Emeritus Status for Extension Educators

Emeritus Status for Extension Educators

Emeritus status is the rank awarded by the Board of Regents to an employee at the time of retirement in recognition of substantial service rendered to the University in teaching, research, extension, or administration in a professional field. It may also be awarded to a retired administrator whose work impinges directly on the educational program.

Requesting and Processing Emeritus Requests: For faculty the recommendation is initiated by a request from the Educator requesting consideration for emeritus status. This is typically noted in the faculty member’s retirement letter. Supporting materials such as a resume, curriculum vitae, or brief overview of major accomplishments is helpful to those reviewing the request. Such request should be directed to the unit administrator (Engagement Zone Coordinator, Program Leader, or Department Head) and copied to the Extension Associate Dean/Associate Director. The unit administrator shares the request with the appropriate Extension educator academic promotion committee chair for committee consideration (https://myextension.unl.edu/promotion-tenure). The Extension Associate Dean/Associate Director is available to coordinate this process.

Upon review, the promotion committee shares their recommendation with the unit administrator, including a record of the committee vote. Subsequently, the unit administrator writes a letter (email) to the Dean and Director of Nebraska Extension that includes both the promotion committee’s sentiment as well as their own respective recommendation. This request is then placed on the IANR Senior Leadership Team (SLT)agenda for consideration. The decision of the IANR SLT is shared directly with the faculty member and copied to the respective unit administrator and Extension Associate Dean/Associate Director.

Requirements: Consistent with Regents policy, eligibility for emeritus status includes being at least 55 years of age and having been employed by the University of Nebraska for at least ten years, although exceptions to this may be made by the Board.

The official statement of the Board indicates that, while a retired individual is clearly on a non-active status regarding required activities, emeritus status is granted to encourage the individual to maintain association with the institution and to continue study and scholarly investigation. Certain perquisites and privileges are provided as follows:

  • On all formal occasions (meetings, gathering, celebrations, etc.), emeritus facultyare recognized on the same basis as active members. They do not attend county office team, departmental/ or faculty meetings except upon invitation by the presiding leader, and then without vote, but with privilege of the floor.
  • As detailed in the Graduate College Governance Document, upon the recommendation of the departmental or interdepartmental Graduate Committee, retired Graduate Faculty Members who have been appointed to emeritus status may retain the rights and privileges associated with their level of membership on the Graduate Faculty.
  • When emeritus faculty are called upon to act as references for former 4-Hers, colleagues, or students, to furnish information to earlier associates, or to perform any other similar university service stemming from a responsibility which continues beyond their retirement, they are entitled to use official stationery and other departmental office privileges as is customary and approved by the Extension Dean and Director.
  • Special privileges within a unit may be granted at the discretion of the Extension Dean and Director, in consultation with the appropriate unit administrator.
  • The Campus Parking Office will issue a standard parking permit at no charge to any emeriti.
  • The Athletic Ticket Office allows all emeriti faculty to purchase tickets for athletic events on the same basis as current employees (BOR Policy 4.2.6). Non-emeriti faculty and all retired staff maintain the same priority level they held during employment; however tickets must have been purchased for 10 consecutive years prior to retiring to retain them.
  • Events sponsored by the University Program Council at the Student Union are available to all emeriti at the same discounts as regular faculty.

 

Emeriti Benefits Granted by the Board of Regents

(See https://emeriti.unl.edu/benefits for current details)

