Breakout Session Entrances and Exits

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Breakout Session- Entrances and Exits

• 1) Getting Started How to Make the Case for
  Establishing a Postdoc Office or for Implementing
  Entry-Exit Programming for Postdocs to
  Administrators
• Use supporting data (Sigma Xi survey, etc.)
• Show that peer institutions are becoming involved
• Anti-unionization or Anti-lawsuit -
  protective for both the institution and
• the postdocs
• Remember to keep the proposal simple, flexible
  and direct.

• Outline the Benefits of Establishing Entry-Exit
  Programming for Postdocs
• Increases community building among postdocs
• Increases productivity
• Prevents conflict/encourages early reporting of
  issues and facilitates intervention
• Gives postdocs a face and a place to go for
  information, to ask questions,
• to express concerns, etc.
• Increases the perception of institutional
  investment in postdocs which in turn
• engenders postdoc loyalty to the institution
• Aids in recruiting

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• 3) Tracking the Postdoc Population Incoming,
  Outgoing, Alumni
• (University of Alberta and Vanderbilt)
• Mechanisms for identification (HR data?)-
  requires accurate definition and
• consistent classification of postdocs
• Link entries to activation of payroll, ID cards,
  etc
• Identification of outgoing postdocs is much
  harder- may require brute force
• or leg work

• 4) Orientations
• Ideally should contain information that is both
  general and postdoc-specific
• Varying duration between institutions but there
  is probably an optimum length
• Should be a survey or other feedback mechanism to
  make sure they are effective
• Electronic orientations may be very useful and
  effective

• 5) Offer Letters Vs. Appointment Letters
• There is a distinction
• What information should each contain? Should
  there be a standardized format?

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• 6) Exit Surveys
• Tracking is the hardest part- especially outgoing
  postdocs (see above Vanderbilt is a good model)
• What should the surveys be used for?
• To inform internal programming - identify gaps in
  support or services
• To track careers outcomes
• To identify successful PIs/Departments
  (acknowledge and reward?)
• To facilitate networking/peer mentoring between
  current and former postdocs
• (UNC postdoc alumni database)

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