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DISTINGUISHED Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµPROFESSOR

Policy Number

A32.03

Policy Sponsor

Vice-President, Academic and Provost

Original Effective Date

November 28, 2024

Date of Last Review

 

Most Recent Amendment Effective Date

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor program is to recognize and celebrate Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ members of distinction who have achieved exceptional performance and distinguished accomplishment in their scholarly or creative work/or innovation such that their accomplishments are nationally and internationally recognized. This policy sets out the criteria and terms for the appointments of Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessors. The procedure and related documents establish the process to be followed by the Provost and Vice-President Academic and Vice-President, Research and Innovation in the nomination, adjudication and appointment of Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµDistinguished Professors.

1.0    PREAMBLE

1.1    A joint initiative of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, the primary purpose of the Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor program is to recognize Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµfaculty members of distinction who have achieved exceptional scholarly performance and distinguished accomplishments. A secondary purpose is to retain excellent research faculty members at the University.

2.0    PURPOSE

2.1    The purpose of this policy is to set the criteria and terms for the appointment of Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessors and set parameters for such appointments.

3.0    SCOPE AND JURISDICTION

3.1    This policy applies to tenured research faculty members.

4.0    POLICY

4.1    The title of Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor recognizes and rewards tenured research faculty members who meet the following criteria:

4.1.1    Have a demonstrated and sustained record of distinguished, exemplary accomplishments in their scholarly or creative work and/or innovation;

4.1.2    Have a national and international reputation;

4.1.3    Have achieved pre-eminence in their field; and

4.1.4    Have a demonstrated commitment to collegial leadership and to engagement.

4.2    Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessors will bear the title “Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor of [Specialty Subject Area]â€�, or â€œDistinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAssociate Professor of [Specialty Subject Area]â€�. There is no expiry date to the title of “Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor of [Specialty Subject Area]â€� although it can be revoked at the discretion of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Vice-President, Research and Innovation should exceptional circumstances arise, such as contravention of any Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµpolicies. The title of “Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor of [Specialty Subject Area]â€� will change to “Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor Emeritus of [Specialty Subject Area]â€� after retirement from SFU. The title “Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµAssociate Professor of [Specialty Subject Area]â€� will expire 5 years after the date of the appointment.  All areas of scholarship will be considered with nominations whose scholarly activities align with and advance SFU’s strategic priorities encouraged.

4.3    Faculty members who hold internal or external named awards, such as endowed chairs and professorships, Canada Research Chairs or major salary awards from granting agencies are not eligible to be nominated for a Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessorship.

4.4    The cohort of Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessors (including Associate Professors and excluding Professor Emeritus) will not normally exceed 4% of the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµprofessoriate at any one time. Appointments are phased to ensure appointment opportunities every year. Normally, two Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessors are available for each   Faculty. It is recognized that larger Faculties may receive more.

4.5    Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessorships come with a salary stipend of $20,000 per annum over and above the holder’s regular academic salary for a 5-year term. The holder may request that the stipend be provided as a research grant instead of salary. A faculty member who holds a Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessorship and then receives an internal or external named award, such as endowed chairs and professorships, Canada Research Chairs or major salary awards from granting agencies, must relinquish any future stipends related to the Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessorship. A faculty member who accepts a senior administrative role at the university would normally forego any stipends related to the Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessorship for their duration of their senior administrative role. For certainty, a Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor who holds the title “Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor of [Specialty Subject Area]â€� will retain that title (unless otherwise revoked in accordance with Section 4.2 above) even after no salary stipend is available to that Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor.

4.6    Equity considerations will be upheld in the evaluation of nominees and selection of awardees, in accordance with the SFU/SFUFA Collective Agreement and as described in Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµpolicy GP19. The principles of academic freedom will be upheld in the evaluation of nominees and selection of awardees, in accordance with the SFU/SFUFA Collective Agreement.

5.0    ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1    The responsibilities of Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor will include giving public lectures and participating in other public events as requested by the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and/or the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, as well as participating in mentorship and tutoring of junior faculty or other duties helping advance careers and excel.

6.0    RELATED LEGAL, POLICY AUTHORITIES AND AGREEMENTS

6.1    The legal and other University Policy authorities and agreements that may bear on the administration of this policy and may be consulted as needed include but are not limited to:

6.1.1    

6.1.2    

6.1.3    SFU/SFUFA collective agreement

7.0    ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY

7.1    The information and records made and received to administer this policy are subject to the access to information and protection of privacy provisions of British Columbia’s  and the University’s Information Policy series.

8.0    RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS

8.1    Information and records made and received to administer this policy are evidence of the University’s actions to administer the Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor program.  Information and records must be retained and disposed of in accordance with a records retention schedule approved by the University Archivist.

9.0    POLICY REVIEW

9.1    This policy must be reviewed every three years and may always be reviewed as needed.

10.0    POLICY AUTHORITY

10.1    This policy is jointly administered under the authority of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

11.0    INTERPRETATION

11.1    Questions of interpretation or application of this policy or its procedures shall be referred to the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, whose decision shall be final.

12.0    PROCEDURES AND OTHER ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

Distinguished Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµProfessor Procedure (PDF)

MANDATED REVIEW DATE:
November 2027