Professorships

Policy Governing Faculty Recognitions Chaired Professorships, Professorships, and Faculty Fellows and the Use of the Term Distinguished

To recognize current or prospective faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their fields, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln may confer a named Chaired Professorship, a named Professorship, or a named Scholar title. Ordinarily, these forms of recognition are supported by an endowed fund established by a private donor through the University of Nebraska Foundation. Often, the recognition is named for the donor or at the donor's direction. The recognition consists of a title awarded to the recipient and may also result in a stipend supporting or supplementing the recipient's salary. Additional financial support for the recipient's professional development may also be provided.

In addition, the University may confer the descriptive term "Distinguished" as in "Distinguished Professor" to recognize the most eminent faculty members. The title "distinguished" may be conferred alone or in association with other forms of faculty recognition.

This policy governs the acceptance of private donations establishing these forms of faculty recognition, the use of the designation "distinguished," and the selection of recipients.

A. Establishment of Fund.
A fund established to support a faculty recognition governed by this policy may be established on terms agreed to by the donor, the Chancellor, and the President of the University of Nebraska Foundation. Ordinarily, gifts should be accepted only if they comply with this policy. However, the Chancellor may grant exceptions if there are substantial reasons for doing so.

B. General and Limited Funds.
A donor, in establishing a fund to support faculty recognitions governed by this policy, may specify that all faculty at UNL are eligible recipients or may limit eligibility to faculty from a particular unit at UNL, such as a specific Department or College, or a specific branch of learning, such as Humanities or Physical Sciences.

C. Chaired Professorships.
A fund establishing a "Chaired Professorship" shall be sufficient to substantially support the salary of the recipient when invested and administered in accordance with the policies of the University of Nebraska Foundation. The size of the fund necessary for such purpose may vary depending on the discipIine

D. Professorships.
A fund establishing a "Professorship" shall require an endowment of at least $200,000 or an irrevocable pledge of at least $10,000 per year for not less than 1 0 years.

E. Named Scholar.
A fund establishing a named scholar title shall require an endowment of at least $100,000 or an irrevocable pledge of at least $5,000 per year for not less than five years.

F. Establishing the Title.
The appropriate title accorded to recipients of faculty recognitions governed by this policy is normally preceded by the name of the donor or the name provided in the fund agreement. The discipline or specialty of the individual recipient may follow the title of the recognition. Examples of various titles follow:

• "The Mary C. Smith Chaired Professorship" entitling the recipient to be known as "George Jackson, Mary C. Smith Chaired Professor."
• "The John A. Anderson Chaired Professorship in the Humanities" entitling the recipient to be known as "Susan Abbot, John A. Anderson Chaired Professor of Humanities."
• "The Albert Knight Professorship in Law" entitling the recipient to be known as "Donald Smith, Albert Knight Associate Professor of Law" or "Donald Smith, Albert Knight Associate Professor of Contract Law."
• "The Samuel Johnson Scholar in Mathematics" entitling the recipient to be known as "Mary Jones, Samuel Johnson Scholar in Mathematics."

G. Approval of Recipients.
Unless the terms of the agreement provide otherwise, recipients of faculty recognitions not limited to a particular unit of UNL shall be selected in accordance with procedures adopted by the UNL Professorship Committee. Recipients of recognitions limited to the faculty of a particular unit shall be selected in accordance with procedures adopted by the appropriate college and approved by the appropriate Vice Chancellor.

H. Use of the term "Distinguished."
A faculty member may be designated as "Distinguished." The term may be used alone or in association with another recognition governed by this policy. The use of the designation may be recommended only by the UNL Professorship Committee. The title "distinguished" is intended only for use by the University's most eminent faculty who have compiled an outstanding record of achievement when compared to other persons in their disciplines or a national or international basis.

I. Applicability of Policy.
The policy shall become effective when approved by the Chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the President of the University of Nebraska Foundation. The policy will not apply to funds established with the Foundation prior to its effective date or to recognitions initially awarded to a particular recipient before the effective date. The policy should not be applied to funds discussed with a donor prior to the policy but contained in a gift deferred until after the effective date of the policy.

 

March, 1994