Obtaining an endowed chair or a distinguished professor position (notice)

Many mid-career faculty members find their experience after securing their tenure and promotion to Associate Professor uninspiring and somewhat disappointing. Research has indicated that these professors may, in fact, feel like they are trapped. To encourage them to stay engaged at this stage in their careers, colleges usually offer the option of becoming a full professor or taking up administrative positions. However, we would like to suggest additional, perhaps overlooked, options for faculty members who find themselves in this situation: apply for and receive Distinguished Professor or Endowed Chair positions.

What are Distinguished Chairs and Endowed Chairs? Definitions may vary, depending on institutional decisions regarding the meaning assigned to terms and their roles. The professor’s institution generally funds a distinguished chair. Such a position is prestigious because very few faculty members at a college or university receive them.

How one receives such an honor is distinct at the institution. Sometimes teachers can request it. Other times, people nominate someone to be a distinguished faculty member, and then a system or board confers the title. Often the dean, provost or president must approve these rare positions. The process can sometimes be extremely political, as there are many talented professors in higher education and few such positions to offer. Distinguished faculty positions are different from staffed faculty positions in that they are often a lifetime title and the associated resources are perpetually provided until the faculty member moves to another. establishment or retire.

The professorial positions are titular and honorary for the exceptional professors. These positions are often reserved for full professors who are perceived to be the best of the best. The positions come with prestige as well as resources. The term “endowed chair” or “professor” comes from a benefactor who endowed the post or donated the money the professor receives. The staffed chair position should not be confused with a department chair, whose job it is to manage the day-to-day functions of an academic unit, although some professors hold both. Endowed Chairs often have additional funds to draw upon, which helps the faculty member continue to have an impact as a teacher, researcher and servant.

Depending on the academic field of the holder, these positions are generally quite rare in higher education, which means that little is known about how to pursue and acquire them. People have conducted disciplinary research on who receives these positions and how they can be used as tools to recruit and retain promising professors, but in general, the academic literature has paid only limited attention to the subject. So, for mid-career faculty members who have an interest or desire to stand out or stand out, we would like to recommend 10 strategies that could help you reach such important positions.

1. Publish regularly. Research has shown that prolific academics publish with other academics outside of their own departments. They research and collaborate with many different people. Also, publishing book chapters may not count towards your tenure or promotion, but you should still. Why? Quite simply because the more your name is printed, the more your scholarship will be recognized. You can also learn a great deal by writing book chapters through your further reading during the research process and from the writing itself. You will work with the writer (s) of the book or monograph and establish informal contacts with professionals in the book industry. When the time comes for you to be the editor of the book and solicit or commission chapter contributors for your college press book, you will be more experienced and more ready. And if you write a chapter in a prestigious book, chances are the same press will publish more of your work.
2. Monitor research firms. These agencies handle some of the top hires nationwide, and you can volunteer and get feedback from them on how you present yourself, the types of experiences you have, and whether those experiences match their research. It’s like writing and posting, which requires staying on top of the latest research. Likewise, you should follow faculty leaders to see who is moving and what positions are available to apply. Publications like Inside higher education and Miscellaneous: the challenges of higher education publish news about promotions and leadership changes in colleges and universities. Monitor these sources of information regularly and plan accordingly. If a faculty member who held a staffed position leaves for another institution, find out if (and when) the position will be available.
3. Alert your colleagues of your desires. Let your president, dean and provost know that you are interested in securing a distinguished professorship. The top administrators at your institution don’t fall asleep thinking about you and what you need as a mid-career faculty member. By engaging them and alerting them to your professional goals, you will help yourself. Based on their feedback, you will know if you will have any opportunities at your current establishment or if you will likely have to leave it for better opportunities.
4. Apply when hiring for a new position. If you are offered a faculty position for which you have applied, apply for an endowed or distinguished faculty position as part of your hire. While this suggestion isn’t always possible or recommended, it’s something mid-career faculty members should consider when negotiating their final offer. You should only raise the matter after you have been offered the job as a counter-offer, unless the opportunity has been noted in the job description. You should also keep in mind that the chair or appointed chair may be symbolic only and not come with additional funding, but it may still benefit you as a researcher.
5. Build strong relationships. Spend time with professionals in your institution’s media relations office and research office. It is important that your work is appreciated on your campus, in your field and discipline, and among the general public. What often distinguishes the individuals who receive these accolades is how others perceive the impact of their work. Media relations and research staff can help deepen your scholarship knowledge on and off campus, which can help you get noticed by those who can help you with your application.
6. Understand the university environment. While we’ve told you to focus on the good job, you also need to recognize that all ranks and accolades within the academy are political and often subjective. We would be failing to share the truth if we did not prepare you for the political nature of the demand for such accolades. Often the possibilities for obtaining staffed and distinguished positions are limited, and as with promotion to full professor, the guidelines are often broad and nebulous. The reasons someone receives or does not get them can be quite subjective.
7. Understand how sponsored mobility works. In our experience, a large part of advancement to the highest ranks in the academy and the possibility of earning various exclusive accolades and awards is not only based on the quality of a person’s work, but is also related to the concept of sponsored mobility. In the context of this article, we define sponsored mobility as when those who already have Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair positions help advocate for individuals within their academic network to obtain such positions as well. It’s like the social media theory that was found in the scholarship around hiring professors in top ranked college programs. In a private conversation, a distinguished professor told one of us, Sydney, that professors in elite positions do not often sponsor others whom they cannot benefit from or who, according to they do not strengthen their elite status.
8. Be intentional. If you want to secure a staffed position, cultivate relationships with potential donors. Depending on the accessibility of your scholarship, be aware that large donors may be interested in supporting your work. So don’t just tell other academics about it, but also find ways to market it to institutional donors. You should also engage with business leaders who might be willing to know how your work might support their goals or align with their civic values. While you can do this on your own, we recommend that you establish strong relationships with your institution’s economic research and development office, the advancement and development office, and the communications and marketing office. The first two offices often have an idea of ​​what donors would be interested in supporting and can help you introduce yourself to potential donors. And marketing and communications offices are experts at getting your stock market on the radar of local, regional and national media.
9. Know the rules of the road. Some institutions have strict rules on the number of years of service you must have to be eligible for these roles. Study these rules and apply as soon as you are eligible. Even if you don’t get it on the first try, your name is now in the conversation for years to come.
10. Look for knowledge. If you want an endowed chair or a distinguished faculty position, speak with those who hold or have held such positions. You can learn from their experience by asking them questions and seeking their advice and guidance.

In conclusion, our aim in this article is to provide advice on an often secret and little known process in the academy. We hope it educates and encourages faculty members, especially those who are historically marginalized, to pursue such valuable and important opportunities.