The principal investigator and co-principal investigator's signatures on the Duke Proposal Approval Form (DPAF) provide the assurance that they will comply with the University's policies and procedures in the conduct of the project.

The number and type of University units involved in the project will determine which signatures of approval are required on the DPAF. In the simplest scenario, the principal investigator and any co-principal investigators are from the same department. Should this be the case, the following departmental and school endorsements are required in the Assurances and Approvals section of the DPAF:

• Arts and Sciences: Department chair only
• School of Engineering: Department chair and dean
• Schools of Law and Divinity: Dean only
• Schools of Business and the Environment: Business Manager and Dean

If the project will provide funding for, or require effort from, faculty members (or others qualified to serve as principal investigators) in more than one department or school, the signatures of the chairs and/or deans from each unit are required.

If the proposal is being submitted through a non-departmental entity such as a center or program, signatures must be provided by the principal investigator's home department/school and the center or program director.

Finally, if the project involves a faculty member from a Medical Center department, the chair of that department must sign the DPAF. The Assurances and Approvals section of the DPAF can be photocopied to distribute to the various departments for signature and then faxed to ORS.

SPS NOTE: The whole approval process is easily and quickly handled if proposals are prepared and routed through Duke's Sponsored Projects System (SPS). They will automatically get most or all required signatures prior to appearing in ORS for review.