Policy on Endowed Faculty Positions
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish standard guidelines and procedures governing the establishment of, and appointment to, an Endowed Faculty Position. Endowed Faculty Positions are intended to recognize distinguished achievement by faculty of Seton Hall University and those faculty whom the University seeks to recruit. This policy is subject to the gift policy of Seton Hall University and receipt of endowment distributions for the purposes set forth herein.
Scope
This policy is applicable to Academic Affairs.
Policy
An Endowed Faculty Position may only be created by the Provost and in accordance with the University’s Gift Policy: Acceptance, Reporting and Naming (the “Gift Policy”), up to and including approval of the Board of Regents, if required by the Gift Policy.
There are four categories of Endowed Faculty Positions: Endowed Full Chair, Endowed Folding Chair, Endowed Professorship, and Endowed Early Career Professorship.
Endowed Full Chair
Endowed Full Chair is the highest possible academic honor that Seton Hall University
(the “University”) can award.
A minimum endowment of $2.5 million is required to create an Endowed Full Chair, subject to Section IV.
This honor may be bestowed upon faculty members who have achieved the rank of full Professor and have served the University in a tenured capacity for at least ten years or served as a tenured full Professor for five years. In extraordinary circumstances, these time in rank requirements may be relaxed by the Provost.This honor may also be conferred upon faculty members serving at other institutions who are recognized leaders within their academic fields and who, at the time of initial appointment to the University, are granted both tenure and the rank of full Professor.
Endowed Full Chairs serve full-time and are appointed for up to a five-year term. An appointment as an Endowed Full Chair may be renewed. Appointment, renewal, length of terms and termination as an Endowed Full Chair are at the discretion of the Provost, taking into consideration the recommendation by the appropriate Dean, with appropriate review by the Vice President for University Advancement to ensure that the appointment or reappointment is consistent with the intent of the donor. At the time of appointment and any reappointment as an Endowed Full Chair, the Provost shall set forth the goals and objectives for the holder of the Endowed Full Chair.
Endowed Folding Chair
A minimum endowment of $2 million is required to create an Endowed Folding Chair,
subject to Section IV.
This honor may be bestowed upon faculty members who have achieved the rank of full Professor, been awarded tenure as Professor, and who are recognized leaders within their academic fields. This honor may also be conferred upon faculty members serving at other institutions who are recognized leaders within their academic fields and who, at the time of initial appointment to the University, are granted both tenure and the rank of full Professor.
Endowed Folding Chairs serve full-time and are appointed for up to a three-year term. An appointment as an Endowed Folding Chair is renewable. Appointment, renewal, length of terms and termination are at the discretion of the Provost, taking into consideration the recommendation by the appropriate Dean, with appropriate review by the Vice President for University Advancement to ensure that the appointment or reappointment is consistent with the intent of the donor. At the time of appointment and any reappointment, the Provost shall set forth the goals and objectives for the holder of the Endowed Folding Chair.
Endowed Professorship
A minimum endowment of $1 million is required to create an Endowed Professorship,
subject to Section IV.
In general, this honor may be bestowed upon faculty members who have achieved the rank of Professor and who have been awarded tenure or an equivalent status in his or her School or College if the School or College does not provide for tenure. In extraordinary circumstances, the faculty member may have the rank of Associate Professor, with tenure.
This honor may also be conferred upon an individual who is gaining prominence as an up-and-coming star in their field, and who, at the time of their initial appointment to the University, is granted tenure.
Endowed Professors serve full-time and are appointed for up to a three-year term. An appointment as an Endowed Professor is renewable. Decisions regarding appointment, renewal, length of terms and termination are made at the discretion of the Provost, taking into consideration the recommendation by the appropriate Dean, with appropriate review by the Vice President for University Advancement to ensure that the appointment or reappointment is consistent with the intent of the donor. At the time of appointment and any reappointment, the Provost shall set forth the goals and objectives for the holder of the Endowed Professorship.
