent executive orders on immigration.

ISSS counselors can be reached at isss@colorado.edu, by phone at 303-492-8057, or via walk-in from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM at C4C S355.

Know Your Rights: What to do if you’re stopped by Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI (ACLU Flier)

The Office of Victim Assistance (OVA) offers free, confidential information, support, advocacy, and short-term counseling to students, faculty and staff at CU. OVA can be reached at assist@colorado.edu or by phone at 303-492-8855.

Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) counselors serve the emotional and psychological needs of the campus community. You can make an appointment, or visit them during walk-in hours Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM at ARCE A353.

The Gender and Sexuality Center provides information/resources, advocacy and events to help gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and allied (GLBTQIA) students, staff, and faculty. They can be reached at gsc@colorado.edu or by phone at 303-492-1377.

The Postdoctoral Association of Colorado (PAC) is available to help answer or forward questions to a university resource. They can be reached by email at pacboulder@gmail.com.


STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT

Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano shared how new immigration restrictions might affect campus international students, faculty and staff, How new immigration restrictions affect the CU community, and later provided an update on immigration restrictions and CU Boulder actions in response to this evolving situation.

Vice Chancellor for Research Terri Fiez highlighted actions by the Research and Innovation Office in response to developing changes affecting research and innovation at CU Boulder.

The Postdoctoral Association of Colorado (PAC) has issued a statement of support for international postdocs.

The National Postdoc Association (NPA) has issued a statement in response to immigration concerns.

The Association of American Universities – of which CU Boulder is a member – has urged an end to the Executive Order barring entry or return of individuals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.