Faculty Professorships and Chairs

University Professorships

University Professorships are supported through the generosity of the UNH Foundation and awarded to full professors who have demonstrated the highest levels of excellence in teaching, scholarship (including the creative arts) and service over an extended period of tenure at the University of New Hampshire.

Recipients are expected to have attained international stature in their discipline because of their significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge or aesthetic understanding. They will have received other widely recognized honors such as international prizes, fellowships or appointments. University Professorships are the highest form of academic recognition at the University and are available to no more than four individuals at any one time. University Professorships are granted until the individual is no longer employed by the University. The value of University Professorships is $20,000 per annum. 

Presidential Chairs

Presidential Chairs are initiated by the president in consultation with the provost and the Deans' Council. Funds to support up to four chairs are made available through the President’s Fund for Excellence.

Presidential Chairs are awarded for a period of 10 years with the option of renewal. Recipients of Presidential Chairs will be full professors who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship (including the creative arts) and service. They will be highly regarded for having made substantial contributions to the knowledge or aesthetic understanding of their respective disciplines. Recipients may have held tenure at the University or be newly appointed. The value of Presidential Chairs is $15,000 per annum.

Professorships

With the help of the University of New Hampshire Foundation, UNH initiated the professorship program in 1990 to help support faculty members in their teaching, public service and research.

The purpose of the program is to help the University be more competitive in hiring new faculty members, reward outstanding academic accomplishments, and enhance the faculty's opportunities for superior scholarship, innovative teaching and meaningful service. Professorships are typically funded from the interest on invested funds that have been given or bequeathed to the University. Most are awarded for a term of one to three years and carry a special supplemental allowance, usually ranging between $5,000 and $10,000 a year that may be spent by the faculty member in support of his or her academic activities.

Professorships are awarded by the provost based on nominations by deans.