What you need to know

MacVicar Faculty Fellows are selected on the basis of merit through an annual nomination process. Fellows are appointed by the Provost, on the recommendation of an advisory committee composed of MIT faculty and two current undergraduate students.

All tenured, full-time members of the regular faculty are eligible regardless of rank or any concurrently held position, such as an endowed chair. Tenured faculty are appointed for a full 10-year term. Junior faculty are eligible for an initial three-year term and, if tenure is granted, their fellowship can be extended with the total duration not to exceed ten years. 

Nominations are typically made by a faculty member’s colleagues, home department, or department head, and successful nominations demonstrate sustained, exemplary contributions to the education of undergraduates at the Institute.

Some key points to remember:

  • The selection process is highly competitive and nominations that are not successful are eligible for reconsideration the following year.
  • Please note that it is unusual for junior faculty to be appointed, particularly early in their MIT career.
  • Appointments begin on February 1.
  • Fellows receive $10,000 per year of discretionary funds for educational activities, research, travel, and other scholarly expenses.

What you need to do

  • Supporting letters are the largest – and most important – component of a nomination, and we encourage you to review and share the below advice when working on yours.
  • Nominations are made to the Provost and should include:
    • a primary letter detailing the nominee’s contributions to undergraduate education.
    • 3-6 supporting letters from faculty colleagues including one from the nominee’s department head (unless the primary letter is from the department head).
    • 3-6 supporting letters from present or former undergraduate students with specific comments about the nominee's undergraduate teaching.
    • the nominee's curriculum vitae.
    • a list of undergraduate subjects taught, including the number of students for each.
    • a summary form of available student evaluation results for the nominee (excluding Spring 2020).
  • Submit your nomination packet as a single PDF to macvicarprogram@mit.edu by Friday, November 21, 2025.

Please email macvicarprogram@mit.edu or call (617) 253-9763 if you have questions about the required documents.

Advice for nomination letters

Supporting letters from colleagues and students are of vital importance to the advisory committee’s deliberations. Strong letters present a vivid portrait of the nominee’s contributions and how they meet the definition of a MacVicar Fellow.

PRIMARY LETTER

The primary letter, often several pages in length, should summarize the nominee’s undergraduate teaching record, highlight exceptional contributions to undergraduate curricula or pedagogical innovations, and describe their impact on students, including mentorship and advising.

FACULTY LETTERS

Successful letters from faculty colleagues are a minimum of 1-2 pages in length; include personal observations of the nominee's teaching; cite examples of innovation and improvements to curricula or pedagogy; and contain references to the nominee's contributions to education beyond the classroom such as course development, serving as an advisor and mentor, or similar. We encourage letters that include specific stories about ways the nominee went “above and beyond” for the sake of undergraduates or undergraduate education.

STUDENT LETTERS

Letters from undergraduate students or alumni are typically 1 or more pages. The most compelling letters illustrate the nominee’s effectiveness in the classroom, impact on academic success during and after the student's time at MIT, and the meaningful support they provided through mentorship and engagement outside formal instruction.