Named Faculty Appointments

In an era of acute competition for the best teachers and researchers, privately funded endowments furnish a flexible resource that the University can use to support a wide range of priorities.  Creating an endowed fund allows the endowment to carry the name of the donor or the name of a person or organization to be honored by the donor.  Named faculty appointments at the UIC result from these endowments and they vary in type and level, e.g., a named chair, a named professorship, a named research fund, etc.   Providing support to faculty who are building a national reputation is one way to ensure the continued quality of the professorate at UIC.  The income from an endowment may be used to augment the salary of the professor, as well as to support his or her scholarly and research needs, help fund specific teaching and research requirements, including laboratory equipment, support staff, graduate assistants, research materials and computer equipment.

Named appointments to the faculty require review at the campus level, regardless of where the appointment is held.  Named appointments/titles, generally at zero percent (0%), must accompany an underlying faculty appointment and tenure resides in the professorial appointment, never in the named appointment.  This applies even when a portion of the salary is paid from the endowment and a percent time must be assigned to the named appointment.  The University of Illinois Foundation is the official private gift-procurement arm of the University.  Since its formation in 1935 as a non-profit corporation, the Foundation has been a significant contributing factor in the success of the University’s endowment programs.  For additional information on the procedures for appointment access the link below.