Chester Fritz Distinguished Professors

About the Award

The Chester Fritz Distinguished Professorships were established with an endowment gift from the late UND benefactor Chester Fritz, 1892-1983. Revenue from the endowment provides for cash stipends to one or more full-time UND faculty members, who thereafter may use the title "Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor."

Criteria for Selection

• Demonstrated achievement across research, teaching, and service with significant national or regional recognition in any one of these missions.
• Significant professional contributions throughout his/her career. However, the basis for selection of Chester Fritz Professors will be heavily weighted toward one’s accomplishments at UND.
• Recognition by University of North Dakota colleagues as a faculty member who has made a valuable contribution to the quality of UND’s academic programs.
• Full-time member of the faculty which includes all ranked teaching and research personnel. Department chairs are eligible if he/she is a full-time member of the faculty. (Full-time administrators, e.g., vice-presidents and deans, are not eligible).

Nomination Process

The nomination packet should contain sufficient information for the committee to evaluate the nominee.

1. The nominator(s) must submit a nomination letter. Nominator(s) must be a Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor, Full Professor, or Department Chair.
2. College Deans must second all nominations in writing.
3. Letters of support from other faculty are encouraged.
4. A current curriculum vitae of the nominee must accompany the nomination.

Selection Committee

A selection committee appointed by the Provost provides specific recommendations for individuals whom should be awarded the Chester Fritz Professorship based on selection criteria.

Dates and Deadlines

• Nomination packets are due in the College Dean’s office by March 1.
• Complete nomination packets with letters from the nominator(s) and seconder (College Dean) are due in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs by March 15.
• The Provost convenes a selection committee.  The committee forwards a rank ordered list of names to the Provost by April 1 with specific recommendations for who should be awarded the Chester Fritz Professorship.
• The Provost reviews the committee’s recommendations and forward the recommendations to the President.
• Chester Fritz Distinguished Professorships are awarded at Spring Commencement.

Terms of Appointment

Once awarded, the recipient always carries the title “Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor.”

Past Recipients