Complete your degree in 10 semesters of active study. This means students must be eligible for either May or August graduation prior to the start of the 11th semester of study. Deadlines for doctoral defenses, submissions, and various other requirements are available(and updated yearly) on the Graduate School’s website.
Medical leaves of absence (without stipend) and childbirth accommodations (up to 2) may extend a student's eligibility for this program. Because each person's circumstances will be different, students should contact the A&L Dean's Office as early as possible to determine their eligibility, deadlines, and potential start date.

Which track should I take?

Teaching & Research (T&R)
- For Arts & Letters graduate students seeking careers in academia
- You will teach a 1:1 course schedule
Internship Track
- For Arts & Letters graduate students seeking careers outside the professoriate
- Internships are filled in a competitive process
- Internships are full time (40 hours/week)

What is the Indication of Interest Form and Why is it Important?

The Indication of Interest is a form that outlines the requirements for application to and participation in the 5+1 program.
Completing the Interest Form does not require a student to participate in the program. It enables better communication between the Program's directors and potential participants regarding teaching schedules, internship opportunities, visas, compensation, benefits, etc.

I’ve indicated my interest to the Dean’s office. What now?

If you are interested in the T&R Track, keep in close contact with your department’s graduate coordinator. They will process your appointment packet and help arrange your teaching.
If you are interested in the Internship Track, review the available internship opportunities and apply by the posted application deadline.
Stay on track to have your dissertation submitted in time for either May or August graduation.

What are the details of a 5+1 appointment?

In most cases, your appointment will be from August 1 - May 31. Some internships will have different appointment parameters. Fellows who took a medical leave or childbirth accommodation during their graduate program may also have an adjusted timeframe.
Compensation:
- The salary for a Teaching & Research appointment will be at least $42,000.
- The Competitive Teaching positions (Rome Courses) also recieve the $42,000 salary.
- The salary for full-time internships will be at least $51,860.
  - Internship rates follow the NIH rate, postdoc 0 and are subject to change.
- Fellows on both tracks receive benefits.
  - Please see the link here for a description of the current benefits for Postdoctoral Scholars.
- All fellows have access to a limited amount of Professional Development Funding for the duration of their appointment.

What will my duties and responsibilities during my 5+1 Fellowship be?

Teaching & Research Track
- Teaching plans must be approved before the appointment packet is submitted.
- The teaching schedule is 1:1
- Teaching MUST be at the University of Notre Dame.
- Alternate opportunities for instruction must be approved by the appropriate divisional Associate Dean.
Internship Track
- Prospective fellows must apply for internships in a competitive process.
- This is a 40 hour/week professional internship with duties assigned by the hosting unit.
- Opportunities will be advertised on the 5+1 website.

I held a premium fellowship as a graduate student; will my 5+1 pay be higher as a result?

NO. Student success before the conferral of degree has no bearing on postdoctoral stipend levels.

Will I be responsible for paying a portion of my own health insurance?

YES. The university subsidizes the cost significantly. 5+1 Postdocs are full-time paid appointments and are eligible for staff benefits, including health insurance. Incoming postdocs should work with HR to determine their benefit elections. Information on available benefits can be found on the Human Resources' Benefit Summaries page under "Non-Faculty Researchers" --> "Full-Time Paid and Upaid Status" --> "Paid Appointments: Includes Senior Research Associate, Postdoctoral Resesarch Associate, Research Fellow, and Teaching Scholar."

Do I have to start paying my student loans?

Probably. Because you will no longer be a student, most lenders require repayment to begin 6 months after degree conferral. Please check with your specific loan provider for repayment details.

I am here on a visa, how will that be affected by my joining the 5+1 program?

Questions regarding visas should be addressed ASAP and directed to the International Student and Scholar Affairs team (issa@nd.edu).

I thought I would qualify for the program and am scheduled to teach a class, but I didn’t submit my dissertation in time. Do I still have to teach the course I am signed up for?

