Faculty Excellence
The university’s success in advancing breakthrough research, creating the next lifesaving invention and developing the next generation of leaders depends on recruiting, retaining and advancing great faculty. They make a profound impact through teaching, research, scholarship and service. Your support can provide world-class research and teaching facilities; endow professorships that offer a financial incentive to relocate or remain at Shepherd; and create programs that help faculty soar to the forefront of their fields.
The President’s Faculty Excellence Endowment
The Shepherd University Faculty Excellence Endowment is a general fund, not limited to any one academic area, created by the Shepherd University Foundation to enable donors to join together in providing endowed funds to support faculty as scholars and teachers. Faculty Excellence awards provide funding for special project requests that cannot be anticipated in the usual budget process – such as travel funds that allow faculty to accept invitations to present their work at national and international conferences, or the matching funds required to apply for a new grant opportunity. Donors who wish to make endowed gifts to optimize faculty excellence may choose to give to this fund in any amount.
Other Faculty Excellence Endowments
Many donors choose to make gifts to one of our established faculty excellence endowments. We welcome contributions of any amount to our program funds.
Donors may also create a newly named faculty excellence endowment or endowed faculty position, either by a charitable gift now or through a bequest.
What is a Faculty Excellence Endowment?
Funds may be awarded to one or several faculty members each year, similar to student scholarships. The award funds are distributed on a merit basis through a competitive process overseen by the Shepherd University Deans’ Council and the Academic Affairs Provost.
Endowed Faculty Position
An endowed faculty position supports the appointment of a faculty member as a named chair, professor, or lectureship in a specific academic area. The position is named by the donor, in the donor’s name or to honor a family member, friend, colleague, teacher or other mentor. These prestigious positions are appointed on a merit basis through a competitive process overseen by the Shepherd University Deans’ Council, Academic Affairs Provost and the Shepherd University President.
Endowed Chairs
Endowed chairs provide funds which enable Shepherd to attract, recognize and retain exceptional scholars and academic leaders. The funds allow Shepherd to attract the highest level of academicians and to retain our exceptional faculty scholars without relying on limited state funding.
Endowed Professorships
Endowed professorships make us competitive with other institutions to attract, recognize and retain distinguished scholars by funding their academic endeavors.
Endowed Lectureships
Formal presentations on campus by distinguished guest lecturers, researchers, and creative and performing artists will greatly enhance Shepherd’s curriculum, reflecting Shepherd’s commitment to providing an excellent educational experience within the university and the greater community.
Endowed Positions Minimum Funding Levels:
- Named Endowed Fund $25,000
- Endowed Chairs $300,000 – $1,000,000*
- Endowed Professorships $150,000 – $300,000
- Endowed Lectureships $50,000 – $150,000
*Higher sums may be required to establish chairs in certain disciplines.
** The Scholar position is used to help create Endowed Chairs, Professorships, and Lectureships.
For assistance in making your contribution, please contact:
Meg Patterson
Director of Donor Relations