Policy on Awards, Endowed Chairs, and Endowed Professorships (Revised 2012)
I. Administration
The College Dean shall appoint an Advisory Committee of five persons representative of the departments and programs of the College. A majority of the appointments will be made from a list submitted by the College Policy Committee, with additional appointments to be made by the Dean. The Advisory Committee will consider matters pertaining to the appointment and administration of awards, endowed chairs, and professorships.
The Advisory Committee will examine a mini-dossier which includes a CV, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and external letters of support; eight letters will be solicited, of which four will be solicited by the department. The department chair will submit an assessment of the faculty member’s research, teaching effectiveness, service, and positive impact on the college. If the dossier raises concerns, the Dean will consult members of the Tenure or Promotion Committee to reach a resolution.
This procedure is to be followed except when a selection process is prescribed in the gift agreement connected with an award, endowed chair, or endowed professorship.
II. Purposes
Use of awards and endowments under College control shall be for rewarding outstanding faculty, recruiting or retaining outstanding faculty, and enhancing programs in accordance with longterm planning.
III. Terms of Appointments
Except as mandated by bequests, the term of an endowed professorship or endowed chair is five years (renewable). The term of an endowed chair ends if the recipient leaves the department of initial appointment before the five year term is completed. At the conclusion of a term, the power of appointment returns to the College (i.e., the Dean in consultation with the Advisory Committee) for review.
IV. Uses of Funds
Distribution of funds not determined in the initial agreement between the College, the affected department, and the recipient, shall be at the discretion of the recipient but must comply with all University policies governing the use of restricted funds and appropriateness of expenditures, as well as any further restrictions or limitations indicated in the donor gift agreement, and must be within the accepted bounds for expenditure of University funds. The Advisory Committee and the Dean may establish a standard pattern for the distribution of funds associated with appointments but will have discretion to modify the distribution with each new appointment in accordance with diverse and changing needs across departments and over time. They may also agree to modify the terms of an existing appointment at the request of the affected department.
Endowed chairs and professorships supported by the Ruth N. Halls Bequest will be restricted to the Arts and Humanities disciplines within the College. Eligible disciplines will be determined by the College Dean with the advice of the College Policy Committee. Terms of appointment will be determined by the Dean in consultation with the College Policy Committee. The most recent determination on record is the College document entitled "Guidelines for Awarding Ruth N. Halls Professorships," dated December 2004, and available from the Office of the Dean.