Support University of Minnesota Faculty

The University’s faculty is comprised of world-class leaders and rising stars, inspirational teachers, prolific researchers, gifted visionaries, engaging lecturers, and dedicated mentors. Our esteemed faculty creates and sustains our strong academic programs, draws world-class students, attracts other eminent scholars, and brings the University international acclaim. They are the heart and soul of The University of Minnesota.

The University has improved faculty salaries, but it still ranks near the bottom of the top 30 research universities in compensation. Many of our best and brightest professors are being courted by other leading universities offering salaries and research support we cannot match solely with state funding.

Support in the form of endowed chairs and professorships helps to attract and retain superlative faculty by providing supplemental non-salary resources that support and augment their research and scholarship endeavors. Endowed chairs and professorships honor preeminent, established scholars who are leaders in their fields and whose contributions are critical to maintaining The University of Minnesota’s excellence.

Professorships also reward promising, creative young faculty, who receive additional funding for a specified period of time to support their teaching, research, or community service activities. A supplement to existing funds, the award does not replace state funds or increase salary lines. These endowments help the University retain the best and the brightest of our young faculty.

Because these outstanding scholars and teachers are the lifeblood of Graduate Education, supporting our faculty University-wide is a priority for The Graduate School.  To ensure continued excellence at The University of Minnesota, we seek significant funding to

• Create endowed faculty chairs and professorships to attract and support the country’s best teachers in interdisciplinary programs;

• Grant research funds and other resources to facilitate interdisciplinary initiatives;

• Support faculty innovation in both academe and industry to promote creative problem solving and to keep our faculty on the leading edge of their fields

To see firsthand the power of endowed chairs and professorships, The Graduate School is proud to present the current holders of the Fesler-Lampert Chair and Professorship in Public Humanities and the McKnight Professorship Program.   These excellent scholars are impacting the world and bringing honor to The University of Minnesota.

Click here if you want to make a supporting gift to The Graduate School online.

If you have questions about making a gift to The Graduate School, please contact Bill Venne (612-625-6977 or venne025@umn.edu.)