SUBJECT: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS  DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH                   PROFESSORSHIPS

APPLICABILITY: FACULTY

Purpose

The purpose of UNT Distinguished Research Professorships is to provide recognition and salary support for outstanding faculty who obtain substantial external research funds.

Award

The award consists of the title, "Distinguished Research Professor," and a salary increase of up to $20,000/year.

In addition to the title and salary increase, a Distinguished Research Professor will not be required to teach more than two courses or 6 credit hours during any semester.

Term of Award

Each Distinguished Research Professorship shall be for a period of up to three years. Individual awards may be renewed for additional three-year periods.

Requirements for Award

To be eligible for a Distinguished Research Professorship, an individual must:

1. Be a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty member of the university.

2. Be generating a minimum of 50 percent of his/her salary support in the university budget from externally funded research grants, contracts and/or gifts to the university.

3. Continue generating a minimum of 50 percent of his/her salary support from external sources for the term of the professorship.

Should a recipient not continue to generate the required salary support from external sources, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (with the Vice Provost for Research) may, at his/her discretion, terminate the award or allow the award to continue pending receipt of additional external support.

When the professorship expires, or is terminated, the recipient's salary shall be reduced to his/her previous rate, plus any merit increases which he/she has received during the period of the professorship.

 Application/Nomination Procedure

To be considered for the award of a Distinguished Research Professorship an individual must either apply or be nominated by the dean of his/her college/school. The application/nomination must contain:

1. The applicant's name, professorial rank and departmental affiliation.

2. A curriculum vita.

3. A one-page statement concerning the applicant’s current and future research program.

4. A list of awards currently held by the applicant, including the name of the sponsoring agency, the duration of the award and the percentage of salary (academic year and summer) support being received on each award.

5. A list of pending proposals, including the same information as that for awards.

6. Any other information the applicant considers pertinent.

Award Procedure

The appropriate departmental/divisional chair and dean are encouraged to append comments to the application. The Vice Provost for Research will review the application, verify the award information and make a recommendation to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs concerning the award. The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs shall determine whether the professorship is to be awarded and, if so, what salary increase will be recommended to the President. The President, if he/she concurs, shall make a recommendation to the Board of Regents.