YES. You will be paid the ABD adjunct rate of $5,000/ 3 credit hour course.

Where will I work? Will I be assigned a dedicated office space?

Department Chairs are responsible for assigning departmental office space.
Library carrels and shared office space are available by request. Please reach out to The A&L Dean's Office to make arrangements.

How do I access my professional development funding?

Funds can only be used and reimbursed during the course of the 5+1 appointment. Any reimbursement requests submitted after the appointment end date will not be approved.
All 5+1 postdocs havea limited amount of R&PD funds available to them after they meet with Ben Pykare, Graduate Career Consultant.. After meeting with Ben, then they can access these R&PD funds similar to how they were reimbursed as a grad student. They will create and submit an expense report which should be submitted to their home department, the home department will then review it, add their comments, change the foap, and send it on to Megan Fitz for review/approval.
R&PD will cover:
- Conference registration or workshop fees
- Fieldwork and relevant research including archival access, software, data sets, non-computer equipment, and books
- Professional memberships
- Professional training
- Travel to job interviews
- Travel to conferences, including renting a car to attend the conference
- Editing and proofreading fees
- Journal Submission
- Business Cards
- Actual expenses (documented by receipts) for meal costs (no alcohol will be reimbursed) while traveling to conferences and job interviews.
- Uses other than those listed above must be approved in advance by the divisional dean. (Electronics are NOT an approved expense.)
If you are using your PD funds to travel:
- If you are planning to book airfare, you may do so directly through Anthony Travel which allows for direct billing to the College. YOU MUST let Megan Fitz (Dean's Office) and your Home Department know that you are booking through Anthony Travel. Please note, if you do not book the airfare directly with Anthony Travel it may limit your ability to be reimbursed for the airfare expense.
Save all of your receipts for your trip, including lodging and meals. Receipts can always be uploaded directly through the Concur Mobile App.
At the conclusion of your trip, create a report in Concur.
Help with Concur is always available on the Procurement Service's home page and at their online help desk.

How are 5+1s paid? Do they use UltraTime to submit hours?

No, 5+1s are PostDocs and will not use UltraTime. They are paid through a stipend that their home department will submit.

Are 5+1s staff?

No, 5+1s are PostDocs. They do not receive the staff newsletters and would not go to the All Staff Summit that takes place near the beginning of the Academic Year.

Is there some paperwork or other correspondence that the host needs to complete for their 5+1's PostDocs internship?

After the 5+1 candidate has signed the offer letter from the Office of Postdoctoral Scholars the host will need to be in contact with the 5+1 intern's home department to make sure they have the FOAP that will pay for the host's portion of the 5+1 intern's salary. Once that is done, the host will not have any other paperwork they will need to fill out.

When does a 5+1 intern/teacher switch from a grad student to PostDoc status?

The 5+1s/PostDocs will have ND student status until August 1, when they will switch to employee status. This has to do with insurance. They will remain on graduate student insurance until July 31, and then switch to employee insurance starting August 1.

Are 5+1s given a computer to use?

The College does not provide 5+1s with a computer. However, the host's department funds can be used to purchase one. The host should contact OIT for assistance with purchasing.

Does the Dean's Office or HR host an onboarding or training for 5+1 interns or teachers?

No, there is no orientation, training, or onboarding for 5+1s from the Dean's Office or HR. Internship hosts are responsible for onboarding and training their interns. A teaching 5+1 will go through their home department and/or their host department to learn more about their responsibilities.

Who is available to help me while I am in the program?

Your Department Chair or Director of Graduate Studies

Do I receive vacation time? Can I cash out unused vacation time?

Yes, postdocs receive vacation time. Information on available benefits can be found on the HR website under Full-Time Paid Appointments which includes Senior Research Associate, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Research Fellow, and Teaching Scholar.
Unfortunately, vacation time is either used or lost. You cannot "cash out" your vacation time.

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