FAQs for CC Departments

How do we submit a proposal? When are those requests approved?

Chairs respond to the call for proposals in the fall from the Dean of the Faculty. The approval is integrated  as part of their annual personnel planning in the fall semester.

If our request is approved, should we advertise the position?

No. Scholars must be hired through the Consortium for Faculty Diversity. Please see the "Other Information" section of the website for more information.

Can we review the database before submitting a proposal to ensure there are available candidates in our field?

Yes. Please contact the Office of the Dean of the Faculty for more information.

What if we can't find a scholar through the Consortium for Faculty Diversity? Can we hire through other means?

No, but we strongly encourage you to share information about the Consortium for Faculty Diversity with your networks. 

In what ways is the hiring process different from and|or similar to typical faculty hires?

If your proposal is approved, your hiring committee should log into Interfolio and review application materials. Typically, departments|programs conduct phone or Zoom interviews and invite one candidate for an on-campus interview. The on-campus interview includes a job talk, a teaching demonstration, and meetings with faculty, students, and staff.

What is the scholar's official job title?

 The official title for postdoctoral Riley Scholars is Visiting Assistant Professor of [Department or Program].

Is every scholar guaranteed a second year, if they want to stay?

No. Whether or not a second year is extended depends on their willingness to stay along with the needs and abilities of the program|department and the college. If the scholar desires a second year, we recommend they communicate that to their Chair no sooner or later than the middle of the fall semester, with the understanding that there are no guarantees.

Who in the program|department should mentor the scholar?

The Chair mentors all departmental colleagues, including Riley Scholars-in-Residence. Other members of the program|department may also serve as mentors.

What additional mentoring and professional development opportunities are available to Riley Scholars?

Riley Scholars-in-Residence are encouraged to participate in the Mentoring Alliance Program (MAP), which is open to all early career faculty. The Crown Center for Teaching is a resource for educators who want to expand and hone their teaching toolkits. The Instructional Coaching Program, housed in the Crown Center for Teaching and open to all faculty, is a teacher development program designed to support CC educators’ anti-oppressive pedagogical development. 

How much teaching support will the Riley Scholars-in-Residence Program provide?

Riley Scholars-in-Residence are encouraged to participate in the Mentoring Alliance Program (MAP), which is open to all early career faculty. The Crown Center for Teaching is a resource for educators who want to expand and hone their teaching toolkits. The Instructional Coaching Program, housed in the Crown Center for Teaching and open to all faculty, is a teacher development program designed to support CC educators’ anti-oppressive pedagogical development. 

Should the scholar participate in conversations about their teaching load and teaching schedule?

Yes. While scheduling needs for programs|departments vary, impacting the extent to which any faculty member can determine the blocks in which they teach, the scholar should participate in those conversations to the extent possible since special consideration should be paid to their postdoctoral research progress and job market timelines in their field.

Can a postdoctoral scholar teach more than three courses?

No. 

Can the scholar team-teach courses with other faculty within or outside the program|department?

Generally no. This may be approved in rare cases.

Should a scholar be advising students or student groups?

Not typically. However, adjustments may be considered by the Dean of Students in consultation with the Dean of the Faculty.

Should we invite the scholar to program|department meetings?

No, because the Riley Scholars-in-Residence Program is designed to support fellows in working on their scholarship and bolstering their teaching skills. Program|department meeting attendance is service work they should not spend time on during their participation in the program.

Should the scholar serve on committees?

No, because the Riley Scholars-in-Residence Program is designed to support fellows in working on their scholarship and bolstering their teaching skills. Committee work is service they should not spend time on during their participation in the program.

To which program|department events should we invite the scholar?

We recommend you invite them to events like those that feature guest speakers and students presenting their research or that celebrate graduates, for example, as these opportunities will allow them to build and maintain community.

Do scholars receive benefits like health insurance or retirement contributions?

According to Human Resources, "Most benefits are effective on the first calendar day of the month once applicable waiting periods have been satisfied. New benefits-eligible employees hired on the first calendar day or first business day of the month will be eligible for coverage on their hire date. Employees hired on any other day of the month will be eligible for coverage on the first calendar day of the following month." For more specific information, visit their website by clicking here or contact their office directly.

Should scholars receive support for conference travel and|or other research and teaching-related needs?

Programs|Departments may reasonably support scholars in these areas to the extent possible. Further, along with a stipend for research and professional development and a college-issued computer for use during their employment, scholars may be eligible to receive funding for additional teaching and|or research-related expenses from the Office of the Dean of the Faculty and other on-campus sources. Consult with the Dean of the Faculty for more information.