Great universities must begin with great teachers who are also talented researchers doing exciting work. These memorable professors have the gift of making the mundane interesting, injecting enthusiasm into what otherwise might be boring, and challenging students to achieve more and persevere through the hard parts.
One of the best ways to honor the truly gifted educator is to bestow upon them a named professorship. Such gifts may be restricted to faculty in a specific department or faculty engaged in a particular area of research. They can be named in honor of or to memorialize a beloved family member. Sometimes they are established to honor or memorialize an outstanding faculty member who touched the lives of many students.
Named Funded Professorships are those positions funded on an annual basis, ideally over a set number of years. In addition to providing a professor’s salary (either a portion or in full, depending on the funding level), funds would be used to support research, student assistants, travel funds, and other appropriate expenses.
Named Endowed Professorships provide funds in perpetuity that would support all or a portion of a professor’s salary, funds for research, graduate assistants, travel funds, as well as other appropriate expenses. Only the interest earned on the principal amount, which is invested, is spent. A Named Endowed Professorship is perhaps the highest honor that can be given to an accomplished faculty member. It also serves as a perpetual testament to the generosity, vision, and depth of commitment of the donor.
Named Funded Professorship $125,000 annually
Named Endowed Distinguished Professorship $500,000
Named Endowed Professorship $2.5 million
Named Endowed Visiting Professorship $1.25 million
Minimum amount to endow a professorship is $500,000
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Giving is easy: Contributions to a specific Professorship may be made by:
| • | Check made payable to the SIUE Foundation with the SOEng printable mail-in form; | |
| • | Secure online credit card billing form (Discover, MasterCard, Visa accepted); | |
| • | Payroll deduction for SIUE employees. |
