In 2001, the university named him president of its Liberal Arts Faculty Council and served as a member of the Academic Senate.

[1][2] During his 45-year tenure, Abbott received "every major internal award for scholarship that Wayne State University confers".

For example, in 1974, Wilson Carey McWilliams wrote, "Philip Abbott's concern and ability make him the kind of critic that every author longs for and seldom finds.

"[11] Colleague Daniel S. Geller wrote in his remembrance that a principal reason for his joining Wayne State University was "the opportunity to work with a scholar of the stature of Philip Abbott.

For example, Steven A. Shull wrote in 1997, "Strong Presidents is a strange but thoughtful and very well-written work incorporating the insights of literary criticism.