University of Illinois System

University Guidelines - John Corbally Endowed Chair

In 2007, funding from the University of Illinois System President’s Office and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor’s Office established the John Corbally Professorship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Corbally served as the 13th president of the U of I System from 1971 to 1979. 

During his tenure, Dr. Corbally worked with the University of Illinois Foundation to launch the first university-wide capital campaign, raising more than $130 million from donors. His leadership also helped galvanize improvements in agriculture and veterinary medicine programs and expanded agricultural research programs. Working with alumni from these programs, efforts were launched to support construction of the Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building and the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building.

In honor of Dr. Corbally’s legacy, the professorship supports one or more faculty positions at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In accordance with the fund agreement, 50 percent of the funding was endowed from the Office of the President. The remaining 50 percent for the professorship is provided by the Urbana Chancellor’s Office through either annual current use funds or from periodic additions to the established endowment. The Chancellor’s Office is responsible for covering any shortfall in income. 

Selection Process: The chancellor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shall appoint and designate the individual who will hold and occupy the professorship, with approval from the president. The chancellor may, but is not required to, reappoint the same individual to as many successive terms in the professorship as the chancellor deems appropriate in accordance with university rules and regulations. 

Funding: The net income from the fund shall be used to support the John Corbally Professorship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, including but not limited to: supplemental salary, research and graduate student assistance, library materials, administrative services and other assistance, special equipment and supplies, and travel. Excess income may provide supplemental funding for one or more Urbana-Champaign faculty positions and may also provide support for expenses in connection with the professorship. 

Appointments: It is assumed that individuals who hold the John Corbally Professorship will be granted the rank of professor with indefinite tenure. Corbally Professorship designations accompany tenured status; they do not carry tenure in and of themselves. Any unused funding at the time of the professor’s retirement or departure from the university will revert to the President’s Office and the Chancellor’s Office.