Eligibility

• Do I have to an underrepresented minority to apply for this fellowship?
• Can I still be considered if I do not have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency?
• Can I apply if I have a JD, MD, MFA or EdD instead of a PhD?
• I am an assistant professor; can I still apply?
• I received my PhD over 5 years ago. Am I still eligible to apply for this fellowship?
• I will finish my doctorate after July 1, next year. Am I still eligible to apply this fall?

Finding a mentor

• How do I find a tenured ladder-rank) associate or full professor) faculty mentor?
• Are assistant professors allowed to be faculty mentors?
• What are the expectations of the faculty mentors during the fellowship?
• May I select a faculty mentor from my current department or campus?
• Can I select a retired faculty member to be my faculty mentor?
• Can a faculty member serve as a mentor for more than one applicant?

Application

• Should I send my graduate transcripts along with my online application?
• How will I know when I will be assigned a faculty mentor?
• What is the application deadline?
• When will the final decisions be announced?

Review and selection

• Who will review my application?
• What criteria are considered by the selection committee when reviewing applications?
• What is the salary for this award?

2021 Fellowships Terms of Appointment

• What is the salary and how is it determined?
• What benefits are provided?
• Do fellows need to be in residence at UNA during the fellowship?

ELIGIBILITY

Q:  Do I have to be an underrepresented minority to apply for this fellowship?
A:  Yes.  The Program was established to attract talented and outstanding underrepresented faculty to diversify faculty ranks. 

Q:  Can I still be considered if I do not have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency?
A:  No.  Successful applicants must be U.S. citizen or current status as a permanent resident, and may be asked to present documents demonstrating that they are legal United States citizen or permanent resident.  Information regarding citizenship, gender, race, ethnicity, veteran or disability status is requested for statistical purposes only and will not be provided to the Selection Committee.

Q:  Can I apply if I have a JD, MD, MFA or EdD instead of a PhD?
A:  Yes, applicants with terminal degrees in their field may apply as long as they are preparing for a career in university teaching and research.

Q:  I’m an assistant professor, can I still apply?
A:  The fellowship is designed to give ABD-level or recent doctoral graduates an opportunity to become more competitive candidates for UNA tenure-track appointments.  It is not a general fellowship program for individuals already on the tenure-track to take time out for research with the intention of staying at their current institution.  Candidates with tenure-track appointments at other universities are not favored in the selection process.  

Q:  I received my PhD over 5 years ago.  Am I still eligible for to apply for this fellowship?
A:  Yes.  You are still eligible to apply if you are preparing for a career in university teaching and research. 

Q:  I will finish my doctorate after July 1, next year.  Am I still eligible to apply this fall?
A:  You should expect to complete your doctorate on or before July 1 of the year following your application. 

FINDING A MENTOR

Q: How do I find a tenured ladder-rank (associate or full professor) faculty mentor?
A:  In the past, awardees have identified potential faculty mentors through professional contacts in their field.  You may also look for an appropriate mentor by reviewing the literature and searching UNA department websites for faculty who are working in your area of interest.

Q: Are assistant professors allowed to be faculty mentors?
A:  No. Faculty mentors must be tenured ladder-rank UNA faculty in the associate or full professor title.

Q:  What are the expectations of the faculty mentors during the fellowship?
A:  Please see the Guidelines and Host Departments.

Q:  Can I select a retired faculty member to be my faculty mentor?
A:  The program encourages applicants to select an active faculty member as their mentor.  However, in some cases retired faculty who are still fully involved in their department and their research program are excellent prospective mentors.

Q:  Can a faculty member serve as a mentor for more than one applicant?
A:  Yes, faculty may serve as a mentor for more than one applicant for the President's Diversity Faculty Fellowship Program. 

APPLICATION

Q:  Should I send my graduate transcripts along with my online application?
A:  Yes.  The program requires transcripts to be sent with the application.  However, the program will request official graduate transcripts if you are selected as a finalist and will not offer you a fellowship until official graduate transcripts are received. 

Q:  How will I know I will be assigned a faculty mentor?
A:  COMING SOON

Q:  What is the application deadline?
A:  The deadline for submitting the online application is April 1st each year.

Q:  When will the final decisions be announced?
A: Finalists will be notified and awards announced no sooner than June 30th each year.  Please consider restraint when contacting the Division about the selection results.  Successful candidates are notified first. Alternates are notified if awardees do not accept.  The program makes every effort to notify all candidates as soon as possible.  A public announcement will be posted on the PDFFP website when all awards are finalized and accepted no later than June 30th.

REVIEW AND SELECTION

Q:  Who will review my application?
A:  All applications are initially reviewed by the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Provost, academic dean(s), and department chair committee.  Candidates selected will be invited for an interview. Interviews take place during spring semester/summer semester, and applicants are expected to be present for a virtual interview.

Q:  What criteria are considered by the selection committee when reviewing applications?
A:  Faculty reviewers evaluate applicants in all fields based on the following:  academic record, creativity, race and ethnicity, gender, educational and economic background, exceptional personal talents, unique work or service experience, and/or leadership potential.

Q:  What is the salary for this award?
A:  The award includes a salary beginning at approximately $40,760 depending on the field and level of experience with a benefits package including health insurance and paid vacation/sick leave, and up to $5,000 for research-related and program travel expenses.

2021 FELLOWSHIP TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

Q:  What is the salary and how is it determined?
A: Salaries for the 2021 fellowships begin at approximately $40,760.  

Q:  What benefits are provided?
A: The award includes health, vision and dental benefits, paid sick leave, maternity leave, and 4 weeks of “paid time off" during the fellowship term.

Q:  Do fellows need to be in residence at UNA during the fellowship?
A: Yes, award recipients are expected to have a presence in a UNA department with the exception of time away for research, conferences and other scholarly activities.