3.3.5 Distinguished Professors

The designation of Distinguished Professor is the highest academic award. This award is bestowed by Illinois State University. It exists to enable the University to honor individual faculty members of distinction, which includes Department Chairs/School Directors, and to demonstrate to the broader community that excellence is the foundation of the University.

To be eligible for award to a Distinguished Professorship, a person must already hold the rank of Professor at Illinois State University and must have achieved national or international recognition for scholarly research, creative production, or leadership in creative or scholarly activities. In addition, the individual must have either been clearly identified by students, colleagues, or external agencies as an outstanding teacher, or must have contributed significant public service in accordance with their academic discipline. Current members of the University Research Council are ineligible.

Responsibilities and Rights of a Distinguished Professor

1. The recipient of the Distinguished Professor Award continues to hold rank as Professor in an academic department in accordance with ASPT guidelines. While the Distinguishes Professor Award has no impact on acaemic rank, the individual may be listed as Distinguished Professor on public documents such as departmental websites, University catalogs, and correspondence.
2. A Distinguished Professor shall receive $8,000 added to base salary.
3. For two years, a Distinguished Professor shall receive a minimum $1,000 budget per annum in support of activities as a Distinguished Professor. Each year, the Provost's Office will establish the per annum budget for the upcoming award year.
4. Distinguished Professors will hold ten-month appointments for two years unless they are an administrator, where their appointment shall be consistent with their contract.
5. Each Distinguished Professor will be invited to deliver one public lecture or presentation on a topic of their choosing. The lecture or presentation shall be widely advertised within and outside the University community.
6. Any person holding an administrative position, other than a Department Chair/School Director, may not be awarded the Distinguished Professorship. Any Distinguished Professor who accepts an ineligible administrative position, after receiving the award may keep the title of Distinguished Professor.
7. The assignment of a Distinguished Professor will include teaching, research and other activities of a professional nature, with specific assignments to be made with the mutual agreement of the professor and their supervisor. Should the Distinguished Professor and the supervisor be unable to agree on the specifics, the matter will be settled by the next level supervisor.
8. Distinguished Professors may hold the title throughout their years of service to Illinois State University, unless disciplinary action involving the removal of the award has been imposed.

Procedure

1. Any  member of the University community may nominate an individual who meets the foregoing qualifications for a Distinguished Professorship. The Provost shall maintain and circulate a uniform procedure for nomination and documentation in the spring of each year, in the form of an annual letter calling for nominations so that nominees may have the summer to compile their portfolio.
2. Nominations shall be addressed to the Dean of the College and shall include as much supporting documentation as possible. The Dean shall forward all nominations, with recommendations, to the Provost. Each College Council or equivalent body is responsible for ensuring that faculty throughout their careers are well informed regarding the levels of achievement that generally lead to a Distinguished Professorship in the given discipline(s) of faculty members appointed within the college. These bodies shall also keep the Provost informed regarding national standards of achievement in their various disciplines at institutions with similar prestige and similar balances among teaching, research, and service assignments.
3. The sitting faculty members of the University Research Council and an equal number (up to ten) of Distinguished Professor representatives including, to the extent possible at least one from each college or division represented, as chosen by the current Distinguished Professors (including emeriti who choose to participate) will conduct the initial review of portfolios and forward all recommended nominees to the Provost. The Provost may be present for and participate in the deliberations. Candidates whose portfolios are not recommended to the Provost by the faculty members of the University Research Council and the Distinguished Professor representatives serving with the council for this purpose will receive feedback from the council and/or the Provost as to how their portfolio might be improved.
4. The Provost shall, after seeking the advice of the nominee's department and the Dean of the College regarding the nominees forwarded by the faculty members of the University Research Council and Distinguished Professor representatives, evaluate all nominations and make recommendations to the President, submitting also the results of all advice that has been sought. The Provost shall determine in consultation with the Associate Vice President for Research and the Associate Vice President for Academic Fiscal Management, the number of Distinguished Professorships to forward each year. Nominees recommended to the Provost but not forwarded to the President remain eligible to be recommended to the President in subsequent years.
5. The President shall make recommendations to the Faculty Caucus of the Academic Senate. These recommendations shall be accompanied by supporting materials submitted by the Provost. Following discussion in executive session, the Faculty Caucus will vote, by secret ballot, upon each of the President's recommendations.