FAQs   

Why did I receive an email asking me to upload a mentor letter when I am not a mentor?

CU Boulder partners with the University of California, which administers the program. The system only allows for one message to be sent about recommendation letters and the message is sent to mentors and chairs. Mentors are required to submit recommendation letters to chairs by November 15, 2020. Chairs are required to submit recommendation letters in the portal by December 1, 2020 by following the prompts in the automated email.

Does the applicant need a letter of support from the department chair?

Yes. The online application system, in concert with your proposed faculty mentor, will request a letter of support from the department chair. This separate letter from the department chair should describe the department's level of interest in hiring the applicant into a tenure-track position and/or identify a potential fit with another CU Boulder department, if appropriate. If you are submitting a single letter in your capacity as department chair and as a mentor, please upload your letter in both the department chair and faculty mentor application fields.

Does the support from the Chancellor’s Office include space?

No. The Chancellor expects departments and faculty mentors to onboard fellows like any new hire and make appropriate arrangements for space and other necessary resources, including research supplies and costs. The Chancellor’s Office provides a salary of $50-60,000, depending on the field and level of experience, and additional funds for professional development (please see Professional Development Fund Guidelines). The Chancellor’s Office support also provides fringe to cover the costs of benefits and enrollment in medical, dental and basic life insurance coverage while employed as a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow for Diversity.

What are the expectations of CU Boulder host departments?

Host departments are expected and encouraged to:

» welcome the fellow into the department and make every effort to ensure the fellow is included in communications about departmental colloquia, seminars and social events;

» provide the fellow with information about salary and benefits, and to administer the fellow’s research and professional travel funds;

» provide the fellow with access to routine administrative support such as telephone lines, departmental mail services, libraries and technical support;

» consider the fellow for faculty appointments, and provide fellows with timely information regarding a future faculty appointment or in rare cases for a second term as a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow for Diversity;

» onboard fellows like any new hire and make appropriate arrangements for office space and other necessary resources, including research supplies and costs; hire the fellow under the Postdoctoral Associate (1312) job code and coordinate offer letters with the HR Research Service Center (resfachr@colorado.edu)

When are the recommendation letter deadlines?

The deadline for uploading faculty mentor, department chair and reference letters in the online portal is December 1, 2020.