Accessible Accordion
- What is the purpose of this training?
- This 90-minute APF required training for faculty search committees supports consistent, fair, and compliant hiring practices in faculty searches by equipping participants with practical strategies for promoting excellence in processes, assessment, confidentiality, and alignment with UW policies.
- Will completion be tracked?
- Yes, completion will be tracked and certified by APF.
- When does the training have to be completed?
- The APF training must be completed and certified before gaining access to application materials in the Interfolio applicant tracking system and before beginning any assessment activities.
- Who do I contact with questions or if I cannot attend a training?
- Questions may be directed to APF Inclusive Excellence at facadv@uw.edu.
- Will the training sessions be recorded?
- No, APF training sessions will not be recorded. Supporting materials will be made available for reference online.
- How do I register for a training?
- Our Upcoming Trainings provide the dates and registration links to sign up for a training session.
- Where can I find additional resources?
- The Supporting Resources page provides additional resources related to faculty search and hiring best practices.
- Is this APF training required for all faculty searches?
- For the pilot year (2026-2027), the 90-minute APF training is required for all tenure-track and teaching-track faculty searches outside the School of Medicine. Units within SOM should follow SOM’s process and guidance.
- Are all faculty required to take the APF required training for faculty search committees?
- For the pilot year (2026-2027), only the chairs of tenure-track and teaching-track faculty search committees outside the School of Medicine will be required to complete the APF training before any committee members gain access to application files in Interfolio. In future years, all committee members will be required to complete the APF training before gaining access to application files in Interfolio. Units within SOM should follow SOM’s process and guidance.
- I am the Chair of a faculty search committee outside of the School of Medicine (SOM). Am I required to take this APF training?
- Yes, for the pilot year (2026-2027), the APF training is required for all Chairs of all tenure-track and teaching-track faculty search committees outside of the School of Medicine.
- I am a faculty member serving on a faculty search committee outside SOM. Am I required to take this APF training?
- For the pilot year (2026-2027), all committee members who are faculty are encouraged to take the APF training. In future years, all committee members will be required to complete the APF training before gaining access to application files in Interfolio.
- I am support staff for a faculty search committee. Am I required to take this APF training?
- Support staff for faculty search committees are not required to take the APF training, but they are welcome to do so. APF also offers a separate companion training for staff supporting non-SOM faculty search committees. See the Administrator FAQs for more information about the administrator-focused companion training.
- I am in the School of Medicine. Am I required to take this APF training?
- No, SOM faculty are not required to take this APF training because the School of Medicine administers an equivalent required training for SOM faculty. Units within SOM should follow SOM’s process and guidance. See the SOM Faculty Recruitment and Retention Toolkit for details about the SOM required training.
- How does one’s training completion get certified?
- To receive certification, a person must attend the full 90-minute required training for faculty search committees. Attendees will receive instructions during the training on how to register their participation for verification.
- How long is the certification good for?
- Certification is good for 3 years, from date of training completion.
- Who will track certification status?
- The Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty will track certification status of faculty.
- How does someone verify a committee member’s certification status?
- For faculty outside SOM, certification status can be verified in one of two ways.
- Option 1: Email APF IE (facadv@uw.edu) with the NetID(s) of the faculty to be verified. APF IE will provide information about their certification status.
- Option 2: Coming Soon – APF will provide a self-service portal for Administrators and Faculty Members to check whether the APF required training has been completed.
- For faculty outside SOM, certification status can be verified in one of two ways.
- Who can check committee members’ certification status?
- Unit Interfolio administrator and APF IE can check certification status of non-SOM faculty.
- What happens if a faculty search committee member is not certified?
- If the search committee member is required to complete the APF required training and they are not certified, then they cannot be added as an Evaluator in Interfolio and cannot access application materials.
- When are APF training sessions offered?
- The 90-minute APF required training for faculty search committees is offered year round. Multiple sessions are scheduled in the early Fall quarter in alignment with typical academic hiring cycles. At least one session will also be offered in all other quarters (Winter, Spring, and Summer). Units may also contact APF Inclusive Excellence (facadv@uw.edu) to schedule a custom training session that aligns with the unit’s hiring cycle.
- Where can I find a list of upcoming APF training dates?
- The Upcoming Trainings table lists training dates and RSVP links. If the listed dates do not meet a unit’s timing needs, contact APF Inclusive Excellence (facadv@uw.edu) to schedule a custom training session.
- What is the difference between the required APF training for faculty search committees and the required UWHR training for hiring authorities?
- As of July 1, 2026, two required trainings related to hiring were established:
- UWHR’s required training for hiring authorities:
- The required UWHR training for hiring authorities is a 20-minute Workday Learning module for all UW hiring authorities and is good for one year. FAQs for the UWHR hiring authorities training can be found on the UWHR website.
- APF’s required training for faculty search committees:
- The APF required training for faculty search committees is a 90-minute live training for faculty search committee members; a participant’s certification of completion of the APF training is good for three years from the date of completion.
- UWHR’s required training for hiring authorities:
- As of July 1, 2026, two required trainings related to hiring were established:
- Does the 90-minute APF required training for faculty search committees replace other trainings related to hiring?
- No, the 90-minute APF required training for faculty search committees does not replace other required trainings. This APF training complements other required trainings, such as UWHR’s required training for hiring authorities and other optional hiring workshops offered by APF.
- Note that the School of Medicine administers an equivalent required training for SOM faculty; thus, SOM faculty are not required to take this APF training.
- What topics are included in the companion training for unit Interfolio administrators?
- The companion training covers updates to the Evaluator access process in Interfolio, verification of faculty search committee training certification, and key content from the APF required training for faculty search committees.
- When are companion trainings for administrators offered?
- Visit Interfolio Administrator – Training Details to view upcoming training sessions and RSVP.
- How does someone verify a committee member’s certification status?
- For faculty outside SOM, certification status can be verified in one of two ways:
- Option 1: Email APF IE (facadv@uw.edu) with the NetID(s) of the faculty to be verified. APF IE will provide information about their certification status.
- Option 2: Coming Soon – APF will provide a self-service portal for Administrators and Faculty Members to check whether the APF required training has been completed.
- For faculty outside SOM, certification status can be verified in one of two ways:
- When can Evaluator status be granted to faculty serving on faculty search committees outside of SOM?
- Units outside of SOM should not extend Evaluator access until verifying completion of the required APF training for faculty search committees.
- Units within SOM should follow SOM’s process and guidance.
- More information can be found in the Interfolio User Guides:
- See the “Set up the Search Committee” section in the “Create a Position” user guide.
- See the “Adding Evaluators” section in the “Managing a Position” user guide.
- What if a faculty member serving on a non-SOM faculty search committee has not completed the APF required training?
- The faculty member should be reminded to take the APF required training and notified they cannot access application files in Interfolio until their training certification status has been verified.