CFD
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions regarding eligibility:
Does my graduate institution need to be a Consortium member?
No, your graduate institution does not need to be a member. The Consortium is a group of small, liberal arts colleges located throughout the country that are committed to increasing diversity on their campuses.
Do I have to be a member of a particular race or ethnicity to be eligible for a fellowship?
No. The member institutions of the Consortium for Faculty Diversity have resolved that diversity is defined more broadly than race and ethnicity. The members seek candidates who will contribute to increasing the diversity of member colleges in one or more of the following ways: by increasing ethnic and racial diversity, by maximizing the educational benefits of diversity and/or by increasing the number of faculty members who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of students.
Do I need to be a United States citizen to apply?
The Consortium seeks applicants who are either United States citizens or permanent residents. This corresponds to United States hiring and employment laws.
Are there additional eligibility requirements?
We seek applicants enrolled in accredited graduate programs. You must be must be pre-doctoral or postdoctoral. If you are postdoctoral, you may have a maximum of 5 years teaching experience since earning the degree. If you have an M.F.A. or other terminal Master's degree, you are also eligible to apply for the CFD program.
Questions regarding the application:
The website says application before November 1 is strongly encouraged. Is that the deadline? Is there a deadline for letters of recommendation?
The Consortium recommends completion of applications by November 1 because this is the date on which member schools are given access to the database of applications. This is not a deadline; applications may be submitted and/or updated at any time after that date. Please attempt to complete applications by December 1 because most schools may have a clearer idea about their plans to host a pre-doctoral dissertation or postdoctoral scholar by then. The same holds true for recommendation letters.
Are there word limits for the different sections of the application? How long should my responses be?
There are very few fields with character or word limits. If you exceed the limits in those fields, you will receive an error message. Applications will vary in length based on the applicant’s experience; though please try to be complete yet concise in your responses. You may cut and paste from other documents (such as a curriculum vitae).
The application has many sections. Where should I put information that does not seem to fit any particular category?
Please use your best judgment. You are making a case for your selection as a CFD scholar, and you should include information that reflects your teaching and scholarship. However, you should not include course syllabi or drafts of scholarly papers.
I have completed my application, but my letters of recommendation have not yet been submitted. Do I need to wait for them before I submit my application?
No. When you have finished entering information, please submit your application. Letters are appended as they are submitted.
After I submit my application, will I be contacted by the member schools? When?
Contact by a member school is likely if the member school would like to obtain additional information from a candidate to assess his/her potential fit at their school, or if the member school would like to invite a candidate for an interview. Each member school is on its own time-table for reviewing applications, conducting interviews and making appointments. It is likely that most schools will be working to make appointments by late winter/early spring.
I am interested in a particular school. How should I indicate my preference?
There is no mechanism for directing your application to only a particular school or schools; your application will be available to all of the member schools. You may indicate your preference in your application, though we recommend that you contact the individual on the member institution contact list and alert them to your interest and to inquire about their school’s process/timetable for making appointments.
May I submit other materials with my application?
Only the completed on-line application and recommendations are requested. Upon reviewing applications, a member school may contact an applicant and request additional material.
Questions regarding the fellowships:
Is there a particular academic discipline that the Consortium is seeking?
Since the Consortium consists of small liberal arts colleges, we believe in the liberal arts tradition. The private, residential liberal arts colleges of the Consortium are committed to promoting excellent teaching for undergraduate learning. As part of their intellectual vitality, interactive teaching and active learning environments, Consortium member schools seek to build rich intellectual communities of students and faculty members. Through a variety of faculty development programs, ranging from research leaves, curriculum development grants, and support of scholarly expenses to teaching roundtables and travel to professional meetings, Consortium member schools encourage and support the creative and scholarly work of their faculty members.
At our schools, a passion for teaching is a "must," as is significant effectiveness in a variety of pedagogical settings. Faculty members at Consortium member schools can expect to devote a substantial amount of time to teaching and advising undergraduate students. Because our campuses and departments are small, faculty members are encouraged to undertake inter-departmental and inter-disciplinary curricular projects, including the design and teaching of interdisciplinary courses, first-year seminars or courses for non-majors. Expect to support student learning through the use of innovative pedagogy, such as collaborative group work or inquiry learning.
Therefore, we encourage applications from any of the traditional liberal arts disciplines to apply.
What are the benefits of applying for the CFD fellowship?
A full academic life includes scholarship, service, and teaching. The CFD fellowship is a teaching fellowship in residence, and so much more. As a scholar on a liberal arts campus, you have the opportunity to engage in lively academic discussions with colleagues and students. Past scholars have commented that the fellowship prepared them for an academic life and helped them develop a fuller picture of their career.
Please direct other questions to:
Jane Griswold
Assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs
DePauw University
305 Harrison Hall
Greencastle, IN 46135
jgriswold@depauw.edu
765-658-6595
