Guidelines for Distinguished University Professor

The title of Distinguished University Professor shall be conferred upon members of the faculty already holding the rank of Professor, whose creative professional achievements are such as to have won them national distinction or recognition for their enduring impact in their broader discipline of interest that goes well beyond their primary disciplinary area.

Distinguished University Professor will receive a $1,000 increase to base salary compensation starting with the subsequent academic year. In addition, the faculty member will receive $1,000 professional development funds annually until retirement or separation of employment. Faculty members who currently hold a recognition from BGSU/College/Department that provides them with additional funding and was awarded based upon excellence of teaching, research and/or service, shall not be eligible for this professorship.

Nomination procedures

• Nominations for Distinguished University Professor may originate with any faculty member or department/school and shall be made to the Provost and Senior Vice President. Nominations shall carry the endorsement of the faculty member’s dean.
• Nominations for Distinguished University Professor shall be sent to the Provost and Senior Vice President accompanied by a list of names of persons from aspirant universities with national reputations in the general field of the nominee’s interest (e.g., scientists, rather than botanists; humanists, rather than philosophers; musicians, rather than violinists).

Components of a complete packet 

• Nomination letter (maximum three pages)
• Curriculum vitae
• Deans endorsement letter
• List of three to five names of persons from aspirant universities (see nomination procedures)
  

Evaluation of candidates

Candidates for election to the rank of Distinguished University Professor are evaluated upon the sum of their creative professional achievements earned throughout the totality of their career. Criteria include:

• Distinguished performance in the areas of scholarship/creative work, teaching, and professional service
• A consistent level of extraordinary performance across the professional career
• A record of national and international recognition in one or more areas of scholarship/creative work, teaching, and professional service
• Unqualified positive endorsements by three or more persons in the general field of the nominee’s interest, with one or more recognized for international achievements, and all from universities to which BGSU aspires, indicating that the nominee’s record of accomplishment would have earned distinction and honor at their institutions.
  

Committee assessment

The Provost and Senior Vice President shall then appoint a faculty committee to receive and review the nominations. This committee shall solicit the opinions of both listed persons with national or international reputations as well as additional appropriate references identified by the committee and or the Office of the Provost and make a recommendation to the Provost and Senior Vice President on each nomination using the established criteria noted above.

Award recommendations

• The Provost and Senior Vice President consults with the Council of Deans and forwards recommendation to the President and Board of Trustees for action.
• The title is awarded by special resolution of the Board of Trustees. No more than one or two awards should be made in any given year, but none has to be made each year.
• Distinguished University Professors are given special recognition and accorded other honors and privileges the President and Board of Trustees deem appropriate.
  

Nominations/Applications

Nominations/applications and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Office of the Provost, Kim Caris, assistant to the vice provost for faculty affairs, at kcaris@bgsu.edu.