Academic Policy  1475.10 

Emeritus Status

Emeritus status is an honorific title conferred by the Board of Trustees to individuals retiring in good standing, not as an entitlement but rather in recognition of distinguished service to the University at the rank or title held at the time of retirement.  Per Board of Trustees Policy 475.1, the University may consider recommending to the Board of Trustees the granting of emeritus status at a rank or title previously held for a substantial period where such service concluded in good standing, such as the Dean Emeritus title.     

To propose emeritus status for retiring faculty, an initial vote of the departmental faculty or personnel committee should be taken.  Then, for faculty or staff, it is necessary to prepare a resolution consistent with the following guidelines to be submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval.  Resolutions should be prepared and submitted by a chairperson or other supervisor of the retiring person to the dean or director of the unit in which they are employed for review. 

If the dean or director concurs with the recommendation of emeritus status, the resolutions are to be sent to the Provost, or other vice chancellor, according to the unit’s reporting line, for review.  If the Provost or appropriate vice chancellor concurs with the recommendation, the recommendation should be communicated to the Chancellor.  If the Chancellor concurs with the recommendation of emeritus status, the Chancellor shall recommend approval and furnish the emeritus application to the President for review.  The President will recommend a final list of individuals to the Board of Trustees for their consideration.

DEAN EMERITUS GUIDELINES

A request for Dean Emeritus status is an honorary title and application must be made to the Provost.  Typically, the dean must have served at least five calendar years and must be stepping down from a deanship in good standing.   At the time of the dean’s retirement from the University, the college where the dean’s faculty appointment is located will prepare a resolution requesting the Dean Emeritus title and it will be sent to the Provost.  If the Provost concurs with the recommendation for the title of Dean Emeritus, the Provost shall communicate the recommendation to the Chancellor.  If the Chancellor concurs with the recommendation of Dean Emeritus, the Chancellor shall recommend approval and furnish the proposed resolution to the President for review.  If the President concurs with the recommendation, the proposed resolution will be submitted to the Board of Trustees for their consideration.

INFORMATION GATHERING

A board resolution recommending a retiring faculty or staff member for emeritus status should include these facts:

• full name and preferred name (Jonathan B. “Trey” Smith, III)

• current title, department, college, and field of specialization

• dates of employment (joined 1969, promoted 1974 and 1988, retiring 1996)

• degrees earned and where

• career path which led to the University (if relevant or desired)

• career high points (major awards, highest accomplishments, et al)

• formal emeritus title recommended and effective date

• The speaking voice is that of the Board of Trustees, not the college, department, or institution (they are all mentioned in the text)
• Resolutions and proclamations typically use the most formal styles of address (Dr., Professor, Mr., Mrs., Ms., The Honorable)
• Brevity is desirable.  The resolution should be no more than one-page.

FORMAT

Here are the basic building blocks:

WHEREAS,--about 4-6 of these, each containing facts about the honoree. Each statement is closed with a semicolon and the word and. The last WHEREAS statement ends with a semicolon only.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS THAT -- precedes a statement of the board’s intentions and ends with a period.

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED THAT --rarely necessary) states further action in addition to the main point of action and ends with a period.

FURTHERMORE,--allows the board to state instructions for the recording and distribution of this document and ends with a period.