Postdoctoral appointments are governed by the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) Section 390 (APM 390). The PDF of the complete text of APM 390 (including Appendix A, "Transition Guidelines") is available for download. This Adobe PDF file requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download APM-390.

Postdoctoral Appointment Checklist

Here is a short list of steps to follow in order to ensure proper appointment of postdoctoral scholars. This includes a link to the required appointment letter template and mentoring document.

Implementation Timeline

APM-390 introduces three new title codes exclusively for postdoctoral scholars. Persons hired as Non-Student Postgraduate Researchers or Visiting Postdoctoral Scholars will need to be phased out of those title codes. Please see the following time line.

Milestone Date	Activity
7/1/2004	No new appointments or reappointments of non-postdoctoral scholars in title code 3240 after this date.
01/1/2005	Title code 3252 (Postdoctoral Scholar -- Employee) effective. New appointments and renewal appointments. No new appointments in 3240 and 3370 after this date. No renewal appointments in 3370 after this date.
7/1/2006	Non-postdocs in title code 3240 need to be re-appointed in appropriate staff or academic titles by July 1, 2006 as current appointments expire.
1/1/2010	Title codes 3240 and 3370 expire.

Crosswalk and New Title Codes

To assist you in determining options of other titles for non-postdoctoral scholars, the Office of Graduate Studies created the following “crosswalk”.

The following links describe the three new title codes which will be used exclusively for postdoctoral scholars:

• 3252 Postdoctoral Scholar -- Employee
• 3253 Postdoctoral Scholar -- Fellow
• 3254 Postdoctoral Scholar -- Paid Direct

Compensation Plan

The Compensation Plan is the general campus compensation plan for postdoctoral scholars under APM 390. Departments and ORUs that desire to use their own compensation plan are free to do so. However, the plan must be submitted for approval to the Office of Graduate Studies and must be in compliance with APM 390.

Time Off and Sick Leave Policy

A description of APM 390-60 and 390-61.

Postdoctoral Scholars Benefits Eligibility

Guidelines to determine initial and retention of eligibility in the Postdoctoral Scholars Benefits Plan (PSBP)

Postdoctoral Scholars Benefits

Information about the Postdoctoral Scholars Benefits Plan (PSBP). Includes contact and broker, Garnett-Powers & Associates, information.

Off-Scale Salaries

These are annual salaries which are above the maximum range stated in the APM.
Petition for Exception (MS Word document)

Less than 100% time appointments

Postdocs may request appointments for less than 100% time (total of all appointments) for one of three reasons: health, family responsibilities or external employment. The postdoc and the PI must complete a memorandum of unders tanding regarding the responsibilities and duties to be expected.
Petition for Exception (PDF)

Five-year limit of appointment

By exception, a sixth year of appointment may be granted to postdoctoral scholars. See the Five-Year Limit Guidelines.
Also, here is the Petition for Exception.