Endowed Faculty Positions

Endowed faculty positions are supported by an endowment in perpetuity. The fund is maintained in secure investments by the University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc.

Endowed faculty positions at the University of Oklahoma are funded with private donations and awarded to exceptional members of the OU faculty. These positions can be created in a favorite college, school, program, or interdisciplinary area of interest and may be named for the donor or as the donor wishes.

Two options for donors in endowing faculty positions are as follows:

Endowed Chairs. Funded with a gift of $1 million. The most prestigious of the faculty endowments, these are awarded to help recruit top professors to OU and to retain our best teachers and researchers. Currently, on all three campuses, OU has 342 endowed chairs. There is a possibility of state funding for a program to match private contributions to these positions (possibly 1 state dollar for every 4 private dollars), but that would not occur for at least three years and is considered uncertain. The $1 million endowment will generate about $50,000 a year, which can be used to supplement the professor's salary and support his/her scholarly activities.

Endowed Professorships. Funded with a gift of $500,000. These are awarded to help recruit promising young professors to OU and to retain valued teachers and researchers. Currently, on all three campuses, OU has 135 endowed professors. There is a possibility of state funding for a program to match private contributions to these positions (possibly 1 state dollar for every 4 private dollars), but that would not occur for at least three years and is considered uncertain. The $500,000 endowment will generate about $25,000 a year, which can be used to supplement the professor's salary and support his/her scholarly activities.

To learn about Presidential Professorships, click here.