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AA/PPS 02.04.10 - Honorary Faculty Titles and Emeritus Faculty

Honorary Faculty Titles and Emeritus Faculty

AA/PPS No. 02.04.10
Issue No. 3
Revised: 6/18/2021
Effective Date: 2/10/2021
Next Review Date: 11/01/2022 (E4Y)
Sr. Reviewer: Associate Provost

POLICY STATEMENT

Texas State University is committed to providing recognition to current and retired faculty members for distinguished service and contributions.

  1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

    1. Several honorary titles, including those of regents’ professor, regents’ teacher, university distinguished professor, distinguished professor and associate professor emeritus, and professor and associate professor emeritus – are awarded to current and retired faculty to recognize long and distinguished service at Texas State University.
  2. PROCEDURES FOR APPOINTMENT

    1. University Distinguished Professor – honors individuals whose performance in teaching, research, and service has been exemplary and recognized at the state, national, and international levels. Faculty members who have held the rank of full professor for at least five consecutive years at Texas State are eligible to apply for this award. The awardees will receive a $5,000 award, a commemorative medallion, and a plaque. The awardees will be recognized at the Fall Convocation and Annual General Faculty Meeting (see University Distinguished Professor Award Criteria for criteria and selection process).

    2. Regents’ Professor – the highest faculty honor and title bestowed by The Texas State University System (TSUS). The purpose of the award is to honor individuals whose performance and contributions to the educational community at large have been exemplary. Nominees must be full-time faculty members who have held the rank of full professor or equivalent for a period of not less than five consecutive years. Nominees must demonstrate a record of distinguished teaching along with accomplishments in research or other scholarly activities; a record of service at the local, state, and national levels; and a record of commitment to the college or university.

      Nominations for regents’ professor are selected by the president from the list of Texas State faculty who have received the title of university distinguished professor; nominations are submitted to The TSUS Board of Regents.

      Recipients will receive a $10,000 award and a commemorative medallion bearing the seal of The TSUS. The awardees will be recognized at the Fall Convocation and Annual General Faculty Meeting. Upon retirement, a regents’ professor automatically receives emeritus faculty status.

    3. Regents’ Teacher – The purpose of the TSUS Regents’ Teacher Award is to honor exceptional instructors at TSUS component institutions. Nominees must be full-time faculty members with at least five consecutive years of teaching experience at the institution and must demonstrate a record of distinguished teaching.

      Recipients will receive a $5,000 award and a commemorative medallion bearing the seal of the TSUS. The awardees will be recognized at the Fall Convocation and Annual General Faculty Meeting. Upon retirement, a regents’ teacher automatically receives emeritus faculty status.

    4. * Distinguished Professor or Associate Professor Emeritus – This title honors extraordinary faculty members who are retiring or who have already retired to recognize their exemplary service to Texas State. Because of the special nature of this designation, normally no more than three individuals will be named as distinguished professor and associate professor emeritus in any year. There may be years in which this title is not conferred. The awardees are honored with a plaque at the Fall Convocation and Annual General Faculty Meeting (see Distinguished Professor Emeritus Nomination form for eligibility and nomination process, including expectations for meeting the required criteria for teaching excellence and recognition resulting from scholarly or creative work as well as three of the five additional criteria).

    5. Professor Emeritus and Associate Professor Emeritus – The president is authorized to bestow the title of professor emeritus and associate professor emeritus upon any retired member of the faculty or in anticipation of the retirement of the faculty member, effective upon retirement. For professor emeritus, the title may be bestowed provided that the faculty member holds the rank of professor at Texas State and has served the university, with distinction, for at least ten years. For associate professor emeritus, the title may be bestowed provided that the faculty member holds the rank of associate professor at Texas State and has served the university, with distinction, for at least fifteen years.

      Except for regents’ professors and university distinguished professors, the conferring of these titles is not automatic upon retirement, but shall be based upon individual distinction, exceptionally high-quality service, and outstanding contributions to the university. Academic deans recommend recipients to the provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs and the president from the list of eligible candidates nominated by their peers.

      Recipients are recognized and receive a certificate at the Annual Retired Faculty and Staff Reception hosted by the president.

    6. Other useful forms for this policy:

      1. University Distinguished Professor Award Nomination form to be included with summary presentation;

      2. summary presentation; and

      3. Distinguished Emeriti List.

  3. REVIEWER OF THIS PPS

    1. Reviewer of this PPS includes the following:

      PositionDate
      Associate ProvostNovember 1 E4Y
  4. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

    This PPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State Academic Affairs policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

    Associate Provost; senior reviewer of this PPS

    Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs