Emeritus/Emerita Professorship Nomination Procedures

Purpose

The purpose of these Procedures is to provide an overview of the nomination criteria and process for assessing and awarding the appointment of a Professor Emeritus/Emerita.

Definitions

For the purposes of these Procedures the following definitions apply:

“Professor Emeritus/Emerita” means a designation awarded to an eligible individual holding a continuing academic appointment within one or more faculties, who is distinguished by his or her significant accomplishments and contributions to the University, upon or after retirement from full-time active academic duties.

Scope and authority

These Procedures apply to the process for assessing nominees and awarding the appointment of a Professor Emeritus/Emerita.

The Provost and Vice-President, Academic, or successor thereof, is the Policy Owner and is responsible for overseeing the implementation, administration and interpretation of these Procedures.

Procedures

Nomination Assessment Criteria

1. A nominee is assessed based on his or her commitment, contributions and accomplishments that have:
   1. Distinguished the individual as a scholar in research and publication, as a teacher, or as an academic administrator, or any combination of these; and/or
   2. Made substantial contributions to the successful operations of the University, the discipline, or the community as a whole.

Nomination Process

1. The nomination of a Professor Emeritus/Emerita shall be made in writing to the attention of the dean of the faculty in which the nominee held a faculty appointment.
   1. Such nomination should normally originate from within the peer group of the individual being nominated and ideally be submitted in advance of the date on which the nominee will retire. 
   2. The nomination shall be accompanied by a brief statement that summarizes the contributions and accomplishments of the nominee based on the assessment criteria set out above, and the continuing value of the appointment to the faculty and University.
2. The dean will forward this material, and any other such documentation that may be helpful, together with his or her own written assessment, to the Provost.
3. The Provost will provide a separate written assessment based on the documentation provided and forward all material to the President.
4. In instances where the nominee is one of the persons reviewing the nomination, the material shall be forwarded by the nominator(s) to the next level in the review process. For example, in the case of a dean, the nomination material shall be forwarded directly to the Provost who in turn will forward the material, along with his or her written assessment, to the President.
5. The President will review and recommend successful candidates to the Board of Governors for approval at its next scheduled meeting. Subsequent to the Board’s decision, the President will convey the decision to the nominee.
6. Whenever possible, the names of the Professor Emeritus/Emerita designates should be reported to Academic Council before being announced to the community.

Monitoring and review

These Procedures will be reviewed as necessary and at least every three years. The Provost and Vice-President, Academic, or successor thereof, is responsible to monitor and review these Procedures.

Relevant legislation

This section intentionally left blank.

Related policies, procedures & documents

Emeritus/Emerita Professorships