Postdoctoral Scholars Policy Information Sheet

The Policy

The University has recently announced the issuance of a new academic personnel policy for Postdoctoral Scholars (www.ucop.edu/acadadv/acadpers/apm/apm-390.pdf). This policy comes about in response to national and University discussions and reports on postdoctoral education. The policy:

  • Provides a general framework and core requirements for postdoc appointments.

  • Applies to both postdoctoral "employees", typically funded by research grants; and postdoctoral "fellows" and trainees, typically funded by extramural agencies.

What The Policy Provides

The new policy provides all postdocs with a common set of requirements, rights and privileges. In the past, postdocs have been appointed and paid in a variety of manners, depending upon the requirements of the funding agencies. For example, some funding agencies allow postdocs to be hired as "employees", while others do not allow the employer/employee relation, thus, some postdocs are paid as "fellows", outside the payroll system. These different payment methods have resulted in differential treatment, including benefit eligibility and terms of appointments. The policy addresses this and establishes terms and conditions for all postdocs, including:

  • · A minimum salary

  • · Requirement of a 100% appointment

  • · Limit of 5 yrs in postdoc status (6th year by exception)

  • · Health and welfare benefits

  • · Sick leave and Time off Provisions

  • · Grievance, Layoff, and Corrective Action and Dismissal Procedures

Who Is A Postdoc?

Postdoctoral Scholars conduct research under the general oversight of a faculty mentor. Thier appointments are temporary positions with fixed end dates intended to provide a full-time program of advanced academic preparation and research training . Postdoctoral work provides essential training in many disciplines for individuals pursuing academic careers and may include opportunities to enhance teaching and other professional skills. If formal teaching duties are assigned, a postdoc must hold both a Postdoctoral Scholar title and an appropriate teaching title (under this circumstance, the full time postdoc appointment percentage will be reduced accordingly).

Currently, postdocs are appointed in various titles, including Postgraduate Researcher (PGR), Visiting Postdoctoral Researcher, or Research Fellow, which has resulted in differential appointment terms and conditions. The new policy is designed to promote as equitable treatment as possible among all postdoctoral scholars, regardless of their title or payment methods, and establishes three new titles:

  • · Postdoctoral Scholar - Employee: Title used when funding agency allows a postdoc to be hired as an "employee" by the University (postdoc is an employee and is paid through the payroll system).

  • · Postdoctoral Scholar - Fellow: Title used when funding agency does not allow a postdoc to have an employer/employee relationship with the University (postdoc is appointed as a "fellow" and is paid through a University account, but outside the payroll system).

  • · Postdoctoral Scholar - Paid Direct: Title used when funding agency does not allow a postdoc to have an employer/employee relationship with the university (postdoc is paid directly by the agency).

Financial Impact for Principal Investigators

Principal investigators must provide funding for postdocs as follows:

  • · A salary at least set at the minimum of the salary scale (see Postdoctoral Scholar Salary Scale)

  • · A 100% appointment

  • · Health and welfare benefits

In some cases where funding sources do not provide for these costs, PIs may be required to arrange for the required funding in order for the campus to proceed with an appointment.

Implementation of Policy

UCSC's implementation of the new academic personnel policy will happen in three stages (see campus' Interim Implementation Plan).