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The titles of Visiting Professor and Visiting Lecturer can be conferred on individuals of appropriate academic distinction who will have an ongoing substantive connection to their host department over and above normal research collaboration.

As set out below, in rare and exceptional cases where the nominee is an academic of the highest standing who is leaving Oxford employment, and with whom it would be highly beneficial to maintain a Visiting Professor relationship, the Divisional Board will be asked to consider the case for conferral of the title.

Procedure for Conferment of Visiting Professor title

The Head of Department makes a nomination to the Divisional Registrar, and encloses a cv and the nominee’s contact address.

The nomination should set out a brief academic and operational case for the individual. The case should set out the nature of the ongoing substantive connection, making clear how it goes above what might be expected in the course of normal research collaboration, and setting out the anticipated benefit to the department (and the division and university more broadly, as applicable).

a) Where the nominee is leaving a Statutory Chair, RSIV post, or senior University Officership at Oxford, the nomination will then be considered by the MPLS Divisional Board.

b) All other cases (including conferrals for other leavers from Oxford and for nominees who are external to Oxford) will require references in addition to the above papers. In these cases the names and addresses of 3 referees, of which 2 at least must be external to Oxford, must be supplied with the nomination. Except in any cases where the department wishes first to consider the references before proceeding with the nomination, the Academic Appointments Officer then writes to the referees. Once the references are received by Division, and assuming they are satisfactory, the nomination is approved by the Head of Division on behalf of the Divisional Board.

The Divisional Registrar then advises the nominee of the appointment and duration, and a notice is inserted in the Gazette.

After the initial, normally 3 year, appointment, the Division will contact the Head of Department to ascertain whether they wish to make a case for extension.

Please note that while there is no direct rule relating to the age of Visiting Professors, the University's regulations around Congregation membership and Faculty membership indirectly impact this. Therefore ordinarily the Division would expect that a Visiting Professorship can be conferred or reconferred up until a final period finishing before age 75, which is the Congregation and Faculty membership limit.  

Procedure for Conferment of the title of Visiting Lecturer

The Head of Department makes a nomination to the Divisional Registrar, giving a brief academic and operational case for the individual and enclosing a cv.

The case should set out the nature of the ongoing substantive connection, making clear how it goes above what might be expected in the course of e.g. normal research collaboration, and setting out the anticipated benefit to the department (and the division and university more broadly, as applicable).

Assuming these are satisfactory, the Head of Division agrees the appointment on behalf of the divisional board and this is confirmed to the Head of Department, who then advises the nominee of the appointment and duration (normally 3 years).

The Department assumes responsibility for renewing the appointment as appropriate.

 

Updated September 2020