  1. When emeritus faculty are called upon to act as references for former students, to furnish information to earlier associates, or to perform any other similar university service stemming from a responsibility which continues beyond their retirement, they are entitled to use official stationery and other departmental office privileges as is customary and approved by the Extension Dean and Director.
  2. Special privileges within a department relating to office space or desk and use of research facilities, including access to the computer network, may be granted at the discretion of the dean or director, in consultation with the department head or chair, or cognizant unit administrator. This decision will depend upon the availability of space and individual’s ongoing contribution to the university. NOTE: This benefit is not generally granted to Extension educators due to office space constraints and IT security issues, and because most Extension offices are not university facilities.
  3. Emeriti are eligible for a free non-reserve (#A”) parking permit. The permit must be renewed annually. Emeriti may also purchase a reserve parking permit at a $20.00/month discount from the regular reserved permit cost. Reserved permits may be limited based on space availability. A lapse in renewal for a reserved permit ends eligibility for such a permit.
  4. On all formal occasions, emeritus faculty are recognized on the same basis as active faculty. They do not attend departmental/unit or faculty meetings except upon invitation by the presiding office, and then without vote, but with the privilege of the floor.
  5. As detailed in the Graduate College Governance Document, upon the recommendation of the departmental or interdepartmental Graduate Committee, retired Graduate Faculty Members who have been appointed to emeritus status may retain the rights and privileges associated with theirl evel of membership on the Graduate Faculty. Further, consistent with the policiesof the Distinguished
  6. Professorship Committee, emeriti faculty may retain any special professorship title as approved by the Chancellor.

 

Emeriti Benefits Offered by Select UNL Units

(See https://emeriti.unl.edu/benefits for current details)

  1. Emeriti receive a ten percent discount to all Lied Center events.
  2. University Housing and Dining Services offers a special reduced pricing program in their dining centers, M-F, to emeriti. The prices are approximately a 25% reduction from the public guest prices at a cost of breakfast, $5.75; lunch, $7.75;and dinner, $9.75.These meals are available in most Housing Dining Centers except lunch in Selleck. There are multiple stations presenting many different choices. Sites excluded from this service are: The Corner Deli, Nebraska Unions.
  3. Food Court, Athletic Training Table, and holiday/special meals. For more information, visit: go.unl.edu/faculty-staff-meal-pricing.
  4. Emeriti continue to have accessto university libraryfacilities and DigitalCommons. Visit Digital Commons at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu.
  5. Emeriti may continueto use a university email address.
  6. Under a UNL licensing agreement with certain vendors,emeriti are eligiblefor faculty discounts at UNL computer and phone stores and can purchase computer, related equipment, software, and cell phones at considerable savings. They can also download, at no cost, the latest virus programs used at UNL (SYMANTEC ENDPOINT) for use on home computers and, when on campus, use the UNL wi-fi system.
  7. Upon presentation of a UNL ID, emeriti are admitted free to the University Museum. This excludes presentations at the Planetarium. Several enhanced membership packages are available for purchase for immediate familymembers. See the Museum websitefor details at http://www.museum.unl.edu.
  8. Upon presentation of a UNL ID, emeritiare admitted free to the International QuiltStudy Center and Museum. For information about this Center see http://www.quiltstudy.org/
  9. Emeriti with Verizonservice contracts throughUNL Computer Storereceive low-cost activation for international service when traveling abroad. The service can be activated on an existing device, or a loaner phone programmed for international calling, using an existing phone number, free of charge. The holder of the phone remains responsible for the monthly service plan charges, textingcharges, and per minute chargesassociated with the country(s) visited,as well as a one-time low-cost service charge. There are also unlimited international data options available. Contact the UNL Phone Store for details at 402-472-5151.
  10. Emeriti receive a subscription to the Nebraska Alumni Association publication Nebraska Magazine. Emeriti may also take advantage of the Nebraska Alumni Association’s senior membership that features rates discounted from 20-50% depending on the length and type of membership. For more information go to: http://huskeralum.org/membership-benefits or 402- 472-2841.

 

Sources:

Office of the UNL Executive Vice Chancellor: https://executivevc.unl.edu/faculty/searches- appointments/retirement-emeriti

Benefits for Emeriti and Retirees: https://emeriti.unl.edu/benefits

For information regarding the UNL Emeritiand Retirees Association visit: https://emeriti.unl.edu/

Compiled and adapted for Extension Educators by Nebraska Extension Dean’s Office – July 12, 2022

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