Engineering Named Professorships Processes

Named Professorships must meet the requirements of University policy and procedures on naming opportunities. The purpose of a Named Professorship is to attract and retain top quality faculty. While it is expected that recipients of Named Professorships are individuals of high accomplishment, faculty with the rank of assistant, associate or full professor may hold a Named Professorship. It is not an academic designation, but a form of recognition. The term of a Named Professorship is specified in writing and may be revoked where performance or other factors are determined to warrant such action. A Named Professorship is not a prerequisite for becoming a Distinguished Professor.

Named Term Professorships for rising stars recognize the achievements of assistant, associate or full professors who have distinguished themselves among their peers, but who are not yet candidates for Named Professorships. The recipient holds the title of the vacant Named Professorship, with the word “term” inserted, for a one-time, non-renewable term not exceeding five years. Recipients may not hold a University Faculty Scholar designation at the same time, and the Named Term Professorship will be discontinued if the faculty member receives a Named or Distinguished Professor title. A Named Term Professorship may be revoked where performance or other factors are determined to warrant such action.

Different units have various methods to select faculty for this recognition. The recommendation for a Named Professorship will be communicated by the unit’s head and will be reviewed by the Engineering Named Professorships Committee (ENPC). Upon recommendation of the ENPC, the dean will consider the nomination and will decide whether to forward it to the provost. Nominations must be consistent with West Lafayette campus policies.  Details of the processes are provided below:


Named Professors

  1. Head submits a complete CV, including contributions to teaching & learning, and a minimum of 5 reference letters, to the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).  The credentials of the letter writers should be included and formatted according to the template available on this page.
  2. ENPC review and recommendation to Dean (allow 2 weeks)
  3. Dean forwards recommendation to Provost. Nomination materials sent to Provost include:  complete CV & reference letters, 2-3 page abbreviated CV (see template on this page) and information regarding the donor of the endowment
  4. Approval by Provost and President
  5. Ratification by Board of Trustees'  Academic Affairs committee 

Named Term Professors/Rising Stars

  1. Head submits a complete CV, including contributions to teaching & learning, and a minimum of 5 reference letters, to the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).  The credentials of the letter writers should be included and formatted according to the template available on this page.
  2. ENPC review and recommendation to Dean (allow 2 weeks)
  3. Dean forwards recommendation to Provost. Nomination materials sent to Provost include:  complete CV & reference letters and information regarding the donor of the endowment
  4. Approval by Provost