Professorship Guidelines for Selection and Appointment

November 2025

Introduction

Professorships and chairs are among the most prestigious recognitions awarded by the institution. They reflect the following major criteria:

  • An extraordinary level of scholarly or creative achievement and clear potential for continuing major accomplishments that enhance the reputation of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
  • Documented excellence in various aspects of teaching, Extension, engagement and outreach and demonstrated commitment to the welfare of traditional and non-traditional learners.
  • Extensive involvement and service in furtherance of the several missions of the University (which includes activities that promote excellence in research, teaching and/or Extension within the unit and IANR, and in national and international organizations in the candidate’s field), significantly above the normal level of campus citizenship.

Individuals may hold only one named professorship or chair at a time (including the program development and/or stipend associated with that award). Those who hold an award must relinquish it to accept a different professorship or chair. Individuals must have a 1.0 FTE faculty appointment to hold a professorship. Faculty members who reduce their FTE for phased retirement may continue to hold the professorship designation during the phased retirement period but are not eligible for the program development funds and/or stipend associate with the award. When an individual holds the professorship or chair at the time of retirement, if they are granted emeritus status, they will carry the professorship designation as part of their emeritus title (unless stated otherwise in the Fund Agreement). Although they can retain the professorship designation, retired faculty members are not eligible to receive funding associated with the professorship (e.g., program development and stipend). 

Selection Process

The professorship selection process is identified in the Fund Agreement. 

When a faculty committee is involved, the following will guide the selection process: 

  1. The responsible unit administrator will designate a screening committee consistent with the Fund Agreement. This committee can be an existing committee (e.g., Promotion and Tenure) or an ad hoc committee composed of individuals identified by the unit administrator. 
  2. The unit administrator and screening committee will determine a) the timeframe for soliciting nominations, b) what should be included in the application (see below), and c) the evaluation criteria (see #5 below). 
  3. At the appropriate time, the responsible unit administrator or screening committee will send a request for nominations to all faculty in the unit identified in the Fund Agreement. Faculty members may nominate others within the unit or themselves. Nominees will be invited to submit an application. All applicants will be evaluated by the screening committee on the predetermined criteria.
  4. Recommended application material:
    • Abbreviated curriculum vitae (maximum 5 pages).
    • Nomination letter outlining why the individual should be awarded the named professorship (maximum 3 pages).
    • Letter from an administrator or other faculty member seconding the nomination (maximum 3 pages)
  5. Recipients shall be chosen based upon the following criteria:
    1. Eligibility as defined in the Fund Agreement supporting the professorship. 
    2. Unless otherwise directed by the Fund Agreement, recipients shall be employed as a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 
    3. Teaching ability and accomplishments.
    4. Research ability and accomplishments.
    5. Extension education ability and accomplishments.
    6. Service to the profession.
  6. The screening committee will submit to the unit administrator, in writing, their recommendation for the professorship. The unit administrator, in consultation with the relevant IANR deans, will nominate the individual to the Vice Chancellor, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The nomination, if approved by the Vice Chancellor, shall then be submitted by the Vice Chancellor to the Chancellor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln for final review. Final approval shall be given by the University of Nebraska in accordance with such University policies as are in place at the time of each appointment.
  7. Unless otherwise directed by the Fund Agreement, recipients shall receive a five (5) year appointment subject to continued employment with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This appointment may be renewable (depending on the Fund Agreement) for an additional five (5) year term upon satisfactory performance and evaluation (see below). Unless otherwise directed by the Fund Agreement, recipients shall not be appointed for more than two consecutive five (5) year terms without being considered as part of a general call for nominations. Toward the end of the second five (5) year term, the unit administrator shall appoint a screening committee and issue a request for nominations for the professorship. The previous recipient is eligible for renomination but must be considered equally with all other nominees. 

Reappointment Process

Reappointment and eligibility for reappointment are specified in the Fund Agreement. 

When the professorship or chair is associated with a position, the person holds the professorship for the period that they are in the position associated with the professorship/chair. Their reappointment to the position is their reappointment to the professorship/chair. 

All other professorships and chairs are subject to the following renewal process. 

  1. Prior to the end of the first five-year term, the unit administrator will be notified to submit the following documentation to be considered for renewal. 
    1. One page summary of cumulative accomplishments and impacts for the past five years. 
    2. Current CV with accomplishments over the past five years highlighted.
    3. The past 5 years of the recipient’s annual performance evaluations.
    4. Letter from the unit administrator evaluating the faculty member’s accomplishments and indicating the degree to which they support the continuation of the professorship/chair. 
    5. As appropriate, letter from center/institute director (or others) with whom the faculty member has a formal affiliation relevant to the professorship/chair.
  2. The decision of renewal will be based on satisfactory performance consistent with what would be expected of the holder of such a prestigious recognition of excellence. Specifically: 
    1. annual and cumulative evaluations demonstrating consistent exemplary performance befitting the bestowal of the professorship or chair; 
    2. a record of impacts that advance the field; 
    3. contributions to the success and career development of others including through mentoring, collaboration and institutional service; and 
    4. timely submission of reports and requested documentation related to the professorship/chair (including an annual letter of appreciation to the donor and/or designee). 
  3. In most cases, the unit administrator will designate a screening committee consistent with the Funding Agreement, to evaluate the faculty member’s outcomes and impacts based on the criteria and provide a recommendation about renewal. The committee will provide to the unit administrator, in writing, their candid assessment of the faculty member’s cumulative accomplishments and impacts and their recommendation.  
    • If continuation is recommended and supported by the unit administrator, the unit administrator in consultation with the relevant IANR deans, will recommend renewal to the Vice Chancellor, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The renewal, if approved by the Vice Chancellor, shall then be submitted by the Vice Chancellor to the Chancellor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln for final review. Final approval shall be given by the University of Nebraska, in accordance with such University policies as are in place at the time of each appointment hereunder.
    • If the unit administrator, in consultation with the IANR deans, determines that the professorship/chair should not be renewed, the unit administrator shall inform the Vice Chancellor prior to informing the faculty member and soliciting nominations for the professorship/chair. 
  4. Unless otherwise directed by the Fund Agreement, recipients shall not be appointed for more than two consecutive five (5) year terms without being considered as part of a general call for nominations. Toward the end of the second five (5) year term, the administrator identified in the Fund Agreement as responsible for the nomination shall initiate a nomination process (see above) in which all eligible faculty members can be considered for the professorship.  The previous recipient is eligible for renomination but must be considered equally with all other nominees.

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