Approved by President
Effective Date: June 5, 2017
Responsible Division: Academic Affairs
Responsible Office:  University Provost
Responsible Officer: Vice Provost for Faculty and Strategic Initiatives

I. Purpose

This policy establishes the criteria and process for granting emeritus status to faculty and, under certain circumstances, administrators upon retirement or leaving their administrative assignment.

II. Process

A faculty member who has served Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or University) with distinction over a period of years may be awarded the title Emeritus or Emerita upon retirement. The faculty member must meet eligibility requirements to be considered an MTSU retiree. The President may confer the title of Emeritus upon any retiring professor (after ten [10] years), associate professor (after fifteen [15] years), assistant professor and instructor (after twenty [20] years), who has given honorable and distinguished full-time service to the University. The conferring of the emeritus title must be recommended by the appropriate Department Chair, Dean and Provost. The title would normally follow the regular professional title, i.e., Professor of History, Emeritus.

Emeritus faculty should be entitled to such privileges and benefits, other than monetary compensation, as are available to active, full-time faculty. The privileges and benefits carry with them the same responsibilities as for regular faculty. These privileges may include, but not necessarily be limited to, inclusion in faculty lists in University bulletins (under the heading of Emeriti Faculty); to have faculty library privileges; retention of email address and computer/internet access through MTSU; tickets to athletic events at no more than faculty rates; use of University recreation facilities at no cost; University bookstore purchases at the faculty discount rate; participation in academic ceremonies and other academic activities; participation generally with the regular faculty in all social and ceremonial functions of the University; other privileges which may be extended to regular faculty; and issuance of a MTSU identification card.

The University will publicly recognize faculty granted emeritus status at an appropriate ceremony.

Under certain circumstances, the President may grant emeritus status to an administrator at the level of Dean or Vice President or at other levels if deemed appropriate. Emeritus administrative titles are typically held by individuals when they retire or return to faculty positions at the conclusion of their administrative duties. No formal privileges are available exclusively to emeritus administrators other than the use of the title.

Forms: none.

Revisions: none.

Last Reviewed: November 2020.

References: none.