The William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea was created with an endowment from the William T. Evjue Foundation to recognize outstanding contributions to outreach and service, and to honor the late William T. Evjue—founder, editor and publisher of The Capital Times. The chair is designed to support the strategic initiative “Enhancing the Wisconsin Idea” and further the legacy of the century-old Wisconsin Idea, which holds that the boundaries of the university are boundaries of the state and beyond. The holder must have contributed substantially to the outreach mission of the university and demonstrated the ability to transfer knowledge and research through individual efforts or coordination of multidisciplinary activities. The candidate must also be widely recognized, both nationally and internationally, as a distinguished teacher and researcher. This professorship is open to all faculty.
Annual award allocations of $75,000 may be used for release time and support for outreach activities, including supplies, equipment, graduate project assistants, travel, and other programmatic expenses. Appointments are for five years and may be renewed once. No other professorships can be held concurrently with the Evjue Chair. Funding to support the appointment is held at the UW Foundation.
These professorships are managed by the Office of the Provost.
Submitting a Nomination
Nomination Criteria
Strong nominations will address:
- The nominee’s substantial contribution to the outreach mission of the university and demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge and research through individual efforts or coordination of multi-disciplinaty activities
- National and international recognition as a distinguished teacher and researcher
- Preference given to those nominees who show their activities were relevant to a society problem or opportunity and had an impact on specific audiences and/or citizens at large
Nomination and Renewal Process
When there is an available or expiring Evjue Chair for the Wisconsin Idea Professorship, the Office of the Provost notifies dean’s offices to initiate the selection process.
The dean’s office submits nominations and renewals to the Office of the Provost. Renewal requests should be submitted at least one month prior to the award’s current end date.
- Create a single PDF file for each nomination or renewal request that includes:
- Dean’s cover memo stating support for the nomination or renewal
- The nomination or renewal recommendation from the department, school, college, or division (one to three pages) that includes the nominee’s qualifications as they relate to the above criteria
- The nominee’s curriculum vitae
- Any additional relevant materials
- Name the PDF file “NomineeLastName-SchoolCollegeDivision-DateSubmitted” (for example, Smith-Education-2024-01-31.pdf)
- Upload the file to the Evjue Chair Box folder.
Deadline
The deadline to submit nominations is January 31, 2024.
Helpful Hints
Fund Management
- In WISER, Evjue Chair for the Wisconsin Idea awards are managed on fund 233 projects
- Professorship funds start July 1 of the fiscal year after selection
- When the term of the professorship ends, allocations cease and recipients have three (3) years from the award end date to use remaining funds, as long as they remain faculty at UW-Madison
Award Termination
Funding for the professorship will terminate:
- When the award end date is reached
- If the recipient elects to give up the professorship
- If the recipient resigns from the university (Note: Account is closed at time of resignation.)
Schools or colleges must notify the Office of the Provost of any change in status of a Evjue Chair for the Wisconsin Idea Professorship recipient via email to professorships@provost.wisc.edu.