The Anna Julia Cooper (AJC) Fellowship is a recruitment-linked opportunity for incoming assistant professors selected through the faculty search process. During the fellowship year, AJC Fellows hold Academic Staff appointments in the Scientist II title. The fellowship provides a structured, protected pre-tenure-track year for scholarly and research advancement before the faculty appointment begins.
12 Months
Academic Staff appointment in the Scientist II title
Mentorship
Primary faculty mentor and department-based integration
Protected Time
No formal instructional or service responsibilities
Three Review Cycles
Spring submission and notification windows
Is AJC the Right Resource?
AJC may be appropriate when:
- The candidate has been selected through the faculty search process.
- The candidate and department agree that fellowship consideration is appropriate.
- A protected year would support the candidate’s scholarly advancement and transition.
- The department can preserve protected time and provide structured mentorship and integration support.
- The school or college supports submission for university review.
How AJC Consideration Works
Step 1: Eligible Job Requisition
Step 2: Candidate Indicates Interest
Step 3: Candidate Is Selected
Step 4: Department Submits the Application
Step 5: University Review and Appointment Planning
Awards are limited and subject to available funding.
Honoring Anna Julia Cooper’s Legacy
The Anna Julia Cooper Fellowship honors Dr. Anna Julia Cooper, a pioneering scholar, educator, author, and activist whose work emphasized the transformative power of education, intellectual development, and institutional responsibility. Cooper’s life and scholarship reflected a sustained commitment to expanding educational opportunity, advancing rigorous intellectual work, and supporting the development of scholars whose contributions strengthen their institutions and communities.
The fellowship draws from Cooper’s legacy by centering three principles that shape the design and purpose of the fellowship.
Protected Time for Scholarly Development
The fellowship provides dedicated time for research, writing, publication, and scholarly advancement before the tenure clock begins.
Mentorship as Scholarly Responsibility
Fellows are supported by a primary faculty mentor and department-based structures that promote scholarly development, institutional navigation, and transition into the faculty role.
Institutional Contribution and Belonging
Fellows are recruited for their scholarly promise and their potential to contribute meaningfully to the intellectual life of UW–Madison.
Why the Name Matters
Through this fellowship, UW–Madison honors Cooper’s legacy by supporting selected incoming assistant professors through protected time, structured mentorship, and intentional transition into the university’s scholarly community.
Fellowship Structure
| Appointment | 12-month Academic Staff appointment in the Scientist II title |
|---|---|
| Compensation | 90 percent of the agreed-upon Assistant Professor starting salary stated in the faculty offer |
| Primary Focus | Research, publication, scholarly advancement, and program development |
| Teaching and Service | No formal instructional or service responsibilities during the fellowship year |
| Mentorship | Primary faculty mentor and department-based integration plan |
| Faculty Transition | The tenure-track Assistant Professor appointment begins after the fellowship year. |
Flexible Start Dates
Start dates align with:
- approved appointment
- documentation
- candidate transition timeline
- department needs
- revised faculty start date
Choose your pathway
For Candidates
What candidates need to know
- What the fellowship provides
- How to indicate interest in the cover letter
- Candidate role in required application materials
- What happens after sponsorship and approval
For Departments
What departments need to do
- Determine when AJC is appropriate
- Confirm sponsorship and school/college support
- Prepare required application components
- Email completed applications as a single PDF to vpfsa@provost.wisc.edu.
- Plan appointment documentation and preserve protected time
Spring Review Cycles
Departments should submit applications in the review cycle that best aligns with the candidate’s appointment timeline, fellowship planning needs, and anticipated Assistant Professor start date.
Round 1
Late February submission; March notification
Round 2
Early April submission; late April notification
Round 3
Mid-May submission; late May or early June notification
Required Application Materials
- Departmental Attestation of Scholarly Readiness
- Curriculum Vitae
- Fellowship Year Research Plan
- Mentorship and Integration Statement
- Letters of recommendation or external evaluations collected through the faculty search process
- Confirmation of the tenure-track appointment pathway
Departments are not expected to solicit new letters specifically for the AJC Fellowship.
Use letters of recommendation or external evaluations collected through the faculty search process.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is eligible for AJC consideration?
AJC consideration is available for eligible incoming assistant professors selected through the faculty search process. Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements described in the Program Guidelines, and the hiring department must support submission for university review.
How do I indicate interest as a candidate?
Candidates should add the following language to their Cover Letter Language.
“I would welcome consideration for the Anna Julia Cooper Fellowship as part of this faculty appointment.”
Does indicating interest guarantee consideration?
No. Candidate interest serves as an early signal only. Departments determine whether to advance candidates for AJC consideration. Formal consideration requires departmental sponsorship, a complete coordinated application, and university approval.
When does formal AJC consideration occur?
Formal AJC consideration occurs after the candidate has been selected through the faculty search process and the department and candidate jointly determine that fellowship consideration is appropriate. If the application is approved, the hiring unit will coordinate fellowship appointment documentation and the transition to the tenure-track Assistant Professor appointment.
What are candidates responsible for contributing to the Application?
What are candidates responsible for contributing to the Application
Candidates provide the following information to the hiring department:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Fellowship Year Research Plan
- Mentorship and Integration Statement developed with the hiring department
Can the fellowship begin outside the traditional August academic cycle?
Yes. Fellowship start dates are established through the approved appointment documentation and should align with the candidate’s transition timeline, department needs, program approval, appointment requirements, and the revised Assistant Professor start date
What appointment does the fellow hold?
During the fellowship year, AJC Fellows hold Academic Staff appointments in the Scientist II title. The fellowship appointment is separate from the tenure-track Assistant Professor appointment and does not count toward the tenure clock.
What are the teaching and service expectations?
Fellows do not have formal instructional or service responsibilities during the fellowship year. Fellowship time is reserved for research, publication, scholarly advancement, and program development.
Are new recommendation letters required?
No. Departments should use letters of recommendation or external evaluations collected through the faculty search process. New letters are not expected specifically for AJC consideration.
What happens after approval?
The hiring unit works with school or college faculty affairs and HR partners to complete the appropriate Academic Staff appointment documentation, establish the fellowship dates, align the subsequent Assistant Professor start date, confirm mentoring arrangements, and complete the required funding activation steps.
Downloads and Resources
Department Quick Guide
A concise decision and action guide for department chairs, search committee chairs, faculty mentors, and department administrators.
Application Instructions
Detailed requirements for preparing and submitting a complete AJC Fellowship application package.
Program Guidelines
The full program and appointment reference, including eligibility, appointment structure, mentoring, reporting, funding, and required appointment language.
Recommended Job Requisition Language
Minimal candidate-facing language that may be included in eligible Job Requisitions.
Ready to Move Forward?
Contact Faculty and Staff Affairs for questions about eligibility, timing, or department sponsorship before preparing an application.
Email Faculty and Staff Affairs Download the Department Quick Guide