Emerit Status

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Policy Number:
UW-5090
Responsible Office:
Office of Human Resources

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to describe the standards related to the designation of Emerit status at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in compliance with Board of Regent policy.

Definitions:
Emerit
An honorary title which may be conferred at the time of retirement upon individuals who have had permanent employment with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and have completed a minimum of 10 years of distinguished service. The term emerit will be used throughout this policy as it is gender non-specific. An employee may select their preferred status of emerita (female), emeritus (male), or emerit (gender non-specific).
Faculty
A person who holds the rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or instructor in an academic department or its functional equivalent in UW–Madison, as described in UW–Madison Faculty Policies and Procedures (FPP).
Academic Staff
A professional and administrative employee whose duties are exempt from the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and who performs work that is primarily associated with a higher education institution or its administration.
University Staff
An employee who is non-exempt from the overtime provisions of the FLSA and therefore is eligible to receive overtime for all hours worked over 40 in a pay period. University Staff appointments may be ongoing or Fixed-term Finite.
Limited Appointee
An appointee to a designated administrative position, the holder of which serves at the discretion of the authorized official who made the appointment. Certain positions must be designated as limited appointments under Wis. Stat. § 36.17(2), while the appointing authority may designate other positions as limited appointments at the time of appointment.
Scope:

This policy applies to faculty, academic staff, university staff, and limited appointees.

Policy:
  1. Eligibility
    1. Any dean/director is authorized to grant Emerit status to any faculty, including those hired under UW-801 Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 1 - The University Faculty 1.02.B, academic staff, limited appointees, and university staff under the following conditions:
      1. The employee is retiring from UW-Madison.
      2. The employee has engaged in ten or more years of distinguished service at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, as determined by the school/college/division.
    2. Faculty, academic staff, and university staff may be granted emerit status in their final UW-Madison appointment.
    3. Limited appointees may be granted emerit status in their limited appointment, but not in their academic staff back-up appointment.
    4. Faculty holding limited appointments may be granted emerit status in their faculty appointment.
    5. Individuals granted emerit status who held a concurrent senior administrative title of dean or higher may upon recommendation of the provost, also be granted emerit status by the chancellor for their concurrent senior administrative title. The emerit status title is only granted upon resignation from the university; it is not awarded at the time an individual steps out of their senior administrative title and returns to their faculty appointment.
    6. Discipline for cause while holding the position for which the emerit title is requested should be carefully considered by an executive committee, dean, and chancellor, in light of the apparent conflict between a history of discipline and the title’s indication of honor and esteem. Termination for cause while holding the position for which the emerit title is requested typically disqualifies the faculty member from conferral of the title.
    7. In rare cases, an exception to the eligibility criteria may be granted by the Chief Human Resources Officer.
  2. Revocation
    1. Revocation may occur when it is determined that an individual's conduct, before or after receiving emerit designation, conflicts with the intent and spirit of the designation and/or causes harm to the University's reputation.
      1. For faculty, a department wishing to revoke emerit status must vote to remove/rescind status and forward the recommendation to the dean as outlined in UW-807 Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 7 – Faculty Appointments.
      2. In other units, the director or dean may recommend that emerit status be revoked.
    2. All recommendations for revocation shall be sent to the Chancellor, who is authorized to make the decision to revoke emerit status. Should emerit status be revoked, the individual will be notified.
Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:
External References:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Policy Manager:
Associate Vice Chancellor/Chief Human Resources Officer
Contact:
Employment Relations Director -- Megan Dzyuba, wr@ohr.wisc.edu, (608) 890-3663
Effective Date:
10-17-2023
Date Issued:
10-17-2023
Retrieved:
01-13-2025 02:02:19