Texas Tech University

Distinguished Faculty Awards

 

Faculty award recognition

Texas Tech University's Distinguished Faculty Awards recognize outstanding contributions in teaching, research, creative activity and engagement across faculty appointment types. These awards support faculty achievement and provide opportunities to recognize sustained excellence at different stages of an academic career.

The Distinguished Faculty Awards complement existing honors such as the Horn Professorship and expand the university's faculty recognition framework.

Award Timeline & Process

Nominations move through the nominee's academic college before advancing to the university-level review process.

Annual Timeline

  • Nov. 2: Deadline for nominations to be submitted to the nominee's academic college.
  • Dec. 18: Deadline for colleges to forward nominees to the Office of the Provost.
  • Spring semester: University review process.
  • April: Honorees announced.

All awards are centrally funded, with philanthropic expansion planned over time. Not all awards will be issued every year.

College Points of Contact

University Distinguished Professorship

The University Distinguished Professorship is the university's most prestigious faculty honor. It recognizes tenured full professors, librarians and archivists with at least five consecutive years of service at Texas Tech.

Focus

Significant and ongoing accomplishments in teaching, scholarly and creative activity and/or engaged scholarship.

Nomination

  • Self-nominations are not permitted.
  • Nomination packages must come through the nominee's college.
  • Arts & Sciences may submit up to two nominations per year.
  • All other colleges may submit up to one nomination per year.

Nomination & Review Process

  • A college-level committee reviews submissions and identifies the college nominee or nominees.
  • The dean adds a letter of support, limited to two pages, and forwards the package to the Office of the Provost by the annual December deadline.

Reviewing Committee

  • Office of the Provost
  • Office of Research & Innovation
  • Teaching Academy
  • Faculty holding endowed chairs or professorships

Terms

  • The award is for an initial five-year period and carries a $30,000 salary adjustment.
  • In the fourth year, recipients may apply to retain the title and salary adjustment until separation from Texas Tech University.
  • Recipients are subject to faculty conduct requirements described in OP 32.04.
  • A Distinguished Professorship may be revoked for violations of OP 32.04.
  • No more than two new appointments may be made per academic year.

Nominate a Candidate

Texas University Fund Distinguished Research Professorship

The Texas University Fund Distinguished Research Professorship supports senior faculty, either current or incoming, who lead or significantly contribute to strategic research initiatives aligned with institutional and statewide priorities.

Eligible Positions

  • Professors, librarians and archivists with tenure
  • Research professors with continuing appointment

Nomination

  • Self-nominations are not permitted.
  • Nomination packages must come through the nominee's college.
  • Arts & Sciences may submit up to two nominations per year.
  • All other colleges may submit up to one nomination per year.

Nomination & Review Process

  • A college-level committee reviews submissions and identifies the college nominee or nominees.
  • The dean adds a letter of support, limited to two pages, and forwards the package to the Office of the Provost by the annual December deadline.

Reviewing Committee

  • Office of Research & Innovation
  • Office of the Provost
  • Associate Deans for Research & Creative Activity
  • Faculty holding research-focused endowed chairs or professorships

Terms

  • The award is for an initial five-year period and carries a $30,000 salary adjustment.
  • In the fourth year, recipients may apply to retain the title and salary adjustment until separation from Texas Tech University.
  • Recipients are subject to faculty conduct requirements described in OP 32.04.
  • The professorship may be revoked for violations of OP 32.04.
  • No more than two new appointments may be made per academic year.

Nominate a Candidate

Distinguished Educator or Engaged Scholar

This award recognizes senior lecturers and professors of practice with at least five years of continuous service to Texas Tech. Recipients may be designated either Distinguished Educators or Engaged Scholars.

Focus

Significant and ongoing recognition in teaching excellence or engaged scholarship.

Nomination

  • Self-nominations are not permitted.
  • Nomination packages must come through the nominee's college.
  • Arts & Sciences may submit up to two nominations per year.
  • All other colleges may submit up to one nomination per year.

Nomination & Review Process

  • A college-level committee reviews submissions and identifies the college nominee or nominees.
  • The dean adds a letter of support, limited to two pages, and forwards the package to the Office of the Provost by the annual December deadline.

Reviewing Committee

  • Office of the Provost
  • Associate Deans for Outreach & Engagement
  • Teaching Academy Executive Council
  • Teaching Academy

Terms

  • The award is for an initial five-year period and carries a $20,000 salary adjustment.
  • In the fourth year, recipients may apply to retain the title and salary adjustment until separation from Texas Tech University.
  • Recipients are subject to faculty conduct requirements described in OP 32.04.
  • The award may be revoked for violations of OP 32.04.
  • No more than two new appointments may be made per academic year.

Nominate a Candidate

President's Distinguished Scholar or Artist

The President's Distinguished Scholar or Artist award recognizes mid-career faculty and supports continued scholarly, research or creative activity.

Eligible Positions

  • Associate or full professors
  • Associate or full professors of practice
  • Research associate professors

Applicants at the associate professor rank must have held that title for at least two years.

Nomination

  • Self-nominations are not permitted.
  • Nomination packages must come through the nominee's college.

Reviewing Committee

  • Office of the Provost
  • Academic deans
  • Academic associate deans
  • Department chairs, school directors and area coordinators

Terms

  • The award is for a three-year term and carries a $10,000 salary adjustment and use of the title.
  • In the third year, recipients may apply to retain the title and salary adjustment for a second three-year period.
  • Recipients are subject to faculty conduct requirements described in OP 32.04.
  • The award may be revoked for violations of OP 32.04.

Nominate a Candidate

Questions about Distinguished Faculty Awards may be directed to the Office of Faculty Success.

 

Faculty Success

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