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Procedure for conferring the title of Emeritus Professor.
Content
Introduction
1. Emeritus status is an honorary category of appointment. UCL confers the title upon retiring professors once they have ceased all paid employment with the University. This recognises their contribution to UCL and the wider academic community. It allows them to continue using their professorial title. An emeritus professor does not have any employment rights with UCL.
Guidance
2. If a professor continues working part-time for UCL they will not be considered to have retired and therefore will not be eligible for emeritus status until they retire completely.
3. The University welcomes the continued voluntary contribution of emeritus staff. Emeritus professors can be Principal Investigators or contributing named applicants. This will assist departments making research proposals and applying for awards. This work must be undertaken on an unpaid basis and is subject to conditions that apply to all faculty. Emeritus professors may volunteer to teach courses or contribute to other departmental roles.
4. Emeritus professors should follow all relevant UCL policies, procedures and statutes. Emeritus professors carrying out work on behalf of UCL must maintain confidentiality. They should protect intellectual property and follow ‘Open Science’ principles.
5. Emeritus professors keep their existing IT and email accounts. Unique Personal Identification (UPI) numbers remain unchanged. ISD maintains the link between these and IT accounts. IT accounts are subject to annual checks to ensure they remain active.
6. Emeritus professors have full Library membership. This is renewable every 5 years.
7. UCL Security continues to handle the issuing of staff cards.
8. UCL reserves the right to not confer emeritus status where there are reasonable grounds for doing so.
9. The Provost may withdraw privileges if there is serious misconduct. This includes taking away Security and Library access or deleting IT accounts.
Procedures
10. Professors give notice to their Head of Department (HoD) of their intention to retire. A date is usually agreed for the end of term. This may vary, depending upon the retiring professor's teaching and other professional commitments. More information about retiring from UCL is available in the UCL Retirement policy.
11. The Departmental Administrator (DA) submits a leaver's form via MyHR, indicating the last day of service and that emeritus status is required.
A supporting statement from the HoD outlining the Professor's key achievements during their time at UCL must be attached to the DT request, as it will be used to draft the letter from the Provost.
12. HR Services drafts the template letter which includes the information provided by the Department, confirming the emeritus status of the retiring professor.
13. HR Services sends the completed letter to the Provost, who signs and sends it to the emeritus professor.
14. HR Services saves the appointment letter to the personal file of the professor and creates an honorary emeritus record.
15. Emeritus status commences the day after a professor retires.