Approved by Senate May 25, 1995
Amended by Senate May 26, 2010
Amended by Senate April 17, 2018
Amended by Senate November 26, 2019
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This policy guides the establishment and designation of Chairs and Professorships. The principal criterion governing the establishment of these positions is that they advance the University's academic goals and objectives. This policy also provides the University an opportunity to recognize a benefactor or to honour a scholar. A major goal of establishing academic Chairs and Professorships is to recognize and support faculty members of exceptional academic distinction. This assists the University in its efforts to attract and/or retain senior academics, especially in fields for which there are highly competitive markets.
The holder of a Chair or Professorship will receive or hold an academic appointment. Policies on academic appointments outlined in the Collective Agreement between ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Faculty Association or for clinical faculty, in the Senate document Regulations Governing Appointment, Renewal of Appointment, Tenure and Termination for Academic Staff, will be followed. Upon retirement from a regular academic position, the holder will relinquish the Chair or Professorship. Upon their retirement, a professor who has held a Donor-Established Endowed Chair or Professorship at any point in their career may assume the title of "Name Chair/Professorship Emeritus".
Persons appointed to named Chairs or Professorships may be current faculty members or new appointments to the University. Such appointments may last as long as the incumbent remains in a regular faculty appointment at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ or may be for a defined term. Any member holding such a Chair or Professorship shall have a Tenure-track, Tenured, Non-Renewable or a Special appointment. All new appointments shall be subject to recommendation by the appropriate Appointment Committee.
Establishment
Vice-Principals or Deans will propose the establishment of a Chair or Professorship to the Senate through the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). Following review by SCADP and approval by Senate, the Principal will present the proposal to the Board of Trustees for final approval. The benefactor(s) may participate with the Vice-Principals or Deans in developing the terms of reference for the Chair or Professorship. These terms will include guidelines for the use of funds, area of appointment, and, in the case of fixed-term appointments, length of appointment.
Funding
In general, Chairs or Professorships will be supported by funding sufficient for their direct costs. This funding may be secured from one benefactor, gift, or a combination of sources. Funding should be sufficient to ensure a continuing commitment to the position without the requirement of additional funds from the University's operating budget. In special circumstances, the University's operating budget may provide supplemental funding at the request of the Dean and supported by a clear business case.
Guidelines for minimum funding, both expendable and endowed, will be established for each category of position, by a process based on review of information and consultation with the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), the Vice-Principal (Advancement) and the Faculty Deans. The Principal, in consultation with the Provost, Vice-Principals and Faculty Deans will review the financial resources required for the designation of a Chair or Professorship at least every five years.
Naming
Exclusive authority to accept or decline any proposal to name at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ rests with the Board of Trustees. Within the scope of the Naming Policy, proposals may be subject to approval by the Senate.
CHAIRS
Endowed Chairs:
The establishment of an endowed Chair implies a continuing commitment to the position and the discipline. A Chair should bring distinction to an academic unit and a Chairholder will be a distinguished scholar.
In the case where there are infrastructure costs associated with the establishment of a Chair position, a portion of the initial gift may be used, with the approval of the benefactor, to cover such costs. The income generated from an endowment may be used to contribute to the salary of the holder, provide support for his/her graduate students, his/her research associates, research, or travel funds.
Expendable Funded Chairs:
An expendable funded Chair will be funded using money from an expendable account established by a benefactor. A finite term for this position must be established in the Terms of Reference and through consultation with the Provost an Vice-Principal (Academic), the Faculty Dean, and Department Head. The position should bring distinction to an academic unit.
PROFESSORSHIPS
Endowed Professorships:
The purpose of an endowed Professorship is to provide supplemental funds for an existing or new position. The income generated from an endowment may be used to contribute to the salary of the holder, provide support for his/her graduate students, his/her research associates, research, or travel funds.
In the case where there are infrastructure costs associated with the establishment of a Professorship position, a portion of the initial gift may be used, with the approval of the benefactor, to cover such costs.
Expendable Funded Professorships:
An expendable funded Professorship will be funded using money from an expendable account established by a benefactor. A finite term for this position must be established in the Terms of Reference and through consultation with the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), the Faculty Dean and Department Head.
Retroactivity
This policy shall apply to all new initiatives. It has no retroactive application.
Revisions
Revisions to a Chair or Professorship can fall under either the Academic Terms or the Donor Fund Terms. In the event that a change is required to the Academic Terms, the Senate Committee on Academic Development and Procedures (SCADP) is mandated to approve minor changes such as, but not limited to, minor amendments to the name of the Chair or Professorship. Any changes to the name of the Chair or Professorship will still require ratification by the Board of Trustees, per the Purpose and Functions of Senate. Full approval processes must be followed for major amendments such as, but not limited to, changes in the academic responsibilities of the Chair or Professorship or changes to the terms of appointment. For guidance regarding whether or not the proposed change(s) is considered minor or major, the chair of the Senate Committee on Academic Development and Procedures (SCADP) should be consulted.
In the event that a change is required to the Donor Fund Terms, the Office of Advancement may approve. This could include, but is not limited to, a change in the donor's name or gift details.
Disestablishment
In the event endowment income no longer fully supports a Chair, the Chair may be disestablished by mutual agreement of the University and Donor or the Chair may revert to a Professorship. The disestablishment of a term Chair shall either be provided for at the time of establishment or upon recommendation to Senate following expiration of the term of an appointee.
The disestablishment of endowed and term Professorships shall either be provided for at the time of establishment or upon recommendation to Senate following expiration of the term of an appointee.
Endowment Management
Endowment monies for Chairs and Professorships will be managed through the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Pooled Endowment Fund.
Document Revision
This document, in its entirety, will be reviewed periodically when appropriate by the Senate Committee on Academic Development and Procedures and by the Associate Vice-Principal Faculty Relations to ensure that it continues to be consistent with University academic policies and Collective Agreements.
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