10 June 2025

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ASOD, UNCP formalize early assurance program between two schools

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UNC Adams School of Dentistry and UNC Pembroke have agreed to partner on an early track admission program between the two schools, offering UNCP students a direct pathway to ASOD’s top-notch dental program, and offering new opportunities for students who may not have considered oral health care as a career. 

Representatives from the two schools, including ASOD’s Dean Janet Guthmiller, DDS, PhD, Tracy de Peralta, DMD, PhD, MClinEd, senior associate dean for Academic Affairs, Ed Swift, former executive dean for academic affairs, and Lamont Lowery, MA, assistant dean of recruitment, UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts, UNCP Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings and UNCP Dean Richard Gay, met May 16 to formalize the agreement between the two schools. 

The Early Assurance Program (EAP) reflects ASOD’s commitment to admit talented students from varied backgrounds who will become the next generation of oral health care providers while expanding access to dental education. 

“I am delighted to partner with our sister institution to encourage UNC Pembroke students to consider careers in oral health care,” Guthmiller said. “Our mission is to provide care to the people of North Carolina, and fostering these important state relationships helps make that goal a reality.”

EAP offers a pathway for high-achieving students into the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program after students complete their undergraduate studies at UNCP. This marks the second pathway program with UNC-Chapel Hill. In 2022, UNCP and UNC-Chapel Hill established an Early Assurance Program partnership with UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

Source: https://dentistry.unc.edu/