Authority:  Board of Trustees

History: First Issued: April 27, 1995. Last Revised: February 19, 2026.

Related Policies:
NCSU POL05.15.01 – Employees Exempt from the State Human Resources Act (EHRA) Policy
NCSU POL05.20.01 – Appointment, Reappointment, Promotion and Permanent Tenure
NCSU REG05.20.34 – Non-Tenure Track Faculty Ranks and Appointments

Additional References:
UNC Code: Appendix I, Section IV
NCSU General Faculty Bylaws
Standard Operating Procedure for Granting Emeritus/Emerita Faculty Status

SOP-Use of Professor of Distinction Title with Emeritus or Emerita Status
Retiree Benefits

Contact Info: Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence (919-513-7741)

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I. INTRODUCTION

This policy provides for the conferral of emeritus/emerita status on retired faculty, senior administrators, and Senior Academic Administrative Officers (SAAO). As delegated by the Board of Governors, conferral of emeritus/emerita status is an honor that may be granted by the Board of Trustees upon retirement of a university employee who has provided dedicated and distinguished service to the university. The Board of Trustees is responsible for granting emeritus/emerita status to individuals with an SAAO appointment at retirement. Pursuant to POL 01.05.06 – Board of Trustees Delegations of Authority and Committee Responsibilities, the Board of Trustees delegates to the Chancellor the authority to grant emeritus/emerita status for faculty members and senior administrators (specifically, vice provosts and associate deans). Companion REG 05.20.41 – Emeritus and Emerita Faculty and Senior Administrators Procedures sets forth the process for seeking emeritus/emerita status for faculty, senior administrators, and SAAO.

2. ELIGIBILITY

2.1 To be eligible for emeritus/emerita status, the faculty member, senior administrator, or SAAO must be retiring from NC State University. If the faculty member, senior administrator, or SAAO transitions to employment at another institution, the faculty member is no longer eligible for emeritus/emerita status at NC State University.

2.2 Faculty Status and Appointment Type

2.2.1 Any tenured faculty member or professional track faculty member of any rank must have served for ten or more years in a full-time faculty position at NC State University to be eligible for emeritus/emerita status.

2.2.2 Any senior administrator (specifically, vice provosts and associate deans) must have served as a senior administrator at NC State for ten or more years, and any SAAO must have served as a SAAO at NC State for ten or more years to be eligible for emeritus/emerita status.

2.2.3 Individuals who are eligible for emeritus/emerita status as both a Senior Academic Administrative Officer or senior administrator (having served for ten or more years in either role) and a faculty member (having served for ten or more years in a full-time faculty position) may pursue either or both designations.

2.2.4 At the discretion of the Chancellor, the Provost may make exceptions to the eligibility requirements in this Section 2.2.

2.3 To be eligible for emeritus/emerita status, the individual must have demonstrated extraordinary and meritorious contributions to the fulfillment of program and university mission.