The number of clinical track faculty at the University of Michigan has grown steadily in recent years, and they are now represented across 16 schools and colleges. Often referred to as professors of practice in some units, clinical track faculty serve vital roles throughout U-M.

As a way to acknowledge and remedy the lack of university-level honorifics to recognize clinical track faculty, the Office of the Provost will now support up to three new annual university-wide awards for clinical faculty at the rank of Clinical Associate or Clinical Professor. Consideration will be given to include honorees from across all 16 schools and colleges with senior clinical faculty appointments.

“We have outstanding clinical faculty doing transformative work in many corners of this institution, and until now we haven’t had a university-wide way to recognize that impact,” says Laurie McCauley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “These awards bridge that gap and send a clear message about how much we value the expertise and dedication clinical faculty bring to Michigan.”

Developed by a faculty committee that advised Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs Christopher Friese, the lens for the new award will focus on clinical excellence in the home school or college, in addition to strong university citizenship and engagement. It honors senior clinical track faculty who have consistently demonstrated excellence in their specific domain of practice, and have advanced the academic mission within their school or college and across the University of Michigan.

General eligibility criteria for the award include:

• Nominees must hold a 75% FTE appointment as a Clinical Associate Professor or Clinical Professor (as defined by appointment on the Clinical Instructional Track); and
• The primary appointment must be in an Ann Arbor campus school or college.

The Office of the Provost seeks broad representation across all schools and colleges with clinical track faculty. A committee of distinguished senior faculty from diverse disciplines and academic units will review the nominations and make recommendations to the Provost. Recipients will receive a $2,500 award and will be recognized at a ceremony that honors an array of distinguished faculty during the fall term.

The deadline for nominations is February 26, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET. More information may be found by visiting this page, or by contacting: [email protected]

“Clinical faculty are essential to our academic mission,” says Christopher R. Friese, vice provost for academic and faculty affairs. “These colleagues bring real-world expertise directly into our learning and scholarly spaces, and they strengthen the connections between the university and the communities we serve. This award recognizes that contribution at the highest level and ensures we’re honoring excellence across every part of the university.”