Faculty-in-Residence (FIR) are faculty members from various academic disciplines who are committed to student learning beyond the traditional classroom environment and live on campus with their immediate family.

Faculty who are eligible to serve as FIR are current university-appointed, full-time faculty, lecturer, or visiting scholar at The University of North Carolina Greensboro. FIRs interact and engage with students in the overall residential campus community. The Faculty-in-Residence (FIR) Program is one of the signature experiences at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, which seeks to foster a community of care and facilitate an environment where learning and living are intertwined. The program intends to attract dynamic faculty with diverse interests and afford them the opportunity to engage in the life of the undergraduate residential community. The FIR program is a collaborative partnership sponsored by the Office of Housing and Residence Life, Division of Student Affairs and the Office of the Provost.

FIR, in addition to their academic department, meet regularly (individually and collectively) with Housing and Residence Life leadership while working closely with Residence Life professional, paraprofessional and student staff teams (Coordinator for Residence Life, Assistant Coordinator for Residence Life and Resident Advisors) to plan and host formal and informal programs, cultural excursions, and community events on or off-campus. Each experience offered through the FIR program promotes community building, career exploration, and practice in lifelong and seamless learning.

  • Increase faculty/student interaction beyond the traditional classroom setting
  • Foster an inclusive environment of intellectual curiosity, intercultural exchange and an appreciation of diversity of thought and experience
  • To enhance the overall educational residence hall experience through programmatic efforts and informal interactions among peers, staff and faculty

Meet our Faculty in Residence

Dr. Salih Rakap

Dr. Salih Rakap

Associate Professor

Haywood, Highland, Lofts of Lee, Lee, Union

Jesse Ford

Dr. Jesse Ford

Assistant Professor

The Historic Quad, Phillips-Hawkins, Moore-Strong

Become a Faculty in Residence

The Faculty-in-Residence (FIR) Program is a unique opportunity for the passionate professor, who desires to make the greatest impact on the present and future lives of UNCG students. This program is one of the signature experiences at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, which seeks to foster a community of care and facilitate an environment where learning and living are intertwined. The program intends to attract a dynamic faculty with diverse interests and afford them the opportunity to engage in the life of the undergraduate residential community.

Faculty-in-Residence (FIR) are faculty members from various academic disciplines who are committed to student learning beyond the traditional classroom environment and live on campus with their immediate family. A FIR can be a university appointed full-time faculty, lecturer, or visiting scholar at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. FIR interact and engage with students in the overall residential campus community.

Faculty-In-Residence General Duties & Expectations
  • Uphold university policies and local, state and federal laws 
  • Be available as a supportive campus resource to community staff members 
  • Fulfill program requirements of two major programs per semester 
  • Maintain an average of 3 community hours per week  
  • Fulfill program requirements of two major programs per semester 
  • Attend residential, campus and community events to increase student contact 
  • Provide a welcome letter to students introducing yourself describing the Faculty-In-Residence role within the residential community 
  • Maintain a running record of initiatives, including photos & brief initiative descriptions 
  • Partake in some evening and weekend student and staff engagement opportunities 
  • Faculty-in-Residence are required to attend training and planning sessions throughout the academic year (usually in August and at the end of each semester) 
  • Attend staff meeting within the communities you are assigned to at least once a semester 
  • Act as a liaison between Student Affairs and Academic Affairs to increase faculty understanding and awareness of the on-campus student experience 
  • Participate in an annual FIR review and reappointment process as requested by the Assistant Director for Academic Initiatives and Experiential Learning

Students living in these communities gain a “neighborhood professor” and have the opportunity to develop lasting and mentoring relationships with engaging faculty. To maximize the quality and quantity of faculty-student interaction, the FIR lives in an unfurnished rent and tax- free two-bedroom apartment which includes wireless internet and cable services offered by on campus living. In addition, there is a new Live-in Professional Staff Pet Policy. This is a two-year commitment in exchange for substantive participation in the life of the residential community.

Housing Benefits: The Faculty-in-Residence lives on campus in a designated residence hall in an unfurnished two-bedroom apartment (kitchen, washer/dryer included). Utilities, wireless internet, cable, are provided. The program does not cover moving costs, liability insurance for personal property, or telephone service.

Program Support: The FIR is provided a program budget per academic year. Use of these funds must follow Housing & Residence Life and all UNC Greensboro accounting procedures. These funds are available for programming purposes to facilitate contact with students and faculty. A meal voucher or covered expense may be provided by HRL per semester for FIR to eat with residents in the dining hall.

Other Benefits

  • Relationship building between students and faculty
  • Conduit to other faculty members interested in having a pulse of the students today
  • FIR bring a direct experience and understanding of student life
  • Opens dialogue between academic and student affairs
  • Develops interdisciplinary collaboration and partnership
  • Promotes intercultural engagement
  • Fosters global awareness
  • Assists students in crossing literal and physical boundaries
  • Cultivates a culture of entrepreneurship
  • Redefines the reality of todays’ college students
  • Dispels myths of who professors are and how they live
  • Encourages life-long learning and engaged community
  • Senior Leadership with oversight of FIR program reserve the right to make changes in the FIR program during the appointment period.
  • Faculty member must remain in their academic position while in contract as the FIR.
  • FIR must comply with policies and procedures set forth by the university and HRL.
  • Expectations regarding presence and engagement in the residence hall will preclude extended absence from the building
  • Senior Leadership with oversight of FIR program maintain the right, at their discretion, to terminate immediately any Faculty-in-Residence, who violates any terms or conditions of their appointment, fails or neglects to perform satisfactorily the responsibilities of the position, or violates UNC Greensboro’s policies and/or North Carolina State laws. All benefits associated with the FIR position will terminate immediately if the FIR resigns from, or is terminated from, the position.
  • Intimate relationships of a sexual nature are prohibited between a Faculty-In-Residence and a residence hall student at the university.
FIR will not perform or participate in:
  • Supervision or formal training of HRL Staff
  • Enforcement of Housing and University Policies
  • Adjudicate student judicial cases or respond formally to student crisis
  • Attending to building maintenance needs, lock-outs or other residential concerns
  • Substitute for RAs or professional staff at Housing meetings, Housing sponsored programs or in Housing related duties.
Term of Appointment
  • Faculty-in-Residence are afforded a two-year contract (10 months per academic year August – May) upon a positive yearly evaluation. Contracts may be amended during the academic year with the consent of all parties.
  • FIR appointments begin August 1 for training and planning purposes with periodic meeting obligations for the remainder of the academic year.

Apply to be a Faculty in Residence

The application process consists of submitting the Faculty-in-Residence (FIR) Application Form, a Signed Letter of Support and a Curriculum Vitae. Please submit all application materials via the Microsoft Form. See below for the FIR application timeline:

  • November 1, 2023: FIR Application Opens
  • January 26, 2023: FIR Application Closes
  • February 2, 2023: Interviews Conducted (applicants will receive an email with their date & time)

A selection committee will review all applications, and finalists will be invited to the interview process. Final recommendations will be submitted to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Provost. A signed letter of support must be submitted from the applicant’s Dean or Department Head. Final decisions will be announced April 2024. Selected applicants, must be available for an introductory meeting before the conclusion of the spring 2024 semester. The start date for this position is approximately August 1, 2024 with a FIR on-boarding and orientation to begin shortly thereafter.

If you have questions regarding the program or application materials please contact kmtalley@uncg.edu.

Contact Us

For all questions and concerns regarding the Faculty in Residence program, please contact kmtalley@uncg.edu.

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