Nomination Deadline: March 31

Nomination Process

Click here for a list of awarded College Professors of Distinction!

The honorific title College Professor of Distinction is reserved for scholars and artists of national and international distinction who are also recognized by their College peers as teachers and colleagues of exceptional talent.

Appointments to this honorary title shall be made from those holding the rank of Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences. While there is no limit upon the number of College Professors of Distinction in the College at any one time, the expected level of accomplishment in all three areas of service, teaching, and research or creative work will likely limit the number of honorees to approximately 10% of the eligible Professors.

Criteria

A candidate for designation as College Professor of Distinction shall be judged by the following criteria:

  1. The candidate must be recognized nationally or internationally as a distinguished scholar or artist of exceptional quality. They should enjoy evidence of national recognition for their position in their discipline beyond individual testimonials, such as by prestigious lectureships, elected positions, awards, and honors.
  2. The candidate should exhibit evidence of superior accomplishment as a teacher and mentor to both graduate and undergraduate students, and should exhibit enthusiasm for teaching through their activities as a teacher-scholar.
  3. The candidate should exhibit a record of superior service to their discipline, their department, and their College and University.
  4. The candidate should exhibit a strong record in each domain, but a record that overall can be judged to be exceptional.

As a rule of thumb, a successful nominee is one who can be argued is in the top 10% of the professoriate in the college when all four criteria are considered. The chair may wish to have a confidential discussion with a dean before proceeding if there is any question as to the appropriateness of the nomination.

Conditions and Honors

  1. Selected candidates shall be authorized to use the honorific title “College Professor of Distinction” during the remainder of their career in the college.
  2. A monetary award of $12,000 will be provided for each selected candidate and transferred to a department established account for use by the recipient in support of their research or teaching program in accordance with university policy and procedures.
  3. The college will honor and feature its new College Professors of Distinction at the annual A&S Faculty Recognition dinner, held in the spring.  

Approved by ASC Fall 2004. Approved by Provost Phil DiStefano, September 2004

Reviewed 26 February 2024