Syracuse University will hire 100 new faculty members in the next five years through its Signature Hires Initiative. The university detailed the hiring process in an announcement on Wednesday. The move is part of a push to strengthen the university’s research programs, according to an SU news release.

The Signature Hires Initiative falls under Invest Syracuse, a $100 million academic fundraising initiative. In a January interview, Vice Chancellor and Provost Michele Wheatly said SU plans to hire 20 professors per year over the course of five years.

“The two prongs of Invest Syracuse really revolve around providing a world class experience to students … as well as advancing academic reputation, so faculty would be critical to that initiative,” Wheatly said in January.

SU announced its plan to hire the new faculty in 2017, and Wednesday’s announcement detailed how the hires will be made. The initiative will involve cluster hires and “signature hires,” which the university defines as faculty who will be committed to both teaching and research. Cluster hires are faculty who have shared, interdisciplinary research interests.

A panel made up of faculty and administrators identified 31 positions across SU’s 11 schools and colleges and were asked how they would distinguish themselves if given the opportunity to receive the signatures hires.

The cost of the new hires will be shared by the university and the schools and colleges.