These guidelines align with the University Policy on Faculty Appointments and serve to define the expectations for the appointment and review of endowed chairs and professorships.
- Description of the impact of endowed positions for the academic unit
Appointment to an endowed faculty position, including endowed chairs and endowed professorships, is one of the highest honors an academic institution can bestow upon a faculty member. At The Ohio State University, endowed faculty are essential to achieving and increasing excellence in our mission.
Endowed positions illustrate the powerful partnership between faculty and philanthropists in defining areas of discovery and bringing them to life. A specific endowment agreement sets the purposes and terms of appointment of the endowed faculty position. Endowments are subject to review by the dean and approval by the Board of Trustees.
Appointments and reappointments to endowed positions in EHE are determined by the Dean of the College. All appointments must be consistent with the endowment agreement creating the chair or professorship. Endowed appointments can be made to existing faculty or can be used to attract a prominent senior hire to EHE. Endowed chairs and professors are expected to generate a report of their activity annually which will be incorporated into a stewardship report that the Dean will share with the donor. This report should coincide with the Annual Review process. - Criteria for appointment
A successful faculty candidate for an endowed appointments in EHE must be a leader in their field of study. Faculty appointed to endowed positions are expected perform at a high level in research/scholarship/teaching/outreach/engagement and service commensurate with the status and importance of these positions. The scholarship focus must be compatible with the specifications established by the donor of the position. - Criteria for reappointment
Reappointments to endowed positions are based on performance and continued alignment with the vision established by the donor or the position. To be considered for reappointment a faculty holding an endowed position must have demonstrated outstanding ethical behavior, departmental citizenship, leadership and mentoring during their appointment. They must also have performed at a high level in research/scholarship/teaching/outreach/engagement and service in areas compatible with the focus of the endowment. Importantly, endowed faculty must have demonstrated leadership through mentorship of students, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty to be eligible for reappointment. - Process for appointment and reappointment
All processes for appointment and reappointment to endowed chairs or professorships follow the procedures outlined in the Faculty Appointment Policy (page 9).
The search process for a new endowed faculty appointment will be conducted in accordance with the standard practices that guide faculty hiring and appointment at OSU. External searches will follow OSU’s SHIFT guidelines. Internal searches will be announced by the end of fall semester during the academic year. The internal search process will occur during spring semester of the academic year and be led by the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. For both internal and external searches, the Dean will appoint a search committee consisting of 3-5 existing endowed and distinguished faculty in EHE. Final candidates will undergo a full interview process that includes application materials, a scholarship presentation, meetings with faculty, staff and students, and provide professional references. The Dean makes the final decision on all endowed faculty appointments after considering the search committee report and recommendations.
Endowed chair and professorship holders within EHE will be evaluated for possible reappointment no later than the final year of the term of appointment (terms generally vary from 3-5 years) and in no case later than five years, unless as specified in the endowment agreement creating the chair or professorship. If warranted, based on a positive recommendation from the review committee and Dean, endowed chair and professorship holders may be reappointed to a second term. Appointments will be for no longer than two terms so that these endowed positions can be used to recruit prominent new faculty to positions in EHE. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
The evaluation for renewal after a first term will be guided by the following principles:
- The chair holder and department chair will be notified by letter of the upcoming review no later than one year before the expiration of the chair holder’s appointment by the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs within the college.
- The chair holder will be permitted approximately one semester to prepare the materials for review.
- Responsibility for conducting the review rests with the Dean and the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. The Dean shall consult with the department chair and/or unit head to appoint an ad hoc review committee comprised of members representing the department, college and/or the university. Typically, the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs will chair the review committee and include the department chair, a senior faculty from outside the department, and a senior faculty from outside the college who is familiar with faculty member’s work. The Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs will consult with the Office of Advancement as needed.
- The review will include an examination of the chair holder’s dossier. The dossier shall include at a minimum a period of the previous ten years (or from date of hire at OSU, whichever is most recent):
- A current curriculum vitae;
- All annual reports documenting their work related to their endowed position;
- A listing of grants received, completed, in process and submitted, indicating upon which the chair holder is PI, co-PI, or co-investigator;
- A listing of publications with number of citations and an indication of journal quality (e.g., impact factor, acceptance rate)
- A collection of SEI’s with means for each class taught and a listing of graduate student advisees completed and in progress, and service upon other student committees;
- A listing of places of employment for their completed graduate students;
- Evidence of leadership and service to the university, the department, EHE, the community, and the discipline as deemed appropriate by the holder of the endowed position and per the terms of the endowment
- A letter of evaluation from the department chair
- An explanation of how the funds were used to further the work described in the MOU
- Any other relevant material to evaluate productivity, impact or other terms that may be specified in the gift agreement
- The review committee will complete their review within three months of receiving the material and submit their recommendation for or against reappointment along with any comments to the Dean. The Dean may meet with the ad hoc committee to discuss the recommendation.
- The Dean will consider the ad hoc committee’s recommendation and will make a recommendation to the Provost and the Vice Provost of Academic Affairs. Once approved by the Provost, and the Board of Trustees, as applicable, the decision will be communicated in writing to the chair holder.
- General expectation for participating in stewardship
Endowed faculty will work in partnership with the Office of Advancement and their college’s advancement team to support annual donor stewardship that includes, but is not limited to, meetings with donors and attending donor events, which may occasionally require travel. - Appointment letters
Appointment letters convey the term of appointment, allowable use of funds, expectations for participation in stewardship and criteria, process related to reappointment. - Use of funds
Endowment funds should be spent in accordance with OSU and EHE policy and be consistent with the vision of the endowment. EHE expects that a portion of endowment funds be spent supporting student research presentations at professional conferences. Any unspent funds at the expiration of an appointment will remain in the endowment’s balance. - Process for annual review of fund balances
The college must ensure the endowment distributions and withdrawals are expended in accordance with the terms of the endowment. Fund balances will be reviewed annually with the Office of Advancement to ensure responsible fund stewardship. - Scholarly or other expectations
Appointment and subsequent reappointment to this position is contingent on continued faculty eminence to enhance Ohio State’s and the college’s competitive position. Faculty holding endowed positions are expected to demonstrate outstanding ethical behavior and departmental citizenship, perform at a high level in research/scholarship/teaching/outreach/engagement and service commensurate with the status and importance of these positions. Importantly, these positions also provide opportunities for leadership through mentorship of students, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty. - Specific stewardship expectations
In coordination with the Office of Faculty Affairs within OAA and the Office of Advancement, the college may highlight appointments to endowed chairs and professorships and the accomplishments of these position holders through existing and planned channels (e.g. websites, newsletters and award ceremonies).
Inaugural endowed chair installations have become a university-wide tradition, starting in 2016. Planned by the Office of Advancement, these celebrations enable us to honor and celebrate the donors whose generous gifts make these positions possible and the faculty members holding inaugural endowed chair positions. These events include the formal presentation of the chair position to the provost or chief executive officer of the Wexner Medical Center, and a presentation of medallions to both the chairholder and donors. For chairs in health sciences, a white coat is presented to the chairholder. Subsequent chairholders are presented with a medallion; recommended in coordination with donor stewardship.