Policy
Purpose: 

To describe the conditions and procedures for granting emeritus/emerita status to retiring members of the faculty, academic staff, and unclassified professional staff.

Applies to: 

Faculty, Academic Staff, Unclassified Professional Staff

Campus: 
Lawrence
Policy Statement: 

Kansas Board of Regents Policy: In accordance with Board of Regents policy, emeritus/emerita status is an honorary title awarded to a retiring faculty member or administrator for extended meritorious service. Each Regents university establishes its own criteria, and emeritus/emerita status may be approved by the institution’s chief executive officer. There is no salary or emolument attached to the status other than the privileges the institution may wish to extend.

University of Kansas Policy: At the University of Kansas, Lawrence, retiring members of the faculty and administrators may receive emeritus/emerita status if they are at least 55 years of age, have a minimum of ten years of full-time continuous service at the University of Kansas, and are determined by the University to be in good standing at the time of retirement. Length of service for members of the faculty is determined on an academic-year basis. An emeritus/emerita faculty member is expected to observe in retirement the same standards of professional ethics as in their active careers (see Articles IV and V of the Faculty Code). Emeritus/emerita status is not normally recommended for persons who are leaving the university in order to accept full-time service at another higher education institution, even if the age and service criteria are met. A member need not hold a full-time appointment at the time of retirement as long as the requirement for ten years of continuous full-time service was met earlier in the member's career.

Procedures: When a faculty member or administrator who is eligible for emeritus/emerita status provides the chairperson/director with written notice of intent to retire, the chair or director forwards a recommendation for emeritus/emerita status to the appropriate dean or vice provost. Dean/Vice Provost office staff will use the online Affiliate webform process to submit this request to the Provost's Office. The Provost will make the appropriate recommendation to the Chancellor. Should a retiree be denied emeritus/emerita status, the retiree may appeal the denial to the Chancellor.

Exclusions or Special Circumstances: 

Emeritus/emerita status is not normally recommended for persons who are leaving the university in order to accept full-time service at another higher education institution.

Contact: 

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
University of Kansas
Strong Hall, 1450 Jayhawk Boulevard, Room 250
Lawrence, KS 66045
785-864-4904
provost@ku.edu

Approved by: 
Chancellor
Approved on: 
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Effective on: 
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Review Cycle: 
Annual (As Needed)
Background: 

Board of Regents policy on Emeritus Status adopted 10-18-74; updated 3-20-87; 2-18-88; 2-13 amended to include ‘emerita’

University of Kansas. Lawrence, policy (formerly section C.2.g.4 of the Handbook for Faculty and Other Unclassified Staff, 1998) revised upon recommendation of University Governance; revisions approved by the Chancellor 6/13/06; Policy Office reviewed for accuracy and added link to Retiree Rehire Policy 7/30/12; fixed broken link to Board of Regents policy and selected 'Lawrence' for Campus on 10/29/2014.

Keywords: 
Emeritus, emerita, retirement
Change History: 

07/12/2023: Technical edit for clarification.
04/16/2018: Updated to include online submission process and clarification of length of service eligibility component for faculty. 
02/22/2017: Fixed broken link to Kansas Board of Regents Policy Manual and Faculty Code articles.
07/06/2016: Updated to remove gendered pronouns.
04/02/2015: Fixed broken link to Board of Regents Policy Manual.
12/17/2014: Fixed broken link to Board of Regents Policy Manual.
12/09/2014: Policy formatting cleanup (e.g., bolding, spacing).
10/29/2014: Fixed broken link to Board of Regents policy and selected 'Lawrence' for Campus.
02/2013: Amended to include ‘emerita’.
07/30/2012: Policy Office reviewed for accuracy and added link to Retiree Rehire Policy.
06/13/2006: University of Kansas policy (formerly section C.2.g.4 of the Handbook for Faculty and Other Unclassified Staff, 1998) revised upon recommendation of University Governance; revisions approved by the Chancellor.
02/18/1988: Board of Regents policy updated.
03/20/1987: Board of Regents policy updated.
10/18/1974: Board of Regents policy on Emeritus Status adopted.

Personnel: Faculty/Academic Staff Categories: 
Departure
Recognition

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