Approved 1 October 2018
Every year, the university confers the title “Emeritus” on qualified academic and administrative faculty who have been recommended through a peer review process.
Emeritus is an honorary title bestowed by the university to show respect for a distinguished career. Emeritus status is based upon merit and is not to be given automatically.
Eligibility:
A candidate must meet the following criteria to be eligible for emeritus status:
The candidate must be retired or have requested retirement from an academic position.
The candidate must have ten years of uninterrupted, full-time service as a regular faculty member (as defined by the handbook) at HPU prior to retirement or, if the candidate has less than ten years of service at HPU as a regular faculty member, at the time of retirement must hold the title of Endowed Chair at HPU.
At the time of retirement, the candidate must be a regular faculty who holds the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor or full professor.
The candidate must submit their application for emeritus status no later than two years after the effective date of their retirement or no more than one year prior to the effective date of their retirement.
The candidate must have made meaningful contributions to the university, its mission, and the profession in two out of three of the following areas: teaching, service to the university, or scholarship/research. Assessment of meaningful contributions is made primarily by the faculty committee appointed to review the emeritus application, with subsidiary assessment made by reviewing committees and individuals that follow this initial review. Emeritus status may also be bestowed posthumously upon recommendation of the home academic department and of the Provost to the President.
Application Materials:
Candidates for emeritus status must submit the following materials to the Faculty Actions Officer:
1) 3-5 page letter requesting conferral of emeritus status and outlining the candidate’s sustained
contributions to the university and the profession in two out of three of the following areas:
teaching, service to the university, or scholarship/research. (Candidates may outline
contributions in all three areas if they wish).
2) A lifetime C.V.
Process for review:
1) Consideration of a faculty member for emeritus status can be initiated in the following ways:
a) When an eligible faculty member makes known to the department his or her intention to
retire, the faculty member may also at that time convey to their department chair their
desire for the granting of emeritus status.
b) A member (s) of the faculty member’s home department can convey to their department
chair their intention to invite a retiring member of their department to apply for emeritus
status. Nominating faculty, not the chair, will invite the faculty member to apply unless it is
the department chair who is the nominating faculty member.
c) The faculty member or faculty in his/her home department can initiate consideration for
emeritus status at any point during the two years after the effective date of retirement of
the faculty candidate.
2) Candidates submit their letter and c.v. to the Faculty Actions Officer (FAO).
3) FAO posts materials in electronic file.
4) Department meets to discuss application and to conduct a secret ballot on the application. A
simple majority of regular department faculty must vote in order to make the ballot valid. The
Department chair will be present at this meeting and will chair the meeting but cannot vote. If a
simple majority approval is not secured, the vote will be reported to the candidate along with an
indication of the area(s) in which the candidate has not met the criteria for nomination. The
candidate can then decide whether to continue with the application process or withdraw the
application.
5) The department completes the emeritus application recommendation form and sends it to FAO
who uploads it to the electronic file. If the recommendation is negative and the candidate
wishes to terminate his/her application for emeritus status, the process stops here. If the
candidate does not wish to terminate his/her application as the result of a negative
recommendation or if the recommendation was positive, the process continues.
6) The Department Chair completes the emeritus application recommendation form and sends it
to FAO who uploads it to the electronic file.
7) The Dean completes the emeritus application recommendation form and sends it to FAO who
uploads it to the electronic file.
8) The UFPRC meets to consider the application. A simple majority of THE UFPRC must vote to
make the ballot valid. The UFPRC chair completes the emeritus application decision form and
sends it to FAO who uploads it to the electronic file.
9) The Provost completes the emeritus application recommendation form and sends it to FAO who
uploads it to the electronic file.
10) The President’s decision is conveyed to the candidate in writing and then uploaded to the
electronic file
11) The timetable for review of applications for emeritus status will follow the same timetable as
that for regular faculty reappointments to the university.
Emeritus Privileges:
Faculty appointed to emeritus rank are granted the following privileges:
• Lifetime listing indicating their title in the University catalog and all applicable directories
and university documents
• By request of faculty member, retention of university email accounts and access to
university announcements and information
• ID card which indicates their emeritus status and permits library privileges
• Participation in University public ceremonies including Commencement and Convocation
• Shared office space as available and dependent upon the faculty member’s likelihood to
make sustained, productive use of the space as determined by the college Dean
• Membership, without vote, in the college and department faculties in which membership
was held at the time of retirement
• Tuition benefits, if requested, that were available to all regular faculty at time of retirement
• Recognition of the granting of emeritus status at university commencement service
• Stipends to be determined by the Provost for teaching or other services to the university
Emeritus Responsibilities:
Emeritus faculty are expected to continue to assist the university in areas of their competence when
requested to do so. Such responsibilities might include, but are not limited to:
• Advising students—including serving on Masters level committees
• Make every effort to make oneself available for service on university committees (at
department, college and university level) when requested
In addition, emeritus faculty:
• Will identify him/herself as an emeritus faculty member from HPU in any professional
activity that pertains to service at the university or use of its resources
• Will adhere to the highest academic and ethical standards