Honorific working title Associate Research Professor will only be considered for outstanding academic staff members with terminal degrees and titles of Associate Scientist, Senior Scientist and Distinguished Scientist, and the honorific working title Research Professor will only be considered for outstanding academic staff members with terminal degrees and titles of Senior Scientist or Distinguished Scientist, or retired faculty who hold university appointments of 0.50 FTE or greater and whose funding is at least 0.50 FTE from non-state GPR sources, per academic year.

Required Materials

1. A cover letter from dean. (If the appointment is split among two or more units, the packet must include letters from all deans involved.)

2. A cover letter from the unit head or departmental chair, including an indication of the vote of the Executive Committee or equivalent, and a statement of its voting procedures. (If the appointment is split among two or more units, the packet must include letters from all department chairs or unit heads involved.) This letter should include a proposed effective date of the honorific title. Since the most important consideration is the extraordinary qualities of the candidate, the letter should describe the distinctive capabilities, performance and contributions of the individual. A statement from the unit or department evaluating the candidate's value to the department, unit or program is required.

3. A cover letter from the candidate's supervisor if that person is not the unit head or departmental chair. (If the appointment is split among two or more units, the packet must include letters from all supervisors involved.)

4. A job description of the current position, including the nature and scope of the duties and responsibilities and a summary of contributions to the field.

5. A detailed résumé or curriculum vitae indicating background and experience, and a detailed listing of the research contribution.

6. A one- or two-page personal statement by the candidate indicating why s/he is qualified for the honorific title of Associate Research Professor or Research Professor.

7. Six letters of recommendation from those who can speak to the talents of the individual and evaluate his or her performance. At least three letters should be from outside the University of Wisconsin System. Letters should compare the quality and productivity of the candidate with others of similar rank and experience, if applicable. A copy of the soliciting letter from the departmental chair or unit head must be included along with a brief explanation of how individuals were selected for this process and their relationship to the candidate. In addition, a short description of the qualifications of each respondent must be included. A copy of all letters of response to the departmental or unit head must be submitted to the committee for review. The candidate should not submit letters written by a member of this committee.

Optional Materials

Any additional material the candidate or nominating unit feels would be helpful in the evaluation process may be submitted. This may include but is not limited to unsolicited letters from clients, patients, students, or outside agencies.

The committee will meet in May and December. The deadline for receiving materials for the May meeting is April 1, the deadline for the December meeting is November 1. Ten copies of the document should be forwarded to the Divisional Committee Office, 134 Bascom Hall.

Sample Letter to Reviewers for Honorific Professorial Titles