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Application Process for Graduate Faculty and Doctoral Research Endorsement

Faculty and administrators must hold Graduate Faculty or GF with DRE status to teach graduate courses and serve on doctoral committees. Contract renewable (without research expectations) and part time faculty must hold Graduate Lecturer status. See Graduate Faculty Guidelines for further information.

Join Us for Optimizing Mentoring Workshops
Join us for rich engagement around this important aspect of our profession in workshops facilitated by UNC Graduate Faculty who have in-depth training from the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Research Experiences. Optimizing Mentoring workshops have replaced the former online DRE, NRMN and Graduate Faculty workshop. These sessions offer practical insight, instruction and examples relevant to UNC Graduate Programs.
 
Faculty applying for initial or renewed Graduate Faculty or Doctoral Research Endorsement status must complete the three Optimizing Mentoring modules by the end of the 2025–2026 academic year. Modules may be completed in any order.
 
Upcoming Sessions 
Nov. 11
Module 3
1:15-2:45 p.m.
Virtual or In Person at McKee Hall

Dec. 18
One-day Session (Includes all three modules)
9 a.m.-noon
Virtual Only (Zoom)

Additional dates will be announced once room availability can be determined.

. Zoom links will be provided to registrants via calendar invite. If you need specific accommodations, include that in your registration.
 
Applications submitted for review without completion of the three modules will move forward to the Graduate Council for review. Please note however that the appointment expiration date will be shortened until all Optimizing Mentoring module requirements have been completed. Once all modules have been completed, the expiration term will be updated to the full five-year term.
 
Please let Maria Lahman, at Maria.Lahman@unco.edu, know if you have any questions.

Steps for the Application Process

1. Application. Complete all applicable fields in the application. Sign using Adobe Verified Signature and email the application to your department chair or school director. They will then send this to the college dean for signatures. (See Adobe Verified Signature Instructions below.) Incomplete or unsigned applications will be sent back for completion.
2. Applicant or Dean’s representative emails the following documents to Carol.Steward@unco.edu.
   • GF or DRE/GF* Application
   • Optimizing Mentorship Module Certificates (GF, CGF and DRE)
   • UNC Curriculum Vitae (download up-to-dated vita from Digital Measures)
   • *DRE/GF applications must also include PDFs of the first page only of three publications. (Not required for GF or CGF status.)

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Adobe Verified Signature Instructions

• Please do not print, hand write/sign forms or use DocuSign or AdobeSign. This removes the digital completion components. (Before starting application, check for little red flags on the signature lines — if they are not showing, be sure to download as explained in next bullet.)
• Download PDF documents and save them. Open with Adobe Acrobat to complete forms. Do not fill out forms in a browser or Mac Preview.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader is available for free at the .
• All faculty need to sign using Adobe Verified Signatures on the same form. (Follow in-app prompts to set up faculty signatures.) Save after each person signs.
• For help or further instructions, contact Carol.Steward@unco.edu.