In Summer 2024, we will begin accepting applications for Cohort VIII (2025-2027)
Eligibility Questions
Q: I currently work at UMBC, but my position is not permanent (i.e., Visiting Lecturer, Adjunct, Postdoctoral Fellow), am I still eligible to apply?
No. Individuals awarded a terminal degree from UMBC or currently holding a postdoctoral or faculty position (i.e., Visiting Assistant Professors, Visiting Lecturers, Adjuncts, etc.) are not eligible to apply.
Q: I received my Ph.D. from UMBC, am I eligible to apply?
A: No. Individuals awarded a terminal degree from UMBC or currently holding a postdoctoral or any faculty position at UMBC are not eligible to apply.
Q: I am not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes.
Q: My terminal degree is an Ed.D., a DFA, or an MFA, am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes.
Q: I am a scholar in X field? Can I apply for the fellowship? Is this field represented at UMBC?
A: UMBC can only support fellows who are working in fields that are represented at UMBC. If you are unsure if you field is represented at UMBC, please refer to the list of majors and program at UMBC http://degrees.umbc.edu/
Q: I received my degree prior to May 2020, can I still apply?
A: Social Sciences, Humanities, Natural Science, Engineering, and Information Technology Applicants: Must have completed the terminal degree in their field when the term of appointment commences no later than July 1, 2023 and no earlier than May 1, 2020.
Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts Applicants: Must hold a terminal degree received no later than July 2023.
Q: I have not yet completed my degree, am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes, however, fellowships are only awarded to individuals who complete their terminal degree before the fellowship start date of July 1, 2023.
Q: I already completed a postdoctoral fellowship elsewhere, am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes.
Q: I am currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor at another institution, can I still apply?
A: No, individuals who already hold a tenure-track faculty position are ineligible to apply.
Application Questions
Application Submission Questions:
Q: Can I submit my application through the mail or email my application?
A: All applications must be submitted via Interfolio:
Q: Can I submit an application after the October 7, 2022 deadline?
A: Yes, however, applications received best consideration if submitted by October 7, 2022.
Q: I am having trouble uploading my application to Interfolio, what should I do?
A: For any issues related to uploading and submitting any component of your application, please contact Interfolio’s Tech Support.
Q: Who do I address my application materials to?
A: Please address all application materials the the Selection Committee for UMBC’s Fellows for Faculty Diversity Program.
Q: Should my application materials be double or single-spaced?
A: Applicants should submit all materials double-spaced.
Letters of Recommendation Questions:
Q: Can my letter of recommendation writers mail or email my recommendation?
A: All application materials, including confidential letters of recommendation, must be submitted via Interfolio.
Q: Will letter of recommendation writers receive automatic prompts to upload their letters from the Interfolio service after the application period has closed?
A: Interfolio contacts the confidential letter of recommendation writers using the email address you provide for each writer. The email will contain instructions for them to submit their confidential letters of recommendation.
Q: My letter writers are having trouble uploading their letters to Interfolio, what should they do?
A: For any issues related to uploading and submitting letters or recommendation, please contact Interfolio’s Tech Support.
Cover Letter Questions:
Q: What information should I include in the Cover Letter?
A: The Cover Letter is your letter of greeting for your application packet in which you introduce yourself, provide a summary of your work and experiences your application, and mention the one or two fields at UMBC that should review your application.
Research Statement Questions:
Q: What should I include in the Research Statement?
A: The Research Statement provides an opportunity to describe and propose research/artistic/creative activities to be conducted during the fellowship.
Q: Are applicants expected to have their own research plan, or do the fellows help with existing research?
A: Fellows are expected to outline their own independent plan of research/artistic/creative activities that they intend to undertake during the fellowship.
Personal Statement Questions:
Q: What should I include my Personal Statement?
A: The purpose of the Program is to support promising scholars, artists, and creative practitioners, who are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in the academy and to prepare those fellows for possible tenure track appointments at UMBC. In the Personal Statement, applicants should detail their demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in higher education and plans for contributing to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access at UMBC.
Portfolio/Writing Sample Questions:
Q: What may I submit as my portfolio or writing sample or sample of creative work?
A: Applicants may submit up to two writing samples that are together, no more than 35-pages. Examples include, a dissertation chapter, journal article, work in progress, or links to creative and scholarly portfolios or work. If needed, you may provide links to documentation and/or digital files illustrative of your creative work history and/or scholarly research.
Fields of Interest Questions:
Q: I would like to have more than two fields consider my application, is that possible?
A: Applicants should select up to two primary fields to review their application. Mention of additional fields for potential collaboration may be discussed in your other application materials.
Q: I discussed my fields of interest in the Cover Letter, do I still need to upload a separate document with my two fields of interest for application review.
A: The information of up to two fields of interest should be in both the cover letter and listed separately in a document uploaded to Interfolio.
Application Review Questions:
Q: What is the application review and selection process?
A: The application best consideration deadline is October 7, 2022. Departments/Programs will review and evaluate applications and submit their nominations to the appropriate Dean and the Provost’s Selection Committee. Finalists will be contacted in early November to schedule on-campus interviews. Fellowship offers will be made in early February 2023.
Q: How are mentors selected for fellows?
A: Fellows are also asked to select the fields which they would like to review their application. Once application review commences, the selected departments and programs will nominate faculty mentors for those applicants they select for further consideration. Applicants may, although not required, identify potential faculty members as part of their application materials.
General Fellowship Questions:
Teaching Questions:
Q: Are fellows expected to teach a pre-existing course or to possibly create a new course?
A: This depends on the host department, but most fellows teach one pre-existing course and may also develop a new course.
Research Questions:
Q: Are there opportunities to do research with mentors outside of the UMBC main campus?
A: Research or creative work as part of the fellowship must be conducted under the supervision of a UMBC faculty member. That does not mean, however, that a fellow may not collaborate with others outside of the institution but it is expected that primary collaborations and scholarly/creative work will occur on the UMBC campus. Mentors will work with fellows to determine collaborations.
Q: Can I bring grant funding or apply for additional external funding during the fellowship period?
A: Fellows may bring additional grant funding they may have or apply for additional funding for research or creative activity from external agencies during their fellowship.
Q: If awarded the fellowship will I need to relocate to Maryland?
A: All fellows are expected to be in residence at UMBC during the academic year and participate in departmental seminars and related activities.
Q: Who has been awarded the fellowship in the past?
A: Information about past awardees for UMBC’s Fellows for Faculty Diversity Program can be found here.
Application Review and Timeline:
Q: What is the application review and selection process?
A: The application deadline for best consideration is October 7, 2022. Departments/Programs will review and evaluate applications and submit their nominations to the appropriate Dean and the Provost’s Selection Committee. Finalists will be contacted in early November to schedule on-campus interviews. Fellowship offers will be made in early February 2023.