Emeritus Faculty

Emeritus Status

Emeritus is a status of honor and esteem at Boston University intended to recognize professors for lifetime contributions to the University, to their field, or to both, upon their retirement. Professorial faculty, with or without tenure or modified titles, are eligible for this consideration. The granting of Emeritus status is first voted upon by the faculty of the department, or by the appropriate unit for faculty appointments and promotions in schools or colleges without departments. The outcome of that vote is transmitted to the dean, who is authorized to grant the change in status. Emeritus faculty retain the academic rank held at the time of retirement, modified by the incorporation of the Emeritus or Emerita designation. If applicable, this title includes the modifiers “Clinical,” “Research,” or “of the Practice”; however, honorific titles, including named professorships, are not incorporated into the Emeritus designation. Emeritus status is not awarded posthumously, and a faculty member who retires from Boston University in order to assume a professorship at another university is also normally not eligible for consideration for Emeritus status.

While Emeritus faculty members may continue their productive life within the University, the basis of such continued participation shall be determined by each school and college through its faculty and dean. An Emeritus faculty member may not serve as chair of a department or as a member of a policymaking committee. Emeritus faculty members may be employed by the University at a rate of compensation appropriate to the assigned responsibilities. Deans, upon stepping down from the decanal role after serving with distinction, may be granted the title “Dean Emeritus” or “Dean Emerita,” following a positive vote of the full-time faculty of the school or college, and approval by the Provost.