University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Office of the Dean of the Graduate School.

Until 1989, the vice chancellor for research and graduate studies was also the dean of the Graduate School with administrative responsibility for the Graduate School and the Office of Research Services at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The office of dean was established in 1903. In 1932, when the Consolidated University of North Carolina was created, the dean of the Graduate School at Chapel Hill became dean of the Consolidated Graduate School and assumed oversight of graduate programs at the three campuses of the consolidated system. The dean was also adviser on graduate studies to the North Carolina College for Negroes. In 1969, the dean of the Graduate School became vice chancellor and dean and, in 1987, vice chancellor for research and graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School. The administrative responsibilities remained virtually the same. In 1989, the vice chancellorship was eliminated and responsibilities for research and graduate studies were divided between two sssociate provosts. In 1992, it was reestablished as the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies; and the dean of the Graduate School became a separate position.

In 1903, under President Francis P. Venable, a separate Graduate Department was first organized, with a dean as senior administrative officer. At the same time the Faculty Committee on Graduate Study was appointed to serve as a policy-making body for the department. The Graduate Department was renamed the Graduate School in 1907, and in 1920 the Committee on Graduate Study was expanded into the Administrative Board with members appointed by the president from nominations presented by the graduate faculty.

In 1932, following the creation of the Consolidated University system, the dean of the Graduate School at Chapel Hill became the dean of the Consolidated Graduate School and chairman of the Consolidated Graduate Executive Council. The Administrative Board, appointed by the chancellor, continued to serve as the policy-making body for the Graduate School at Chapel Hill. From 1935 until 1952 the dean of the Graduate School also served as an adviser on graduate studies to the North Carolina College at Durham (previously North Carolina College for Negroes, now North Carolina Central University). In 1957 an administrative officer of the Consolidated University was appointed to serve as Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, and the dean of the Graduate School at Chapel Hill no longer had responsibilities at the Consolidated University level.

In 1965 a new position, the vice chancellor for advanced studies and research, was established. At the same time the administration of contract-and-grant-supported research was removed from the Graduate School, and a dean of research administration was appointed. The dean of research administration and the dean of the Graduate School were responsible to the vice chancellor for advanced studies and research; however, the latter position was abolished in 1967. (See the Records of the Vice Chancellor for Advanced Studies and Research in the University Archives.)

In September 1969 the title of the dean of the Graduate School was changed to vice chancellor and dean. On 1 January 1987, the title was further revised to vice chancellor for research and graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School. In 1989, as a cost-saving measure, the vice-chancellorship was eliminated, while the position of dean was retained, reporting now to the provost. In 1992 the vice-chancellorship was recreated as vice chancellor for graduate studies and research, and the dean of the Graduate School was retained as a separate position reporting to the vice chancellor (as of 1996, vice provost). Thus, there were two positions and two offices where, prior to 1989, there had been one.

The administrative location of the dean of research administration (later director of research services) has varied. From 1978 to 1989, the position reported to the vice chancellor for research and graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School. From 1989 to 1992, it reported to the provost and, from 1992 to 2003, to the vice chancellor for graduate studies and research. In 2003 it began reporting to the newly established vice chancellor for research and economic development.

Persons who have held the positions of dean of the Graduate School and vice chancellor and dean have been: