Renowned Experts
The excellence of our faculty determines the success of our institution. Illinois faculty are recognized for their accomplishments at the very highest levels in the world.
- Three Illinois faculty members elected to National Academy of Sciences
- Five Illinois faculty elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Seven Illinois professors elected AAAS Fellows
- Two Illinois professors awarded Guggenheim Fellowships
- Two Illinois faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering
- Six Illinois scientists rank among world's most influential.
- Two Illinois professors awarded NEH Fellowships
- Nine faculty were invested as university endowed professorships and chairs
Strategic Recruitment
The number of tenure-system faculty grew by more than 4% in the past year, increasing from 1,970 to 2,056.
Hiring and retention during the last decade and a half was complicated by a national economic recession, a multiyear state budget crisis and a global pandemic. Notably, recent growth means that Illinois has more than 2,000 faculty members for the first time in 15 years.
The milestone is worth celebrating, but it is only a waypoint in our path to further developing our pool of world-renowned educators and researchers. We continue to provide support for new faculty hires through the Strategic Hiring Initiative and other hiring programs.
Facilitating Engagement
In 2024, we established the inaugural Campus Public Engagement Research Option Advisory Committee to continue to promote academic excellence and the fulfillment of our land-grant mission. This work began in 2023 with the introduction of the Public Engagement Research Option for promotion and tenure.
Although PERO is new to the university, publicly engaged research is not new. Since our land-grant mission was established in 1867, our faculty have been conducting publicly engaged research to:
- Address societal problems
- Contribute to the public good
- Collaborate with communities or organization
- Engage in mutually beneficial exchanges with community partners
Updated guidelines and resources have been provided for faculty members who are considering going through the PERO pathway for promotion and tenure and for academic units as they assist their faculty members through the process.