Endowed Early Career Professorship
A minimum endowment of $500,000 is required to create an endowed Early Career Professorship,
subject to Section IV.
This honor recognizes a faculty member, prior to tenure or an equivalent review by a School or College that does not provide for tenure, who has an outstanding record of research, scholarship, or creative activity, and whose work shows the potential to be transformative.
Early Career Professorships are not renewable. The honoree may retain the title until tenure or an equivalent status, if the School or College does not provide for have tenure, is conferred, their appointment at the University expires or is not renewed, or their appointment in the Early Career Professorship exceeds five (5) years, whichever occurs first. Decisions regarding appointment and termination are made by the Provost, taking into consideration the recommendation by the appropriate Dean, with appropriate review by the Vice President for University Advancement to ensure that the appointment is consistent with the intent of the donor. At the time of appointment, the Provost shall set forth the goals and objectives for the holder of the Early Career Professorship.
Funding
Endowed Faculty Positions are created only when the gift satisfies the requirements set forth in the Gift Policy. The University will manage the fund in accordance with its Gift Policy.
Review and Reporting
By June 15th of each year, Endowed Faculty are required to submit to both the Dean and the Provost (or his or her designee) a report following the rubric attached in Appendix A that outlines how he or she has fulfilled the requirements of their Endowed Faculty Position, as well as their goals and objectives for the following year. In the final year of appointment as an Endowed Full Chair, Endowed Folding Chair, or Endowed Professorship, the report should encompass all years of service as an Endowed Full Chair or Endowed Folding Chair and should also include, if applicable, a statement addressing why they should be reappointed to the Endowed Full Chair or Endowed Folding Chair, as well as proposed goals and objectives for the potential next period of appointment.
As part of these reports, Endowed Faculty are encouraged to submit additional materials that will help provide a clearer picture of performance in the Endowed Faculty Position.
Disestablishment
An Endowed Faculty Position that has not furthered the goals of this policy or satisfied the requirements of this policy and/or the Gift Policy may be disestablished by the Board of Regents, if required by the Gift Policy, or disestablished by the Provost if approval by the Board of Regents is not required.
Consistent with the Gift Policy and the agreement with the donor(s), the Provost can seek to alter the terms of an Endowed Faculty Position if (a) the subject area ceases to be consistent with the University’s mission; or (b) the Endowed Faculty Position remains vacant for a period of three years. To avoid any confusion, any such change is subject to all the appropriate policies at the University, and to approval by the appropriate individuals or bodies, as required by other policies or agreements, up to and including approval of the Board of Regents, if required.
At-Will and Appeals
Faculty serve in Endowed Faculty Positions at the will of the University, and there is no appeal or grievance from any of the Provost’s decisions under this policy.
Related Policies
Responsible Offices
Division of Academic Affairs
University Advancement
Approval
Initially adopted and approved by Monsignor Joseph R. Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., President, upon the recommendation of the Executive Cabinet on July 9, 2025.
Effective Date
July 9, 2025
Appendix A – Chairs Annual Report
Instructions
Please share your accomplishments by completing the form below by June 15. Note that all required fields must be completed.
Endowed Faculty Position:
Faculty Name:
Teaching and Research Highlights:
How did your endowed chair/professorship help enhance your research? How did your instructional methods and mentorship aid students in their intellectual interests and professional development?
Academic Programs and Faculty Development:
How did you and/or your work enhance the quality of academic programs and faculty development within your school/unit?
Publications, Conferences, and Awards:
Please highlight some of the awards, publications, conferences, seminars, and/or creative works that you have received this academic year. We encourage you to select a few you are most proud of and share why they are impactful.
Service and Public Engagement:
How did your work contribute to service and public engagement initiatives throughout the past year? Please highlight the activities that were most meaningful to you (e.g. committees that led to policy change or furthering the field).
Mission:
How does your work support our mission? Feel free to include a personal message of gratitude to your donor and what their support means to you – your research, scholarship, and outreach activities.
Future Plans:
What are you working on for next year?