Carnegie Mellon University

Institutional Chairs

Policy Title Institutional Chairs Policy
Policy Owner Provost and Vice President for University Advancement
Responsible Office

Office of the Provost; and University Advancement, Advancement Resources and Engagement Programs

Contact Information Questions concerning this policy or its intent should be directed to the Office of the Provost; 412-268-3260.
Pertinent Dates This policy was approved on August 9, 2017. Administrative changes were made in January 2022.
Approved By The President of Carnegie Mellon University
Entities Affected By This Policy Carnegie Mellon faculty, staff, and volunteers
Who Needs To Know About This Policy Carnegie Mellon faculty, staff, and volunteers
Definitions n/a
Forms / Instructions n/a
Related Information Naming Gifts Policy
Reason for Policy / Purpose

The Institutional Chairs Policy helps ensure consistency in how Institutional Chairs are created and named at Carnegie Mellon University.

Abstract

The creation of an Institutional Chair is typically reserved to honor faculty for extraordinary scholarly achievements, for faculty in retention cases, or when the creation of such a chair is demonstrated to be in the best interest of the university.

The policy outlines the purpose and creation of Institutional Chairs at the university, associated guidelines, special circumstances related to University Professors, and other miscellaneous matters.

Policy Statement

  1. Introduction
    1. An Institutional Chair is an internally endowed chair that is created using institutional funds or funds from unrestricted gifts.
    2. Institutional Chairs must be endowed, and are subject to the same rules regarding endowment minimums that apply to chairs created directly by donors.
    3. Institutional Chairs are subject to the university’s policies and practices regarding the administration of endowed funds.
    4. The university generally will not approve non-endowed named professorships, whether supported by a gift or by institutional funds. University officials seeking to establish a non-endowed named professorship should contact the Office of the Provost.
  2. Purpose and Creation of Institutional Chairs
    1. The creation of an Institutional Chair is typically reserved to honor faculty for extraordinary scholarly achievements, for faculty in retention cases, or when the creation of such a chair is demonstrated to be in the best interest of the university.
    2. The Board of Trustees or the President of the university may create an Institutional Chair at their discretion.
    3. Academic and administrative leaders of the university’s colleges and schools may propose the creation of an Institutional Chair to the Provost. Upon the recommendation of the Provost, the President may approve such a proposed Institutional Chair.
  3. Guidelines

    The following guidelines apply to the naming of Institutional Chairs at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU):

    1. An Institutional Chair for a senior faculty member may be called a “Trustees Chair in [field of study].” There is no limit on the number of Trustees Chairs that may exist.
    2. An Institutional Chair for a junior faculty member may be called a “Carnegie Mellon Promise Chair in [field of study].” There is no limit on the number of Carnegie Mellon Promise Chairs that may exist.
    3. The following types of individuals may be honored with the naming of an Institutional Chair:
      1. A CMU faculty member or staff member who has demonstrated extraordinary scholarly achievement or made extraordinary contributions to the life of the university, provided that the individual is deceased, or has been retired or otherwise separated from CMU for at least five years;
      2. An individual with a CMU connection who has demonstrated extraordinary achievement in the field of study for the intended chair, or who has made extraordinary contributions to the life of the university, provided that the individual has been deceased for at least five years; or
      3. A donor who contributed an unrestricted gift sufficient to create the Institutional Chair (i.e., a donor who left an unrestricted bequest, or a bequest for faculty support).
  4. University Professors
    1. Upon appointment to the rank of University Professor, a faculty member who holds a named and/or endowed chair may elect to vacate such chair, to make that resource available to another. In such case, the dean of the academic unit in which the faculty member is based may recommend to the Provost, for recommendation to the President, that an honorific name be added to the University Professor title.
    2. Appropriate names for this circumstance include the options described in section III(C), above, and the names of prior university board chairs, prior university presidents, and the spouses of prior university presidents, provided that the individual (or the spouse of the individual) to be honored is deceased or has been retired from the position for at least five years.
    3. Deans may also use expendable funds, provided there are no applicable restrictions on such funds, to provide discretionary funds to University Professors who vacate endowed chairs.
  5. Miscellaneous Matters
    1. Academic and administrative leaders who wish to name chairs in honor of CMU faculty or staff members who are more recently deceased or retired, or whose retirement is imminent, may do so through fundraising efforts, the plans for which should be approved through the Vice President for University Advancement.
    2. The first step in creating an Institutional Chair is for the proposing academic or administrative leader to consult with the Provost, including providing documentation on the credentials of the intended chair recipient, the rationale for the proposed name, and the funding source or fundraising plan.
    3. The university recognizes that there presently exist endowed funds to support faculty chairs that do not meet the university endowment minimums. Nothing in this policy should be construed to prevent the use of these funds for their current purpose. Furthermore, nothing in this policy should be construed to prevent the consolidation of these funds to form new endowed chair funds, provided that such consolidation does not violate an applicable gift agreement, and that the Provost approves any such consolidation if the aggregate amount of the consolidated funds is less than the applicable university endowment minimum in effect at that time.