Office of the Provost
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Academic Policies

Emeriti Faculty Policy

  • Issuing Office: Office of the Provost
  • Issued: May 3, 2016
  • Clerical Revisions: 10/06/20

Policy Statement

Introduction

Awarding of Emeriti status at Drexel University is an honor, designating a retired faculty member as having demonstrated a distinguished professorial career and as having made significant contributions to the University.

Eligibility

Faculty members eligible to be awarded Emeriti status are any of the following: tenured Professors and Associate Professors as well as Teaching, Clinical, and Research Professors and Associate Professors.

Criteria for Candidacy

Successful candidates for consideration to the rank of Professor Emeritus/Emerita or Associate Professor Emeritus/Emerita; Teaching Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Clinical Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Research Professor Emeritus/Emerita or Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Associate Clinical Professor Emeritus/Emerita, or Associate Research Professor Emeritus/Emerita, as determined by the faculty rank at retirement, will have:

  • At least fifteen years of full-time employment at Drexel University prior to retirement
    • Faculty with less than 15 years at Drexel but with an established academic career at other institutions - and assuming the faculty member meets or exceeds Drexel’s Emeriti other requirements - can appeal to the Emeriti Committee and the Provost that the 15-year requirement be waived.
  • A substantive record of performance as demonstrated by one or more of the following:
    • Research, scholarship, and/or creative work commensurate with national and/or international standards.
    • Noteworthy teaching and educational contributions.
    • Significant service to the University.

Emeriti Privileges

The privileges associated with having Emeriti status are as follows:

  1. Emeritus/Emerita will be added to the faculty title.
  2. Lifetime listing indicating the appropriate rank of Professor Emeritus/Emerita or Associate Professor Emeritus/Emerita; Teaching Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Clinical Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Research Professor Emeritus/Emerita or Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Associate Clinical Professor Emeritus/Emerita, or Associate Research Professor Emeritus/Emerita in University catalogues and directories.
  3. Regular and on-line library privileges.
  4. Lifetime e-mail address and support including listing in Drexel directories.
  5. One year continuation of phone number and voicemail.
  6. Lifetime eligibility for membership to the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Membership fees will be assessed at the faculty rate.
  7. Participation in University public ceremonies.
  8. Based on availability and the recommendations of the Department Head and College/School Dean/Director, and with the concurrence of the Provost, use of office and/or lab space, equipment, and other campus facilities to support scholarly work and/or educational activities.
  9. With permission of the Department Head and College/School Dean/Director, authorization to serve on thesis and dissertation committees or engage in other research or educational activities within the University.
  10. With approval of the Department Head and the College/School Dean/Director, Emeriti Faculty will be welcomed to:
    1. Advise undergraduate students (e.g., senior thesis, senior design, and creative arts projects) and graduate students dissertations (MS, MA, and Ph.D.) and co-author papers with them and with other faculty members within or outside of Drexel using Drexel’s affiliation;
    2. Teach classes as an emeriti faculty member and be remunerated for that effort;
    3. Participate in sponsored research and be remunerated for that effort, as approved by the sponsor and the University.
    4. Attend departmental and collegial open meetings, as a guest, subject to the bylaws of said unit.

Procedure

Application for Emeriti status is typically made in the academic year immediately preceding retirement, and in no case past one academic year following retirement. Application for Emeriti status is initiated by the candidate by December 1st in the year of consideration with a letter to the Department Head and supporting documentation that includes a current Curriculum Vitae. The Department Head then notifies the College/School Dean/Director and the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement in writing that the process has been initiated. The Department Head forwards their recommendation, with the necessary supporting materials, to the College/School /Director Dean and the Dean/Director forwards their recommendation, with the necessary supporting materials, to the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement by January 15th.

Early in January, the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement convenes the Emeriti Review Committee, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs (SCFA) and is chaired by a member of the SCFA. The Committee deliberates and delivers its recommendations to the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement by February 15th. The Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement then forwards the Committee's proposals, along with their own recommendations, to the Provost by March 1st. After review, the Provost forwards their recommendations as well as the recommendations of the various levels of review to the President. Upon approval of the President, the Provost will present the candidates to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board and, upon favorable review, to the Board of Trustees for consideration at their May meeting.

Candidates whose rank of Professor Emeritus/Emerita or Associate Professor Emeritus/Emerita, or Teaching Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Clinical Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Research Professor Emeritus/Emerita; or Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Associate Clinical Professor Emeritus/Emerita, or Associate Research Professor Emeritus/Emerita has been approved by the Board of Trustees at their May meeting are notified promptly and the rank is conferred by the President during the June annual meeting of the University Assembly.

The Provost may, at their sole discretion, approve the submission of a candidate's application for Emeritus/Emerita status in accordance with the above procedures on a modified or accelerated schedule. Exceptions to the fifteen years of full-time employment requirement, when requested, will be considered in the course of the normal application and evaluation process.

Faculty members who retired at the conclusion of the 2014-15 academic year, but were ineligible to apply for Emeriti status during AY 2014-15 according to the rules of the former policy, could apply within one year of the adoption of this policy if the current rules will render them eligible.

Emeriti Review Committee Operations

The Emeriti Review Committee has one representative from each college or school that is appointed or elected by each college or school for a term of three years. The Emeriti Review Committee operates under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs who will appoint a representative from its membership to be Chair of the Committee. The sole function of this Committee is to provide recommendations to the Provost. After its deliberations, the Chair will report briefly to the Senate Committee on Faculty Affairs on the operations and the recommendations of the Committee.

Reconsideration

Candidates whose application for Emeriti status is declined may request reconsideration in the following year by applying again, following the regular procedures described above. A candidate can only request reconsideration once. The Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement shall communicate to the applicant, the Department Head, and the College/School Dean/Director the initial reason(s) for declining the application.

Amendments

This Policy may be amended and the privileges changed from time to time at the discretion of the University through the appropriate processes and procedures, including with the advice and consent of the Faculty Senate. Such amendments shall be promptly communicated to all Emeriti faculty.