1. Policy

   To recognize a Professor’s distinguished scholarly achievement and reputation and in accordance with the selection criteria defined below, the Board of Regents may appoint a limited number of Distinguished University Professors. The Board of Regents will make such appointments upon recommendation of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (Ann Arbor campus) or the chancellor (Dearborn campus or Flint campus) and the President.

   Each Distinguished University Professor, in consultation with the dean of the school or college in which he or she holds an appointment (Ann Arbor campus) or the chancellor (Dearborn campus or Flint campus), will name the Professorship after a person of distinction in his or her general field of interest, preferably a person formerly associated with the University.

   Being appointed as a Distinguished University Professor will not otherwise modify the faculty member’s status at the University.

   A Distinguished University Professor may retain his or her title after retirement as Distinguished University Professor Emeritus or Emerita.

   The Distinguished University Professorship will be awarded only to faculty members who have been serving the University; it will not be used as a means to recruit people from outside the University.

   Also see Regents’ Bylaw 5.21 Distinguished University Professorships.

2. Criteria for Selection

   In addition to having achieved the rank of Professor at the University, each faculty member who is appointed as a Distinguished University Professor must be recognized nationally and internationally for scholarly achievement in his or her field of study, for having broad scholarly interests, for originality as a scholar, and for superior teaching skills.

3. Responsibilities

   1. Teaching and Scholarly Activities: Distinguished University Professors will pursue teaching efforts and scholarly activities that ensure their greatest contributions to the University and beyond. Such efforts might include, for example, University teaching assignments in departments, schools, or colleges other than the individual’s own department. The University expects department chairs, program directors, and deans to encourage Distinguished University Professors to pursue such activities.
   2. Lecture: Each Distinguished University Professor will give a lecture to the University community at a public event to honor him or her.

4. Regulations

   1. Establishing Professorships: The Board of Regents may approve Distinguished University Professorships upon recommendation of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (Ann Arbor campus) or the chancellor (Dearborn campus or Flint campus) and the President.
   2. Increasing the Number of Professorships: The Board of Regents may increase the number of Distinguished University Professorship appointments on recommendation of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (Ann Arbor campus) or the chancellor (Dearborn campus or Flint campus) and the President.
   3. Recommending Appointments: To recommend a Distinguished University Professorship appointment, the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (Ann Arbor campus) or the chancellor (Dearborn campus or Flint campus) will follow the relevant procedures for recommending new appointments to the Board of Regents.
   4. Naming a Professorship: The appointee will determine an appropriate name of the professorship, contingent on approval of the appropriate dean (Ann Arbor campus) or the chancellor (Dearborn campus or Flint campus). Each Professorship will be named for a person of distinction in the same general field of interest as the faculty member who holds the appointment, preferably a person formerly associated with the University.
   5. Stipend: Each Distinguished University Professor will receive a stipend in addition to regular departmental salary until such time as he or she retires or leaves the University.
   6. Duration of Appointment: The appointee will hold the Distinguished University Professorship during the period of the appointee’s active service (including retirement furlough).
   7. Emeritus or Emerita Status: Upon full retirement, the Distinguished University Professorship title will be designated as “Emeritus or Emerita.” Also see SPG 201.80 Emeritus/Emerita Titles.

Procedures: https://hr.umich.edu/working-u-m/my-employment/uhr-procedures/20191-distinguished-university-professorships