Published by the MIT News Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
Published by the MIT News Office at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
NOMINATIONS IN ORDER Faculty Fellows Program to Begin An endowed Faculty Fellow program to recognize faculty who have made "exemplary and sustained contributions to the teaching and education of undergraduates at MIT" will begin in the spring term, the Provost, Professor Mark S. Wrighton, has informed the faculty. "This program is another example of MIT's commitment to enhance its undergraduate education program," the provost said. President Charles M. Vest announced the creation of the program in his inaugural address in May, stating that an endowment fund would be established to honor fine teaching by the appointment of distinguished faculty to a position called Faculty Fellow. Under the Faculty Teaching Endowment and Fellows Program, the provost said, Faculty Fellows will be appointed for 10-year terms, receiving $5,000 each year in discretionary funds for support of educational activities, research, travel and other scholarly expenses. Once it is fully implemented, the provost said, the program should fund 60 to 80 Faculty Fellows, with as many as eight to be appointed the first year and each year thereafter. "Appointment as a Faculty Fellow is to be regarded as recognition of exceptional and creative service, with emphasis on recent and current activities," Professor Wrighton said. "It should not carry obligations nor should it be regarded as payment for anticipated service. The program is not intended to fund proposals for new educational ventures." Professor Wrighton provided these program guidelines: All members of the regular faculty-assistant, associate and full professors-are eligible for appointment regardless of whether they have tenure or hold a named professorship. Nominations for the first group of Faculty Fellows can be submitted to the provost by any member of the MIT community no later than November 15. Each nomination should consist of a substantial case, including a nomination letter detailing contributions of the nominee and an up-to- date curriculum vitae. Supporting letters from faculty and present and/or former students are encouraged. The nomination must be endorsed by the candidate's department head. The Faculty Fellows will be appointed by the provost upon the recommendation of a selection committee appointed by the provost after consultation with the Chair of the Faculty. The committee will include at least two undergraduates currently enrolled at MIT. "Faculty Fellows are to be selected on the basis of merit alone," Professor Wrighton said. "Formal quotas for schools or departments would violate the spirit of the program." Each Fellow's unexpended funds will be allowed to accumulate and can be held in part or in total for use after the 10-year term of the award. Should a Fellow leave MIT permanently, the unexpended funds must be returned to the Institute. Professor Wrighton said he hoped "a spirit of common purpose and collegiality" would arise among the Faculty Fellows, "leading to an enrichment of the discourse among educators at MIT and perhaps to new educational ideas and projects." With this objective in mind, he said, the sole obligation of Faculty Fellows will be to participate in an annual dinner of the group.