University Research Professorships

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The University Research Professorship program is designed to recognize and encourage scholarly accomplishments and creative work, and to award financial assistance to those faculty members who have demonstrated ability to conduct original research or produce creative work commensurate with their rank and years of teaching, and who are engaged in worthy projects. The appointment to a University Research Professorship is made by the president of the University upon recommendation of the Committee on Creative Work and Research. The Committee selects on the basis of the merit of the proposal (its originality and significance) and the applicant’s capacity to execute the program of study.  Use of outside funds to execute a research project shall not preclude appointment to a University Research Professorship. If the candidate to be appointed to the position of University Research Professor is engaged in the fine arts, the title “University Research Professor” shall be replaced by the title “Artist (Poet, Composer, Writer) in Residence.”

A maximum of two (2) University Research Professorships may be awarded each year, and if none of the applications seems suitable, no awards may be given. Professorships provide one semester of full-time leave with pay or two semesters in the same academic year with half-time load, plus a stipend of $2,000 (for AY2024-2025 applicants only payable in FY2025-2026). The stipend will not be subject to retirement benefits. Colleges to which the faculty recipient belongs will receive $15,000 from the Office of the Provost in compensation for the leave, but the expenditure of the funds is controlled by the dean of the college.

Generally, all supporting documents must be submitted to the Office of the Provost by the last week in September. Specific dates can be found on the deadlines web page. All faculty with the rank of lecturer or above, who have served the University for at least three (3) academic years prior to the effective date of the appointment, are eligible.

A University Research Professor shall file with the Office of the Provost one (1) copy of a report on the work done during the year of the appointment as University Research Professor; this report is normally due by October 1, following the period for which the award was granted. The report should be significantly comprehensive.

To give the widest possible support to creative work and research, the Committee will normally give preference to a new candidate. A faculty member who has held a University Research Professorship may be considered for another appointment three (3) or more years after the original appointment has terminated.