College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
After a pause on new appointments of various named, term, and endowed chairs, I am pleased to solicit applications for multiple opportunities to recognize and to support faculty excellence across the humanities, arts, and social sciences. New multiyear chair appointments may begin January 1, 2026, July 1, 2026, January 1, 2027, or July 1, 2027.
See below for terms of appointment and selection criteria specific to each available chair.
Applicants may apply for multiple opportunities but may only hold one chair at any given time.
The larger slate of CHASS Named, Term, and Endowed Chairs is updated annually.
Patricia McSweeny McCauley Chair in Teaching Excellence
Established in 1993, this endowed chair was originally conceived as a senior appointment under the direction of the Dean. However, over many years, funds were used in various ways to advance teaching needs in CHASS. Following a prolonged vacancy in the chair, the terms and appointment authority have been realigned with the donor's original intent and a supplemental National Endowment for the Humanities grant to the Regents.
Eligibility
CHASS Senate faculty recognized for "credentials of the highest standards and be recognized as having done distinguished work in excellence in teaching." The gift agreement specifies that the chairholder shall be a full professor except under “extremely unusual circumstances.”
Project Criteria
Open
Terms
The chairholder will make use of the endowment’s annual payout (FY25:$35,000) for the use of any permissible expense related to undergraduate or graduate teaching, pedagogy, and mentorship. Course buyouts and/or summer salary, for the time devoted to new course development, are allowable, subject to the department chair's approval.
The chair term is three years, once renewable, and is subject to satisfactory performance, including mandatory annual reports to the Dean of the College and to the UCR Foundation.
Application requirements
- Project title and brief abstract (250 maximum)
- Project statement, with a defined project start date that speaks to selection criteria and intended outcomes (3 pages maximum)
- Abbreviated curriculum vita (3 pages maximum)
- Budget proposal to cover the three-year appointment
- Separate and confidential letter of support from the chair (or chair’s designee) endorsing the plan and its related programming or course buyouts, as appropriate
Endowed Term Chair for Research Excellence and Undergraduate Research Mentoring
Established in 2020, the Endowed Term Chair for Research Excellence and Undergraduate Research Mentoring provides support for a term chairholder who exemplifies high-quality undergraduate research and teaching.
Eligibility
CHASS Senate Faculty. There are no restrictions on rank.
Project Criteria
Open, provided that the project “weaves education and research, integrating high-quality research into high-quality teaching under the direction of the Dean of CHASS.”
Terms
The chairholder will make use of the endowment’s annual payout (FY25:$23,000) for the use of any permissible expense related to excellence in undergraduate research and research supervision. Course buyouts and/or summer salary for the time devoted to research supervision, are allowable, subject to the approval of the department chair.
The chair term is three years, once renewable, and is subject to satisfactory performance, including mandatory annual reports to the Dean of the College and to the UCR Foundation.
Application requirements
- Project title and brief abstract (250 maximum)
- Project statement, with a defined project start date that speaks to selection criteria and intended outcomes (3 pages maximum)
- Abbreviated curriculum vita (3 pages maximum)
- Budget proposal to cover the three-year appointment
- Separate and confidential statement of support from the chair (or the chair’s designee) endorsing the plan and its related programming or course buyouts, as appropriate
Teresa and Byron Pollitt Endowed Term Chair for Interdisciplinary Research and Learning
Established in 2017, three term chairs support interdisciplinary research and learning involving the humanities and social sciences for the purpose of strengthening the vitality and resilience of our communities, both local and global. The chairs carry out their duties under the direction of the Dean.
Eligibility
CHASS Senate Faculty. There are no restrictions on rank.
Project Criteria
- A strong focus on creating meaningful engagement and learning experiences for students, preferably with a strong emphasis on undergraduate education.
- A focus on community engagement in which the research and research outcomes will have a relevant, meaningful, and lasting impact on broader communities, whether local or global.
- Intellectual collaboration and engagement across and between disciplines.
- A close connection to one or more of the principles and areas identified in the original gift agreement
- Unparalleled Student Experience: Research and Scholarly Distinction
- Thriving Campus Community: inclusive campus environment for community to feel welcome, respected, and supported.
- Contributions to Public Good via research, scholarship, and outreach that benefit the peoples of our region and beyond.
- Sustainability: Sustainable practices to reduce environmental impacts
Terms
The chairholder will make use of the endowment’s annual payout (FY25:$24,000) for the use of any permissible expense related to excellence in undergraduate research and research supervision. Available funds may not be used for summer salary.
The chair term is up to five years and subject to satisfactory performance, including mandatory annual reports to the Dean of the College and to the UCR Foundation. Chair holders may request a one-time no-cost extension at the end of their term appointment if funds remain from their available allocation during the period of their appointment.
Application requirements
- Project title and brief abstract (250 maximum)
- Project statement, with a defined project start date that speaks to selection criteria and intended outcomes (3 pages maximum)
- Abbreviated curriculum vita (3 pages maximum)
- Budget proposal to cover the proposed duration of the term chair appointment
- Separate and confidential statement of support from the chair (or the chair’s designee) endorsing the plan and its related programming or course buyouts, as appropriate
Application, Selection, and Notification
All proposals are due at 12:00 pm on June 30, 2025. No extensions will be granted. Please submit your proposals using this Google Form. The Dean’s Office will directly solicit a letter of support from your department chair or designee.
Budgets should reflect the allowable programmatic and personnel expenses that make a direct contribution to the stated outcomes of the term chair appointment. Year-to-year expenses may vary, but the total budget should reflect the exhaustion of all available funds at the conclusion of term chair.
To accommodate for unpredictable fluctuations in annual returns on the core endowment, the College will commit to cover up to 10% overage in the final year’s budgeted expenses. However, unspent funds will not be carried forward to the home department once the chair appointment ends. Summer salary (if allowable) and personnel expenses should include base compensation and an additional 25% for benefits.
The Dean will appoint an advisory committee of one of the two disciplinary associate deans, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Assistant Dean for Student Success, a CHASS Faculty Equity Officer, and one former McSweeny, Campbell, or Pollitt chair holder. The Chair of the Faculty Executive Committee (or their designee) will be invited to serve ex officio.
The advisory committee will evaluate all eligible faculty proposals relative to selection criteria and make recommendations to the Dean under procedures established in APM -191 Policy on Endowed Chairs and Professorships (December 14, 2000), Campus Policy 500-15 Policy and Procedures on Endowed Chairs: Establishment, Administration, and Appointment of Faculty (December 1, 2017), and Chancellor’s delegation CHA0099 Endowed Chair Appointments and Reappointments (June 12, 2023 and July 10, 2023).
The Dean’s final selections will be notified by the start of the Fall Quarter 2025, for policy-mandated review of the CHASS FEC and Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor.
Coming in 2026: Call for John Gleason McSweeny Family Chair in Rhetoric and Teaching Excellence