Overview

As one method of strategically and intentionally diversifying its faculty ranks, the University of North Alabama has established a faculty diversity initiative, the President’s Diversity Faculty Fellowship Program (DFP).  Diversity may be defined as an inclusive collection of individuals and groups who bring varied human characteristics, backgrounds, interests and points of view to enrich the university community. The University’s goal is to create a diverse community in which our students become educated, active, informed, and productive citizens in the communities in which they live and serve.

The DFP places an emphasis on supporting faculty who can add diversity to our programs and to the academy and will create full-time instructor/lecturer positions, one to two years in length, for ABD-level doctoral students or recent doctoral graduates for placement in difficult-to-fill and recruit disciplines at UNA.  Candidates may be from groups that are traditionally under-represented on academic faculties or who reflect the broad definition of diversity as defined above.  UNA will identify potential fellows through close collaboration with doctoral-level institutions in the region.

While the normal teaching load for UNA faculty is 4-4, DFP fellows will teach a 3-3 load, be encouraged to complete their doctoral work, and be involved in a mentorship program for new faculty. During their time as UNA instructors, DFP fellows will receive competitive salary and benefits while completing their dissertations and may seek tenure-track employment either at UNA or elsewhere, once the fellowship ends. 

Through this initiative, UNA hopes to support promising doctoral students, to introduce UNA students to a more diverse faculty, and to enhance the diversity of their eventual tenure-track and tenured faculty by giving newer scholars a chance to know and interact with the UNA community.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the President’s Diversity Faculty Fellowship Program at the University of North Alabama, you must meet the following criteria:

• US citizen or current status as a permanent resident.
• ABD-level or recent doctoral graduate, preferred; master’s plus acceptance into a doctoral program, required.
• Complete application packet submitted via UNA’s Online Employment System including – 
• A nomination from your current or previous doctoral institution uploaded under the Other Document 1 attachment heading of the posting.
• A cover letter describing how you will contribute to the diversity of the program for which you are applying. Eligible applicants may be from groups that have been historically under-represented within the academy. Eligibility may also be determined based on one’s diversity of thought, geographic diversity, or other factors such as having overcome an economic disadvantage or other non-monetary disadvantage or impediment to succeed in higher education.
• A current resume/CV.
• A Statement of Purpose uploaded under the Other Document 2 attachment heading of the posting. This statement is a very important part of the application. Applicants should be as specific as possible about their professional interests and how participation in the President’s Diversity Faculty Fellowship Program can help develop these interests. The statement should also include a discussion about why you are considering the Fellowship Program and a description of your immediate and future career objectives.
• Unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended. Official transcripts will be required for those selected but unofficial transcripts will be accepted for the application process.

Consideration of candidates may be based on the following:  academic record, character, creativity, race and ethnicity, gender, educational and economic background, exceptional personal talents, unique work or service experience, and leadership potential. Applicants must add to the goal of increasing diversity in education at the University of North Alabama.

 For more information regarding the President's Diversity Faculty Fellowship Program, please contact the Office of Enrollment Management.  Thank you!