Operating Policy and Procedure
HSC OP: 10.06, Selection of Grover E. Murray Professorships
PURPOSE: The purpose of this Health Sciences Center Operating Policy and Procedure (HSC OP) is to ensure understanding and a standardized approach in the selection of recipients of the Grover E. Murray Professorships.
REVIEW: This HSC OP will be reviewed by October 1 of every even-numbered year (ENY) by the Provost, with recommendations for revision presented to the President by November 1.
POLICY/PROCEDURE:
1. Murray Professorships.
a. The Board of Regents established the "Grover E. Murray Professorships" named in honor of Grover E. Murray, the first president of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, on November 3, 1995 (hereafter referred to as Murray Professorships).
b. Murray Professorships, the highest honor which TTUHSC may bestow on members of its faculty, are granted to professors in recognition of the attainment of national and/or international distinction for outstanding scholarly achievement in research, teaching, and/or clinical practice.
c. The Board of Regents shall approve those faculty members to be granted "Murray Professorships" upon recommendation by the President.
d. An appointee to a Murray Professorship shall receive an annual supplement of $10,000. The salary of an appointee to a Murray Professorship shall be supplemented by no more than 50% ($5,000) of the total supplement. The remaining funds shall be used to provide a discretionary fund account to support professional expenses such as books, travel, memberships, and research. Upon retirement, one additional year of funding from the discretionary fund account will be made available to allow ongoing research projects and/or student support to be completed.
e. The Grover E. Murray Professorship will be held for the remainder of the recipient’s active service at TTUHSC. Holders of the title, if granted emeritus status, shall be designated as Grover E. Murray Professor Emeritus.
f. The number of Murray Professorships shall not be limited to a fixed quota, nor shall an effort be made to maintain fixed ratios of this special position among schools and departments.
g. Appointees to a Murray Professorship shall receive an engraved medallion and framed certificate commemorating their appointment.
2. Nominations Procedure.
a. The Provost will request written nominations for Grover E. Murray Professorships from the Deans by February 15 each year. Nominations shall originate with the dean of the school in which the nominee holds professorial status. The dean may seek nominations from department chairs and existing Murray Professors. Nominations shall not be solicited from, or advertised to, the faculty at large. Documentation supporting the nomination must be supplied by the nominator.
b. Completed nomination documentation should be sent to the Provost by June 14 each year. The nomination package should be supported by three internal and three external letters, at least one-half holding the academic rank of professor.
c. The Provost may appoint a separate fact-finding subcommittee comprising of current Grover E. Murray professors charged with gathering information in order to prepare a recommendation to the Deans Academics Council and the President. The information gathered may consist of work cited in the scientific citation index, phone calls to known experts and letters obtained from independent reviewers in the field regarding nominee’s work, etc.
d. The nomination will be reviewed by the Deans Academics Council. If the Deans Academics Council approves the nomination, it shall be forwarded to the President of TTUHSC. If the President concurs with the recommendation, the nomination will be forwarded to the Board of Regents for final action.
3. Eligibility and Criteria for Selection.
a. National and/or international recognition for excellence in research, innovative teaching and/or exemplary clinical activity (for practicing health care professionals) are the main criteria for nomination for a Murray Professorship.
b. Criteria, as listed below, will be used as supporting evidence for evaluating a nominee's professional achievements.
(1) The publication of books, articles, reviews, and other evidence particular to the field of scholarly and/or creative achievement; (Publications shall be in scholarly journals or sources customary to the field of interest.);
(2) Awards and prizes from professional organizations and foundations;
(3) Recipient of TTUHSC’s President’s Awards, Faculty Awards and Chancellor’s Council Awards.
(4) Extramural grants in support of research activities, education, and/or clinical practice;
(5) Offices held in nationally or internationally recognized professional societies;
(6) Papers read before nationally or internationally regarded professional societies;
(7) Lectures delivered at other academic, industrial or professional institutions;
(8) Service as expert, consultant, etc., to business, industry, governmental agencies, and educational organizations;
(9) Students, fellows, and others who have trained with the nominee and now hold respected positions in the field of the nominee; and
(10) Documentation of other creative productivity.