The Governor's Professor of the Year Award is established as follows:
(1) Each public or private institution of higher learning in this State is eligible to nominate one faculty member for this award who has demonstrated exceptional teaching performance.
(2) The Governor's office in conjunction with the Commission on Higher Education shall establish a committee to choose the Professor of the Year from a senior institution and a Professor of the Year from an institution offering no degree above the associate's degree. The committee must consist of representatives of the Governor's office, the commission, and appropriate civic, business, government, and academic organizations.
(3) Each award must include a citation and a payment of five thousand dollars. Up to ten finalists may be awarded five hundred dollars each by the Commission on Higher Education. The Governor's office shall host an appropriate ceremony at which the awards must be presented.
(4) The commission shall request annual state appropriations for the award.
HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 629, Section 1; 1996 Act No. 359, Section 10; 1996 Act No. 458, Part II, Section 74.