FAQ

We ask Compass Scholars to commit to the following community agreement:

1. Be a good colleague: Be kind and considerate when communicating in written and verbal form in all aspects of Compass.

2. Share your perspective and welcome others: Contribute your experiences, stories, and views to foster everyone’s learning. Welcome the input and views of others, while recognizing they may be different than your own. If you disagree, approach conflict with curiosity and mutual respect.

3. Take the time: Set aside the time to complete all components of Compass and attend the remote events and peer mentoring team meetups.

4. Reflect and apply your learning: Be intentional about reflecting on what you are learning and applying what you learn to your work.

5. Be an engaged peer mentor: Be a prepared, active, and supportive peer who is willing to share insights and contribute to a constructive learning environment.

6. Help us continuously improve: Complete Compass surveys and follow-up questionnaires to provide feedback on your learning and experience.

7. Maintain confidentiality: Collaborative learning only works when members can trust each other. Maintain that trust by not sharing other scholars’ personal comments and experiences with people outside the program. Take lessons with you but details stay in the Compass program.

8. Use artificial intelligence (AI) tools responsibly: Please respect confidentiality, intellectual property rights, and the privacy of all participants by using AI tools for educational purposes only. Please do not share AI generated materials derived from Compass (including virtual events) with others.

If you want to learn more or have questions, please email [email protected]. You may also submit an online contact form.

Compass scholars are required to meet with their assigned peer mentoring team (PMT) for one-hour weekly virtual meetups throughout the Compass program. Teams will be assigned two weeks prior to the Cohort start date and are required to meet briefly during this time to get to know one another and build rapport. This has been critical to the success of each team. Teams receive a PMT Guidebook, draft a Team Charter to align expectations, work together on practive activities, and get advice on real-world problems in real time. On the Faculty Track, PMTs assist with peer review of lab manuals/research team handbooks. On the Postdoc Track, PMTs discuss career plans.

The Faculty Track requires a time commitment of 3-4 hours per week for 10 weeks. We encourage, but do not require, that Scholars continue meeting with their Peer Mentoring Teams monthly after the 10-week program ends.

Participation in the Faculty Track costs $2,000. This fee covers all program learning materials, Lab Manual or Team Handbook, templates and tools, a dedicated peer mentoring team, access to experienced mentors, and the broader Compass community.

Faculty Track program scholars will receive a link to pay by credit card after they have been accepted into the program. You should expect to receive an acceptance decision within two weeks of applying. We provide suggestions for possible sources of financial support to be able to participate in the Faculty Track here.

Yes, established faculty are eligible to participate in the Faculty Track. However, it should be noted that Compass was originally designed to meet the unique needs of early-career faculty. We are looking to expand our offerings specifically for established faculty in the future.

After you complete the Faculty Track, you will be invited to join the Compass LinkedIn group which is for everyone who has participated in Compass to-date and has joined the community. You will also be provided with updated materials through the Compass Canvas Community. We encourage, but do not require, that Scholars continue meeting with their Peer Mentoring Teams and attend Fireside Chats after the 10-week training ends.

All program fees must be paid at least three weeks prior to program launch. We understand that sometimes other commitments must take priority over your participation in Compass, so we provide options should you need to withdraw from the program and have already paid program fees. Depending on when you withdraw, you can receive a pro-rated refund or defer to a future cohort within the next two application cycles (roughly one year from the start of the cohort in which you originally planned to participate).

• More than 4 weeks before program launch: full refund OR defer to a future cohort
• Between 2 and 4 weeks before program launch: 85% refund OR defer to a future cohort
• Less than 2 weeks before program launch: 75% refund OR defer to a future cohort
• After program launch but before the end of week 4: we are unable to offer a refund, but you can defer to a future cohort
• After the end of week 4: we are unable to offer a refund or provide the option to defer to a future cohort

The goal of the Postdoc Track is to help postdoctoral researchers plan their careers and establish foundational self-management skills that support independence as a researcher. The program trains individuals how to set their careers up for success, advocate for their needs, build their professional network, and navigate the job market.

The Postdoc Track requires a time commitment of 2-3 hours per week for 6 weeks. We encourage, but do not require, that Scholars continue meeting with their Peer Mentoring Teams monthly after the 6-week training ends.

Due to NIH support (Grant Number R25GM143346, Antes PI), the Postdoc Track is currently free.

The key deliverable for Scholars in the Postdoc Track of Compass is a career planning document. The purpose of the plan is to help postdocs begin critically thinking about their needs, desires, goals, and definitions of success as new researchers. A template and instructions for the plan will be provided to Scholars.

We encourage, but do not require, that Scholars continue meeting with their Peer Mentoring Teams monthly after the 6-week training ends. We also strongly encourage Postdocs to participate in the Faculty Track in their early career, especially if they go on to lead their own lab or research team.

Yes! Contact us directly for additional information and to discuss your needs. This conversation will enable us to provide more accurate information about pricing.

Yes! Contact us directly for additional information and to discuss your needs. This conversation will enable us to provide more accurate information about pricing.