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Health Sciences – Department Based Endowed Chair Appointments

Learn how a candidate is appointed to a department-based chair in the health sciences.

Visit the Donor and Fund Stewarship website for additional information on endowed chair related policies and procedures. 

Note: Appointees to an endowed chair are reserved for scholars whose performance criteria in their academic series is highly distinguished, meritorious, and in harmony with the stated terms, goals, and purpose of the endowed chair. Highly distinguished meritorious criteria includes teaching, research, and service for appointees in the professorial series.

1. Department Chair or Equivalent

Previews plan to fill the endowed chair with the VC-Health Sciences (VCHS) and provides a general proposal.

2. VCHS

If in agreement with Department Chair’s proposal to fill the endowed chair; endorses moving forward with identifying candidate(s) for appointment.

3. Department Chair or Equivalent

Engages in a consultative process to identify the candidate(s) for the endowed chair.

Selects a committee that will review and provide input on the identified candidate(s):

  • Consists of three members from the department and two members from outside the department.
  • Includes only members who are independent of the candidates (i.e., no collaborators or co-authors).

Informs VCHS of the identified final candidate.

4. VCHS

Discusses the proposal with the Sr. AVC- Academic Affairs (SAVC-AA) to secure pre-approval.

5. Sr. AVC Pre-Approval

VCHS initiates discussion with SAVC-AA to secure pre-approval for an endowed chair appointment proposal.

Proposals must consist, at minimum, of a candidate’s most recent or up to date Curriculum Vitae (CV)/BioBib, information about the endowed chair, an explanation on why the proposed candidate is appropriate, and formation of a nomination/ad hoc committee when applicable.

The SAVC-AA reviews the proposed endowed chair appointment and will communicate endorsement, or lack thereof, via email to the VCHS.

6. Department Chair or Equivalent

Initiates committee review of the proposed candidate and provides the committee with the candidate’s CV and the approved presidential item.

7. Committee

Reviews the candidate’s record of accomplishment in all performance criteria in the appointee’s series to ensure that it is:

  • Highly distinguished and meritorious.
  • Harmonious with the stated terms, goals, and purpose of the endowed chair.

Prepares a report recommending a nominee for the endowed chair and sends it to the Department Chair.

8. Department Chair or Equivalent

Reviews the committee's report and decides whether to endorse the nomination.

  • Writes a letter indicating the decision.

Compiles and forwards an endowed chair nomination packet to the VCHS:

  • Candidate CV/Biobib
  • Committee report
  • Department letter
  • Documentation of SAVC-AA pre-approval

9. VCHS

Reviews the committee's report and department letter and decides whether to endorse the nomination.

  • Writes a letter indicating the decision.

Compiles and forwards an endowed chair nomination packet to Academic Personnel Services (APS):

  • Candidate CV/Biobib
  • Committee report
  • Department letter
  • VCHS letter
  • Documentation of SAVC-AA pre-approval

10. Academic Personnel Services (APS)

Prepares the appointment nomination packet for submission to the Senate Committee on Academic Personnel (CAP).

  • SAVC-AA transmittal letter to CAP
  • VCHS letter
  • Department letter
  • Committee report
  • Endowed chair establishment documents
  • Candidate CV/Biobib
  • Documentation of SAVC-AA pre-approval
  • Candidate’s most recent academic review file

APS forwards the appointment nomination packet to CAP

11. Senate Committee on Academic Personnel (CAP)

Reviews the nomination packet and academic file.

Renders a recommendation to the SAVC-AA/EVC, and Chancellor.

12. Academic Personnel Services (APS)

Prepares and forwards the appointment nomination packet and appointment letter for Chancellor review: 

  • Chancellor Clearance form
  • Draft appointment letter
  • SAVC-AA transmittal letter to Chancellor
  • Background summary
  • CAP recommendation
  • SAVC-AA transmittal letter to CAP
  • VCHS letter
  • Department letter
  • Committee report
  • Endowed chair establishment documents
  • Candidate CV/Biobib
  • Documentation of SAVC-AA pre-approval
  • Candidate’s most recent academic review file

13. Final Approval Authority (Chancellor)

The Chancellor renders a final decision on the proposed endowed chair appointment.

14. APS

Upon Chancellor endorsement, distributes appointment letter to VCHS 

Notifies the following parties of the finalized endowed chair appointment and provides a copy of the Chancellor’s appointment letter:      

  • Academic Affairs Deputy Chief of Staff
  • Associate VC for Health Sciences Advancement

15. VCHS

Within two weeks of the Chancellor's letter and in conjunction with the UC San Diego Foundation, sends a second letter to the candidate setting forth the details of the endowed chair with copies to:

  • Endowment details, including income.
  • Allowable expenditures.
  • Reporting requirements.
  • Chair Term
For more information, contact Gabriel Lopez, Sr. Director of Academic Advancement, at gal037@ucsd.edu.