Emeritus Faculty

Policy

“Faculty Emeritus” is a designated honorary status that may be conferred upon a retired member of the tenured faculty or in anticipation of the retirement of a faculty member, effective upon retirement. Conferring of this title is not automatic upon retirement.  The title confers academic status and rank and shall be conferred based upon individual distinction and quality of contribution and service to the College and its students.  The “Faculty Emeritus” rank carries no formal employment relationship, associated responsibilities or compensation.

The college may choose to rescind the emeritus status designation from a faculty member at any time.

Qualifications

• Any full-time academic employee may qualify for emeritus status upon retirement and after 10 years of service to the college as a tenured full-time academic employee.
• Any qualifying faculty member who retired prior to the approval of this policy may be appointed to such status retroactively to the date of his/her retirement.
• Persons who hold an emeritus title at another institution are not eligible for an emeritus title from Tacoma Community College.

Honors and Privileges

The College may offer to Emeritus faculty certain honors and privileges. Such honors and privileges are at the discretion of and as defined by the College. The honors and privileges afforded emeritus faculty may include the following:

• Business cards provided by the college with the title of “Faculty Emeritus.”
• A faculty identification card with title “Faculty Emeritus.”
• A college- provided e-mail account with the domain name the college uses. (i.e. afaculty@tacomacc.edu) as well as access to the campus network if requested.
• Listing in the college catalog, the commencement program, and other publications as the college deems appropriate.
• TCC Library rights and privileges comparable to those available to non-retired tenured faculty.
• Access to campus, athletic and community events, performances, and publications, and use of College facilities (e.g. Fitness Center), comparable to those available to non-retired tenured faculty.
• An invitation to participate in commencement activities each year in a comparable manner to non-retired tenured faculty.
• A parking pass.
• Participation in Institutional Advancement and Foundation activities and events in a comparable manner to non-retired tenured faculty.
• Participation in community relations activities, interacting with community groups in a manner comparable to a non-retired tenured faculty member.

Purpose

To recognize outstanding service to Tacoma Community College and its students by granting the honorary status of “Faculty Emeritus” to selected retired members of the college’s faculty.

To Whom Does This Policy Apply

All college faculty members who have 10 years of full-time tenured academic employee service with, and who retire with tenured faculty status from, Tacoma Community College are eligible to be considered for the honorary status of Faculty Emeritus.

References

None

Definitions

Faculty Emeritus Status  - status granted to select retired members of the College’s tenured faculty who have demonstrated the very highest and most outstanding service to the college and its students.

Procedure

A request for emeritus status for a faculty member must be made in writing by a dean to the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs.  The letter of request shall include the faculty member’s qualifications for the title and list the outstanding service areas to the college and students during the faculty member’s tenure at Tacoma Community College.  The Vice President will take the recommendation to the voting members of the Instructional Council for discussion of endorsement and report the outcome to the President.

Upon recommendation from the President and approval by the Board of Trustees, the faculty member will then be granted “Faculty Emeritus” status.  The President will publish the faculty member’s appointment to emeritus status to the campus community.