C170: Endowed Chairs and Named Professorships

Approved by: Faculty Senate and UNM President
Effective Date: Draft March 12, 2026
Responsible FS Committee: Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee
Office Responsible for Administration: Provost and Executive Vice President for Health Sciences (EVPHS)

Applicability

This Policy applies to all academic UNM departments, including the Health Sciences Center and Branch Community Colleges. Agreements reached by collective bargaining will hold precedence over any element of this Policy for faculty members covered by the agreement. In areas where there are differences, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will hold precedence; however, parts of this Policy not covered by the CBA apply to all faculty.

Policy Rationale

Because the strength of a great university resides in its faculty, the identification, recruitment, appointment, and support of faculty members is a major priority of UNM. Endowed chairs and named professorships enable UNM to attract and retain faculty members who have outstanding records of scholarly work and/or teaching. These positions, secured at least in part by an endowment, are recognized as a prestigious honor UNM can award faculty. Holding an endowed chair or named professorship does not affect the faculty member’s existing UNM appointment.

Policy Statement

Endowed positions are established and named by the UNM Board of Regents after recommendations by the President. The President will consult with the Faculty Senate President and the Provost/Executive Vice President for the Health Sciences Center (EVPHS). These officers, in turn, will consult with the appropriate dean, department chair, and the faculty in the disciplinary area of the contemplated position. The parameters of the positions will be governed by standard UNM faculty personnel regulations as set forth in the Faculty Handbook, together with a donor agreement negotiated by the UNM Foundation and the donor or donor’s estate. Before accepting an endowment, the Board of Regents, President, the Provost/EVPHS, Faculty Senate President, and the relevant department chair or program director will carefully consider the appropriateness of the proposed position. Not all proposed gifts or names may be appropriate to accept.

Procedures

The selection of external candidates for endowed chairs or named professorships will occur through nationally competitive searches or alternative procedures as allowed by the standard faculty appointment processes, overseen by the UNM Offices of Academic Affairs in accordance with applicable hiring policies. The search committees will be constituted in the usual way, except that the Faculty Senate, Provost/EVPHS, and the donor may suggest one (1) or more additional members. A majority of the members of the search committee must be full-time UNM faculty, and departments in which the appointment is made may vote to limit the number of non-faculty members. While a donor may suggest potential candidates, UNM retains the responsibility and authority to name the successful candidate and confer the rank and/or tenured status according to its existing standards and by its existing procedures.

For current UNM faculty, endowed chairs and named professorships awarded must be competitive and follow established college or school written procedures.

Unless the donor agreement specifies otherwise, the initial appointment period for endowed chairs and named professorships will be for a specific term, not to exceed five (5) years. Faculty members holding these positions are subject to the standard faculty review procedures as described in the Faculty Handbook. If the cumulative reviews on multi-year accomplishments are satisfactory, the appointment may be continued for another agreed-upon term, which is eligible for further renewal. Otherwise, the appointment may be transferred to a new occupant, with the previous occupant, assuming the faculty member holds a continuing faculty appointment, retaining their existing UNM appointment.

The holder of an endowed chair or named professorship is responsible for fulfilling the duties set forth in the donor agreement at the initiation of the appointment. This will in all cases at least include an annual report of scholarly and/or teaching activities which will be made available to the appropriate chair, dean, Provost/EVPHS, the UNM Foundation, and the Regents upon request.

Definitions

No specific definitions for this Policy.

Who should read this policy

• Board of Regents
• Professors and academic staff
• Academic deans and other executives, department chairs, directors, and managers
• UNM Foundation

Related Documents

Faculty Handbook:

• Section B “Policy on Academic Freedom and Tenure”

Contacts

• Direct any questions about this policy to your chair or dean.

History

• October 15, 2013 - Approved by Faculty Senate as Policy C170
• October 7, 2013 - Approved by the UNM Faculty Senate
• July 1, 2025 - Policy format updated to align with FHB A53
• December 9, 2022 - Updated titles of EVPHS and of responsible offices, according to Faculty Handbook Policy A53 procedures