EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Distinguished SFU Professor program is to recognize and celebrate Simon Fraser University members of distinction who have achieved exceptional performance and distinguished accomplishment in their scholarly or creative work/or innovation such that their accomplishments are nationally and internationally recognized. This policy sets out the criteria and terms for the appointments of Distinguished SFU Professors. The procedure and related documents establish the process to be followed by the Provost and Vice-President Academic and Vice-President, Research and Innovation in the nomination, adjudication and appointment of SFU Distinguished Professors.

1.0  PREAMBLE
2.0  PURPOSE
3.0  SCOPE AND JURISDICTION
4.0  POLICY
5.0  ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
6.0  RELATED LEGAL, POLICY AUTHORITIES AND AGREEMENTS
7.0  ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
8.0  RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS
9.0  POLICY REVIEW
10.0  POLICY AUTHORITY
11.0  INTERPRETATION
12.0  PROCEDURES AND OTHER ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

1.0 PREAMBLE

1.1 A joint initiative of the Provost and Vice-President Academic and the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, the primary purpose of the Distinguished SFU Professor program is to recognize SFU faculty members of distinction who have achieved exceptional scholarly performance and distinguished accomplishments. A secondary purpose is to retain excellent research faculty members at the University.

2.0 PURPOSE

2.1 The purpose of this policy is to set the criteria and terms for the appointment of Distinguished SFU Professors and set parameters for such appointments.

3.0 SCOPE AND JURISDICTION

3.1 This policy applies to tenured research faculty members.

4.0 POLICY

4.1 The title of Distinguished SFU Professor recognizes and rewards tenured research faculty members who meet the following criteria:

4.1.1 Have a demonstrated and sustained record of distinguished, exemplary accomplishments in their scholarly or creative work and/or innovation;

4.1.2 Have a national and international reputation;

4.1.3 Have achieved pre-eminence in their field; and

4.1.4 Have a demonstrated commitment to collegial leadership and to engagement.

4.2  Distinguished SFU Professors will bear the title “Distinguished SFU Professor of [Specialty Subject Area]”, or “Distinguished SFU Associate Professor of [Specialty Subject Area]”. There is no expiry date to the title of “Distinguished SFU Professor of [Specialty Subject Area]” although it can be revoked at the discretion of the Provost and Vice-President Academic and VP Research & Innovation should exceptional circumstances arise, such as contravention of any SFU policies. The title of “Distinguished SFU Professor of [Specialty Subject Area]” will change to “Distinguished SFU Professor Emeritus of [Specialty Subject Area]” after retirement from SFU. The title “Distinguished SFU Associate Professor of [Specialty Subject Area]” will expire 5 years after the date of the appointment.  All areas of scholarship will be considered with nominations whose scholarly activities align with and advance SFU’s strategic priorities encouraged.

4.3 Faculty members who hold internal or external named awards, such as endowed chairs and professorships, Canada Research Chairs or major salary awards from granting agencies are not eligible to be nominated for a Distinguished SFU Professorship.

4.4 The cohort of Distinguished SFU Professors (including Associate Professors and excluding Professor Emeritus) will not normally exceed 4% of the SFU professoriate at any one time. Appointments are phased to ensure appointment opportunities every year. Normally, two Distinguished SFU Professors are available for each   Faculty. It is recognized that larger Faculties may receive more.

4.5  Distinguished SFU Professorships come with a salary stipend of $20,000 per annum over and above the holder’s regular academic salary for a 5-year term. The holder may request that the stipend be provided as a research grant instead of salary. A faculty member who holds a Distinguished SFU Professorship and then receives an internal or external named award, such as endowed chairs and professorships, Canada Research Chairs or major salary awards from granting agencies, must relinquish any future stipends related to the Distinguished SFU Professorship. A faculty member who accepts a senior administrative role at the university would normally forego any stipends related to the Distinguished SFU Professorship for their duration of their senior administrative role. For certainty, a Distinguished SFU Professor who holds the title “Distinguished SFU Professor of [Specialty Subject Area]” will retain that title (unless otherwise revoked in accordance with Section 4.2 above) even after no salary stipend is available to that Distinguished SFU Professor.

4.6  Equity considerations will be upheld in the evaluation of nominees and selection of awardees, in accordance with the SFU/SFUFA Collective Agreement and as described in SFU policy GP19. The principles of academic freedom will be upheld in the evaluation of nominees and selection of awardees, in accordance with the SFU/SFUFA Collective Agreement.

5.0 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

5.1 The responsibilities of Distinguished SFU Professor will include giving public lectures and participating in other public events as requested by the Provost and Vice-President Academic and/or the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, as well as participating in mentorship and tutoring of junior faculty or other duties helping advance careers and excel.

6.0 RELATED LEGAL, POLICY AUTHORITIES AND AGREEMENTS

6.1 The legal and other University Policy authorities and agreements that may bear on the administration of this policy and may be consulted as needed include but are not limited to:

6.1.1 University Act, RSBC 1996, c 468

6.1.2 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, RSBC 1996, c 165

6.1.3  SFU/SFUFA collective agreement

7.0 ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY

7.1 The information and records made and received to administer this policy are subject to the access to information and protection of privacy provisions of British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the University’s Information Policy series.

8.0 RETENTION AND DISPOSAL OF RECORDS

8.1 Information and records made and received to administer this policy are evidence of the University’s actions to administer the Distinguished SFU Professor program.  Information and records must be retained and disposed of in accordance with a records retention schedule approved by the University Archivist.

9.0  POLICY REVIEW

9.1  This policy must be reviewed every three years and may always be reviewed as needed.

10.0 POLICY AUTHORITY

10.1 This policy is jointly administered under the authority of the Provost and Vice-President Academic and the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

11.0 INTERPRETATION

11.1 Questions of interpretation or application of this policy or its procedures shall be referred to the Provost and Vice-President Academic and the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, whose decision shall be final.

12.0 PROCEDURES AND OTHER ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

Distinguished SFU Professor Procedure