Distinguished Faculty Programs

The Distinguished Faculty Programs encourage ongoing commitment to excellence, kindle intellectual vibrancy, elevate the standards of instruction, and enrich contributions to public service. They demonstrate the State University’s pride in the groundbreaking scholarship, the exceptional teaching, and the breadth and significance of service contributions of its faculty.

Appointment constitutes a promotion in rank to the State University’s highest academic rank or a system-wide honorific distinction, and it is conferred solely by the State University Board of Trustees. Those appointed as Distinguished Faculty are inducted into the Distinguished Academy.

The Distinguished Professorship is conferred upon faculty having achieved national or international prominence and a distinguished reputation within the individual’s chosen field through significant contributions to research and scholarship, or through artistic performance or achievement in the fine and performing arts.
The Distinguished Service Professorship is conferred upon faculty having achieved a distinguished reputation for service not only to the campus and the University, but also to the community, the State of New York, or even the nation, by sustained effort in the application of intellectual skills drawing from the candidate’s scholarly and research interests. It is bestowed on faculty in all disciplines and fields of study.
The Distinguished Teaching Professorship is conferred upon faculty having achieved a distinguished reputation for commitment to teaching. Faculty must demonstrate teaching mastery, consistently demonstrated over multiple years at the institution where the Distinguished Teaching Professorship is bestowed, at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels. Faculty must contribute to the discipline and to the University, the State of New York, or the nation by the use of innovative pedagogy and the sustained application of intellectual skills drawing from the candidate’s scholarly and research interests.
The Distinguished Librarian is conferred upon librarians having achieved a distinguished reputation for significant achievement in the areas of scholarship/research, service/librarianship, and/or teaching. Contributions at the level of the University, the State of New York, or nation may include creating a new information environment by providing access to information, sharing or networking information resources, and fostering information literacy.

2025-2027: Distinguished Faculty Ranks Policies & Procedures

DSP-DTP Nomination Allocations, 2026-27