Appointment of Distinguished Professors

Criteria

1. A candidate should have obvious national/international distinction in his/her field, as evidenced by a continuous record of distinguished scholarly contributions and accomplishments. The Committee of Distinguished Professors bases its judgment on the extent to which the nominee has contributed to, advanced, and had a significant impact on his/her field of study.
2. The appointment should be made with the objective of further enriching the intellectual life of the University.
3. Consideration should be given to the potential impact of an appointment on the academic objectives of the University, as well as the school/college and the department involved. Of particular importance is the influence which the appointment is likely to have in stimulating and strengthening research efforts and opportunities.

Procedures for Nomination

1. Early in the first semester of each academic year, the Dean of the Graduate School distributes the criteria and procedures for nomination for the title of UWM Distinguished Professor to all members of the faculty.
2. All nominations must be approved by the appropriate departmental (or equivalent) executive committee and submitted by the department chair to the school or college dean. The submission should be limited to a cover letter justifying the executive committee's recommendation, accompanied by a vita. The dean forwards the letter and vita to the Dean of the Graduate School.
3. Upon consultation with the Chancellor, the Dean of the Graduate School convenes the Committee of UWM Distinguished Professors (hereafter referred to as the Committee).
4. The Graduate Dean asks for the advice of the Committee. The Committee reviews the scholarly/creative achievements of the nominee and formulates a recommendation regarding the proposed appointment. The Committee seeks additional information regarding the nominee from outside experts. In the case of a positive recommendation, the Graduate Dean transmits the recommendation of the Committee, together with his/her own recommendation, to the Provost and Chancellor for a final decision. In the case of a negative recommendation, the Graduate Dean reports the decision to the departmental executive committee and the dean of the school/college.