I.                    PURPOSE

The Chancellor's Commonwealth Professorship program was established in 1989 to recognize and support teaching excellence in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS).

II.                 THE AWARD

Up to three individuals may be designated Chancellor's Commonwealth Professors each year.  Each individual so designated shall retain the title for a two-year term.  Each Chancellor's Commonwealth Professor shall receive funding for reimbursable expenses and stipends for two summers to help support the individual's self-directed project. Chancellor's Commonwealth Professors shall also receive reassigned time equivalent to two courses (normally six semester hours) each year during the regular academic year in order to pursue their self-directed projects.

Information about award amounts for reimbursable expenses and the stipend are available from the college Human Resources Office.

III.               ELIGIBILITY

Full-time teaching faculty members with at least five years of service in the VCCS and demonstrated teaching excellence are eligible for appointment as Chancellor's Commonwealth Professors.

IV.              SELECTION

Annually each college may nominate one or more candidates for designation as a Chancellor's Commonwealth Professor.  Each college shall develop its own nomination procedure which shall, at a minimum, include the following features:

a.         The individual shall be nominated by letter from the college president, vice-president, or provost.  The nomination letter must contain specific documentation of excellence in teaching and of how the instruction sets a standard of excellence.

b.         The individual shall develop a specific proposal regarding a self-directed project of personal and professional development related to community college teaching/learning to be conducted during the appointment period.  This proposal shall include a detailed budget for the self-directed project.

c.         A panel of outstanding educators shall be assembled by the Chancellor to review and make recommendations regarding the colleges' nominations.  This panel shall develop its own procedures. Its recommendations may be based solely on the materials presented in the nominating process or, at the discretion of the panel, on additional information obtained during interviews or campus visits with the finalists.

d.         The final decision and appointments shall be made by the Chancellor.  Up to three appointments may be made at the discretion of the Chancellor.

V.                 FUNDING

The cost of the Chancellor's Commonwealth Professorship program shall be divided as follows:

a.         Reimbursable expenses up to $7,500, two courses reassigned time for each of the two years (for a total of four courses over the two- year period) , and two summer stipends of $3,000 each will be provided by the System Office.  Reimbursement will be provided for tuition, travel (including meals and lodging for overnight travel), research, clerical help, books, reference materials, supplies and equipment expenses.

 b.         The college shall bear the cost of one course reassigned time each semester (normally three credits) for two years for a total of four courses over the two years.

c.         Any additional expenses related to the self-directed project shall be shared by the individual and the college in a manner agreed upon by the individual and the college president prior to the submission of the nomination.

VI.              APPLICATION PROCESS 

Each college in the VCCS is invited to nominate one or more full-time teaching faculty members with at least five years of service in the VCCS whose instruction sets a standard of excellence.  Up to three Chancellor's Commonwealth Professors will be chosen each year.  Nomination packets must include the following information:

•    a letter of nomination by the college president, dean, or provost;

•     five years of VCCS service.

•   demonstrated teaching excellence, which shall be documented in the nomination letter from the  college president, dean or provost;

•   a proposal submitted by the nominee regarding a self-directed project of personal and professional development related to community college teaching and learning to be conducted for up to two academic years;

•    a detailed budget for up to $7,500 reimbursement funding; and up to $3,000 for summer  stipends, and

•   a statement of how the project will benefit other VCCS faculty.

Please send seven copies of your completed nomination by mail (hard copies only – no electronic or faxed submissions accepted) to Ms. Nan Ottenritter, VCCS Director of Professional Development, Virginia Community College System, 101 North Fourteenth Street, 15^th Floor, Richmond, VA  23219. 

Nominations must be received by 5:00 p.m., on February 1 each year.

VII.            SCHEDULE

November	The Chancellor sends a letter to VCCS Presidents and the Chancellor's Faculty Advisory Committee requesting nominations for the Chancellor's Commonwealth Professorship Award.
February 1	Nomination materials due in System Office.
March	Selection committee convened by Director of Professional Development and committee recommendations forwarded to Chancellor.
April	Chancellor appoints the Chancellor's Commonwealth Professors for a two-year period; recipients and their presidents notified of award; VCCS Public Affairs notified of award recipients by Director of Professional Development.
July	Chancellor's Commonwealth Professors introduced to the State Board.
August	Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services sends detailed procedures for paying Chancellor's Commonwealth Professors to appropriate college Dean of Finance.

VIII.         COMPENSATION

Each Chancellor's Commonwealth Professor will:

•    receive up to $7,500 from the VCCS in reimbursable expenses related to a teaching/learning project to be conducted for up to two academic years;

•   receive stipends of $3,000 from the VCCS for two summer semesters;

•   receive reassigned time from the college and the VCCS, equivalent to two courses a year for two academic years to pursue a self-directed project of personal and professional development related to community college teaching; and

•    participate periodically in VCCS college seminars or other programs focusing on interdisciplinary topics or other aspects of community college education.

IX.       GENERAL PROVISIONS 

a.         If the appointment period of an individual designated as a Chancellor's Commonwealth Professor would normally conclude during the period of this designation, the appointment period shall automatically be extended to the end of the Chancellor's Commonwealth Professor appointment.

b.         Designation as Chancellor's Commonwealth Professor shall not affect the faculty rank of the individual.

c.         The summer stipends shall not become a part of the individual's base salary.

X.        EXPECTATIONS

Each Chancellor’s Commonwealth Professor shall be expected to participate periodically in VCCS seminars or other programs focusing on interdisciplinary topics and/or special aspects of community college education.

For a list of past winners, click here.