Procedure for appointing to Personal Chairs

Recommendations will be considered in accordance with the following procedure.

1. Criteria

   The criteria for appointment of Personal Chairs are generally as follows:

   1. Every candidate for a Personal Chair must be of such academic distinction in his or her subject as to be deemed worthy of a Chair and to hold the title of professor.
   2. In considering a nomination in relation to this main criterion, the Personal Chairs Committee may at its discretion give weight to any additional considerations which it deems relevant in the particular case - for example
      1. that the candidate is a leading researcher and scholar in his or her chosen field and can demonstrate international recognition; this will include inter alia high quality publications, success in winning peer reviewed funding, novel applications of new technologies and the commercialisation of research.
      2. that the candidate can demonstrate national or international eminence in learning and teaching, evidenced by the appropriate academic or professional bodies;
      3. that the candidate's academic standing is based substantially on contributions to his or her subject outwith the University, e.g. by editing prestigious journals, participation in national or international activities, or having strong industrial or professional experience in the relevant discipline;
      4. that the candidate makes an exceptional contribution to the wider economic, social or cultural objectives of the University which gains national or international recognition.
2. Eligibility

   When putting forward a nomination for appointment to a Personal Chair on behalf of a member of staff who has been the subject of a previous nomination, Deans and Heads of Department/School should be aware that normally:

   1. if a nomination is rejected without the advice of External Assessors being sought, a further nomination is allowed after one year; but
   2. if a nomination fails to be sent out to External Assessors in two successive years, no further nomination is allowed for two years; and
   3. if a nomination is rejected after the views of External Assessors are sought, no further nomination is allowed for two years.
3. Nominations

   A nomination for appointment to a Personal Chair should be made by the appropriate Dean or through that Dean by the Head of Department/School. A nomination should not be made direct by a Head of Department/School (unless he or she is also the Dean). There is no self-nomination for appointment to a Personal Chair. While a Dean is expected to comment on a nomination by a Head of Department/School, the Dean should not prevent any nomination from going forward. Nominations should be sent to the Principal.

   The nomination should consist of:

   1. A CV which includes a list of the candidate's publications. In presenting the 'publications' section, candidates are asked to supply full details of all authored books and full details of their ten most important articles, with their four premier publications being 'starred'. Full details of all other publications over the last five years, which may be in tabular form, should also be submitted.
   2. A statement of future direction with regard to scholarship, research and learning and teaching activities.
   3. Letters of support from the Head of Department/School and Dean if appropriate.
4. Personal Chairs Committee
   1. The Personal Chairs Committee will meet regularly as required to consider all nominations received for appointment to a Personal Chair. The Personal Chairs Committee will have the task of deciding:
      1. whether the nominated candidate satisfies the main criterion (a);
      2. which of the sub-criteria (b) (i) to (b) (iv) he or she is regarded as satisfying;
      3. who would be appropriate external assessors (6 - 8 in total). There should also be at least two or preferably three referees based outside the UK. Normally, referees reports will be sought from appropriate scholars in the United States, Europe and Australasia.
   2. The Personal Chairs Committee will normally consist of:
      • The Principal (as Convener)
      • Vice Principal
      • The Dean of the appropriate Faculty
      • Four Professors from a pool of nominated Professors from each Faculty.
   3. The pool of Professors nominated by the Faculty will be reviewed every three years.
   4. Equality and diversity issues will be taken into account in forming the Committee.
   5. Where the Committee decides that a nomination should proceed, the Principal, on behalf of the University Court, will write immediately to external assessors. The subsequent recommendation of the Committee (if positive) will be recorded at a full meeting of the University Court.
5. External Assessors

   Where the advice of External Assessors is sought the nominee will be informed but the names of the Assessors will remain confidential to the Committee.