Selection Process

Regents’ titles are some of the most prestigious titles a faculty member can hold in the University System of Georgia (USG).

The Board of Regents (BOR) recognizes outstanding faculty innovation and entrepreneurship through the granting of the Regents’ Entrepreneur title. Faculty members who apply for nomination must have excellent track records in innovation and entrepreneurship and must be significantly far along in their commercialization journeys to be considered for nominations.  For more information on the Regents’ designation, see Section 8.3.2 of the USG policy manual.

Augusta University Criteria:

The title of Regents’ Entrepreneur recognizes outstanding faculty with an established reputation as an innovator and who have demonstrated success in translating their research into a commercial setting.  Nominations should provide clear evidence of the prominence and impact of the nominee’s innovative research and document commercialization success.

  • The Title of Regents’ Entrepreneur will be awarded to an individual for an initial period of three (3) years.
  • Award of Regents’ Entrepreneur at Augusta University will provide a one-time salary supplement of $10,000.00 provided by the Office of the Provost. This supplement is not a guarantee but will be made available at time of appointment based on availability of funds.

 

Criteria for Regents’ Entrepreneurs:

  • Full-time faculty who are not on currently on leave through the Regents’ Innovators
  • Strong support from the College-level Promotion and Tenure Committee, Department Chair (or appropriate supervisor), and College Dean (or appropriate higher-level supervisor), conveyed through letters of
  • One or more successful efforts of commercialization of AU-owned IP into companies; or successful licensing of developed IP to a third-party.
  • Preference for strong evidence of working with the local entrepreneurship ecosystem. Examples of this include (but not limited to) prior engagement with the AU and Augusta area ecosystem for commercialization assistance and working with units such as the Office of Innovation Commercialization, Life Sciences Business Development Center, Georgia Cyber Center, Small Business Development Center, and ATDC.
  • Preference for resulting companies which that have had measurable Examples of success measures include (but not limited to) funding raised, numbers of jobs created, and strong broader impacts on the human condition.
  • Preference for resulting companies which have raised funding, created jobs, and delivered impacts within the state of Georgia at some point during the lifespan of the company.

Nomination Process:

Deans are invited to nominate up to two full-time tenured faculty members to be considered for selection as a Regents’ Entrepreneur.  The complete nomination package should be submitted to: SVPResearch@augusta.edu.

The nomination package should include:

  • Updated Curriculum Vitae, with specific emphasis on accomplished and anticipated commercialization and entrepreneurial activities.
  • Summary of accomplishments, describing in no more than three pages how the candidate satisfies the different criteria the committee will consider in its evaluation.
  • Letters of support from College-level Promotion and Tenure Committee, Department Chair (or appropriate supervisor), and College Dean, expressing a strong endorsement of the candidate for the
  • Current biographical sketch (limited to 100 words).

Review and Recommendation Committee:

Review of applications for nomination and final recommendations to the Provost will be performed by the Regents Selection Committee, charged by the Senior Vice President for Research.  Final selections are made in conjunction with the President and subject to final approval by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.  Committee members may include, but are not limited to:

  • Chair, Senior Vice President for Research, or his/her designee
  • Associate Vice President for Innovation Commercialization
  • Executive Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Economic Development
  • Two faculty members who represent the Augusta University entrepreneurship and commercialization ecosystem (preferably including a current Regents’ Entrepreneur in good standing)
  • Community Entrepreneur, local volunteer, or AU Alum.

Regents’ Entrepreneur Emeritus/Emerita:

A retired faculty member who, at the time of retirement, has had ten or more years of honorable and distinguished USG service, and has previously held the Regents Entrepreneur designation, may be conferred with the title of Regents’ Entrepreneur Emeritus or Regents’ Entrepreneur Emerita by the BOR on the recommendation of the Chancellor. Nomination package requirements follow those for nomination to Regents’ Entrepreneur.