QUESTION
What is emeritus status and how is emeritus status awarded or approved?
RESPONSE
The University of Tennessee has a system-wide policy about emeritus status, HR0102, which can be found at the UT System site. Quoting from the policy, the purpose of emeritus status is “to recognize retiring faculty members or administrators for distinguished service to the University of Tennessee over an extended period of time.”
A person “may be awarded emeritus status at the discretion of the campus chancellor or vice president of the institute where the individual has served.”
More about the process is noted in the four-page policy, which closes the policy section by saying, “Other than using the title, no formal privileges are available exclusively to emeritus faculty and staff.”
