1 Policy Statement

The University may make Sponsored Chair appointments and Personal Chair appointments to persons of high standing in teaching or scholarship or research.

(Approved by Council June 1998)

2 Procedures

Sponsored or Personal Chair Appointments are made for the purpose of recognising the outstanding contribution that a distinguished Professor has made and/or will make to a Faculty or the University. 

This policy does not apply to the appointment of Professors (Academic Level E) and the recruitment and selection process for this type of appointment is outlined in the Recruitment and Selection policy and procedure.

2.1 Sponsored chairs

A sponsor (namely an individual, a company or other entity) may propose a Sponsored Chair appointment.  The proposal will be in accordance with one of the following terms:

• provision of a capital sum sufficient to support the Sponsored Chair Appointment in perpetuity; or

• provision of a capital sum sufficient to cover the full costs of a Sponsored Chair appointment for a finite number of years; or

• provision of an annual sum sufficient to meet the difference between the full cost of a Sponsored Chair appointment and the existing cost to the University of the successful applicant's current position at the time of appointment; or

• provision of an annual sum sufficient to meet the difference between the full cost of a Sponsored Chair appointment and a sum made available by the University as its contribution to the full cost.

The proposal must be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor for consideration and approval or otherwise. 

In approving a Sponsored Chair appointment, the Vice-Chancellor will ensure:

• the sponsor is capable of fulfilling the conditions of the donation;

• the proposed field of the chair is in accordance with the University's and the faculty's Strategic Plans;

• any name attached to the Chair is complementary to the USQ Vision, Mission and Values; 

• the applicant appointed is of sufficient merit; and

• any funding to be contributed by the University for the proposed chair is available and approved.

Where full or partial sponsorship is available, the period of sponsorship will normally be for at least five years in the first instance.

Where a Sponsored Chair is to be held for a fixed term, the offer will state any conditions that apply to the position at the conclusion of the sponsorship term. 

The Vice-Chancellor will advise the sponsor of the University's decision in relation to the proposal for a Sponsored Chair.

Sponsored Chairs can be appointed by either:

1. the sponsor nominating a person;

2.  internal advertisement open to USQ employees only; or

3. external advertisement.

To make this determination, the Vice-Chancellor will have due regard to the preference of the sponsoring organisation, the availability of suitable applicants, and the terms of the sponsorship.

Applications will be considered by the Chair Appointments Committee (refer 2.1.2).  Where a Sponsored Chair position is advertised, it will be conducted in accordance with the procedures in 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3.

2.1.1 Recruitment and selection

The recruiting faculty must complete the Request to Advertise form to initiate recruitment to a Sponsored Chair appointment.  The Request to Advertise form along with a draft position description and advertisement must be prepared and forwarded to Human Resources who will obtain the necessary approvals from the Vice-Chancellor.

Human Resources coordinates the recruitment and selection process in consultation with the Chair of the Chair Appointments Committee.

The recruitment and selection process for Sponsored Chair Appointments will be conducted in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Recruitment and Selection policy and procedure for advertising, shortlisting and interviews.

2.1.2 Chair Appointments Committee

The Chair Appointments Committee will consist of:

• the Vice-Chancellor (or nominee) (Chair of the Chair Appointments Committee);

• at least one Deputy Vice-Chancellor;

• Chair, Academic Board;

• the Dean of the Faculty/Director of the relevant unit in which the appointment is being made;

• a representative from the Faculty in which the appointment is being made [nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Scholarship) after consultation with the Chairperson of the Faculty Assembly of that Faculty]; and

• other members from inside or outside the University, as may be nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Scholarship).

The Chair of the Chair Appointments Committee, in consultation with Human Resources, approves the composition of the Chair Appointments Committee.  The composition of the Committee will have regard to representation from appropriate academic disciplines, gender representation and where possible, gender balance. 

The Committee may include members external to the University.

2.1.3 Appointment

Where the Vice-Chancellor chairs the Chair Appointments Committee, approval to appoint is provided directly to Human Resources from the Vice-Chancellor. In instances where the Vice-Chancellor’s nominee chairs the Committee, the Committee makes an appointment recommendation on the Recommendation to Appoint Staff form to the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor may:

1. approve the recommendation and forward it to the Executive Director, Human Resources or

2. not support the recommendation and provide the Executive Director, Human Resources with the reasons why the recommendation was not supported.

On approval from the Vice-Chancellor, Human Resources will make an offer of appointment to the preferred candidate.  The Executive Director, Human Resources prepares and signs an appointment letter and forwards it to the  preferred candidate.  No other person at USQ is authorised to make or vary any letter of appointment orally or in writing.

The preferred candidate will be required to provide an acceptance in writing within the period specified in the letter of appointment. 

The Vice-Chancellor will report Sponsored Chair appointments and reappointments to Council for information. 

2.1.4 Reappointment

At the conclusion of the sponsorship term, the Sponsored Chair position will be either:

1. continued with renegotiated joint funding and terms agreed between the original sponsor and the University.  Renegotiations should occur at least six months prior to the conclusion of the sponsorship term; or

2. continued at full cost to the University; or

3. discontinued.

If the Sponsored Chair position is to be continued under option (i) or (ii) above, the position may then either:

1. be advertised, or

2. an offer of reappointment may be made to the current incumbent subject to the incumbent receiving a satisfactory learning and development review.

2.2 Personal Chairs

Personal Chair appointments are made to existing members of the University employee community. Nomination of an employee for appointment to a Personal Chair may be made by either:

• three or more Professors of this or another University, providing that at least one of the Professors is a Professor of this University.  The nomination should be forwarded to the Vice-Chancellor with a statement of acceptance from the nominee; or

• the Vice-Chancellor.

Each nominator will provide to the Vice-Chancellor a statement indicating the reasons for their support of the nomination. In addition, a brief curriculum vitae of the nominee, including evidence of great distinction and international standing in scholarship and/or research, will be provided.

The Vice-Chancellor will convene the Chair Appointments Committee (refer to 2.1.2) to consider nominations for appointment. 

The Committee may consult external experts of high standing in the nominee's discipline.

The Chair Appointments Committee will obtain any information, including reports from at least six (6) referees to assist in deliberations.  The Committee will make a recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor in writing.

If a Personal Chair recommendation is not approved, the Vice-Chancellor will advise the nominators and the nominee in writing.

3 Other Policy Information