The UAB Council on Postdoctoral Education (COPE) is committed to thoroughly examining all issues related to postdoctoral education. As such, the central goal of COPE is two-fold:
- to improve the environment for postdoctoral training; and
- to facilitate the retention and recruitment of high quality postdoctoral scholars at UAB.
Primary Function
The primary function of COPE is to provide guidance to the Office of Postdoctoral Education on all matters related to postdoctoral training and recruitment.
Approval Responsibilities
COPE is responsible for approving postdoc-related elements, including but not limited to:
- Training requirements (term length, leave)
- Minimum stipend level
- Career-development funding mechanisms
COPE Membership
In addition to the Senior Associate Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs and the Dean of the Graduate School, COPE will include representatives from UAB Schools that train postdoctoral scholars; these representatives are to be nominated and determined by a faculty vote. In addition, representatives from administrative offices that facilitate postdoctoral training as well as the Executive Board of the UAB Postdoctoral Association will serve as COPE members.
|
SCHOOL / UNIT |
NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES |
VOTING / NON-VOTING |
|---|---|---|
|
UAB Postdoctoral Association |
2 |
voting |
|
Business |
1 |
voting |
|
College of Arts and Sciences* |
1 |
voting |
|
Dentistry |
1 |
voting |
|
Education* |
1 |
voting |
|
Engineering |
1 |
voting |
|
Health Professions* |
1 |
voting |
|
Joint Health Sciences |
2 |
voting |
|
Medicine* |
2 |
voting |
|
Nursing |
1 |
voting |
|
Optometry* |
1 |
voting |
|
Public Health |
1 |
voting |
|
Disability Support Services |
1 |
non-voting |
|
Institutional Student Services |
1 |
non-voting |
|
Libraries |
1 |
non-voting |
|
Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion |
1 |
non-voting |
|
Ombudsperson |
1 |
non-voting |
|
Professional Development Program |
1 |
non-voting |
|
Student Health/Wellness |
1 |
non-voting |
*COPE representatives to these schools will serve three-year terms for the initial term only.
Role of a COPE Member
It is intended that all COPE members:
- Serve a renewable two year term
- Attend and participate in biannual COPE meetings
- Serve on COPE sub-committees as needed
If a COPE member is not able to fulfill this role, a replacement will be appointed by the appropriate supervisor.
COPE Meetings: Schedule and Agenda
Meeting will be held biannually in the Spring and Fall. Emails will be sent to each COPE member at a time one month before the scheduled meeting; a reminder will be sent one week prior to the meeting. An agenda will be drafted by the Associate Dean for Postdoctoral Education and distributed in the reminder email. Any COPE member may make additions to the agenda prior to the scheduled meeting.