Prestigious And Named Professorships
Distinguished Professor. An appointment recognizing international accomplishments and richly deserved prestige and honor of those selected to receive this designation. The following criteria are used in determining the selection of a "Distinguished Professor":
(a) Accomplishments bringing great credit to the university through numerous achievements and extensive peer recognition in the faculty member's professional or academic field.
(b) Noteworthy academic service to the university through outstanding performance in teaching, and/or research and creative activities, and/or professional practice.
(c) International recognition for scholarly contribution to the individual's chosen profession.
(d) Outstanding performance of service associated with the individual's professional position.
(e) Unstinting dedication to standards of excellence in all endeavors.
(f) Exemplary character and integrity reflecting great honor upon the university.
It is recognized that variations in this title may be used for a campus to denote specific functions such as "Distinguished Research Professor or Distinguished Service Professor."
The nomination for Distinguished Professor must come from the College or Administrator after a review by the College. A letter of nomination will go to the Provost. The Provost will submit the nomination(s) to the Honorary Degrees and Naming Committee, which he chairs. The Honorary Degrees and Naming Committee will review the nomination(s) and make appropriate recommendation(s) to the President.
University Professor. An appointment, primarily prestigious in a specific discipline, to bestow upon an individual an academic rank that transcends departmental and disciplinary lines, allowing each designated individual the greatest latitude in teaching, writing, and scholarly research.
The following criteria will be used in the selection of an individual to be designated "University Professor":
(a) Scholarly achievement and intellectual maturity.
(b) Dedication to the highest standards of professional excellence.
(c) Numerous achievements and extensive peer recognition in the individual's chosen professional field.
(d) Academic competence to enable him or her to undertake cross-disciplinary activities in research and teaching and university and community service.
(e) Exemplary character and integrity reflecting great credit upon the university.
It is recognized that variations in this title may be used by a campus to denote specific functions such as "University Research Professor" or "University Service Professor."
A letter of nomination for University Professor may come from Departments/Colleges/Administration and will go to the Provost. The Provost will submit the nomination(s) to the Honorary Degrees and Naming Committee, which he chairs. The Honorary Degrees and Naming Committee will review the nomination(s) and make appropriate recommendation(s) to the President.
Named Chairs and Professorships. An appointment for recipients of named chairs and professorships reflecting endowments, gifts, or designated funds, such as the Eminent Scholar Program. These should be prestigious appointments recognizing not only the conditions of the endowments, gifts, or other funding sources, but also reflecting upon the individual so designated. The Board of Trustees has approved the following procedures for the selection of named chairs and professorships at UAH.
(a) When an endowed chair is created or a vacancy occurs, the dean meets with the faculty of the academic unit in which the appointment will be made to discuss the search process and the criteria for the selection.
(b) After consultation with the faculty, the dean, with the concurrence of the provost, appoints the members of the search committee and normally chairs the committee.
(c) Minimum composition of the search committee includes representation from the tenured faculty of the academic unit in which the appointment will be made, one faculty representative outside the department, and one faculty representative outside the college. If appropriate, at least one representative of the community may be asked to participate in the selection process.
(d) If the appointment is interdisciplinary, tenured faculty from the academic units most likely affected are asked to serve on the search committee.
(e) The search committee, working in cooperation with the dean and the provost, and with appropriate participation from constituent groups, writes the criteria for appointment and announces and advertises the position according to the recruitment guidelines on affirmative action.
(f) When the applications have been completed, the search committee seeks external review of the finalists from outstanding professionals in the field.
(g) The interview process follows established recruitment guidelines and every effort must be made to allow the candidates to meet with a broad range of faculty, administration, and community representatives.
(h) The search committee recommends one or more acceptable candidates to the dean and provides the dean with the applicant's file(s), including letters of recommendation and the results of the external review. The dean consults with the provost who will make a recommendation to the president. The president recommends the candidate to the chancellor and the Board of Trustees.