5.5.A. Criteria for Appointment

Professor of the Practice is a paid staff position reserved for exceptional practitioners in diverse professions and public service. In addition to having attained exceptional distinction as practitioners, candidates for Professor of the Practice shall have substantial professional experience. This title is not appropriate for individuals whose profession is or has been primarily academic.

The following are the minimum eligibility criteria for Professor of the Practice at Stanford University:

• Candidates should have terminal degrees in disciplines related to the school’s programs or equivalent professional experience and achieved exceptional distinction as practitioners in such disciplines.
• Candidates may not hold academic positions to which they would be returning.
• Candidates may not hold positions in business or the professions which would continue full time during the Stanford appointment (an individual may be on leave from a position for the duration of the Stanford appointment).
• If the candidate will have a primary assignment as an instructor, he or she also must have demonstrated evidence of effective teaching ability.
• Candidates are generally expected to devote a substantial portion of their professional life to the school.