Emeritus Status-Process

Emeritus Status

Emeritus status is one of the university's highest recognitions for retiring faculty. It honors individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to Indiana University Indianapolis through their teaching, research, service, leadership, and commitment to the academic community.

The emeritus designation recognizes a distinguished record of achievement and continued association with the university following retirement.

Approval of emeritus status is granted by the Indiana University Board of Trustees upon recommendation of campus and university leadership.

Eligibility:

Faculty members may be considered for emeritus status if they:

• Are retiring from Indiana University;
• Hold or have held a full-time faculty appointment;
• Have completed at least ten years of service at IU Indianapolis (exceptions may be considered in exceptional circumstances);
• Have demonstrated sustained contributions to the university; and
• Have exhibited excellent academic citizenship, integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the university's mission.

Emeritus status may be awarded at any faculty rank when the individual's record demonstrates sustained and significant contributions to the institution.

Process for Submission: Candidate Initiated 

• Candidate prepares a short statement (not to exceed two pages) outlining their most significant contributions to research, teaching, service to the school/campus/university, service to the professional/community, and academic citizenship. A current CV should also be provided.
• Department chair provides a cover letter that includes three-to-five bullet points on the most significant contributions of the faculty member, and forwards their letter, candidate materials, and a copy of the letter/email indicating an intent to retire to the dean.
• Dean provides a short letter indicating whether they support the case and forwards it to the provost along with the other materials prepared by the candidate and chair. The request packet must be in one combined PDF and sent to ude[dot]ui[at]rhdaca. One request packet per email if sending multiple requests.
  

Process for Submission: Chair Initiated 

• Department chair prepares a letter (not to exceed two pages) outlining the candidate's most significant contributions to research, teaching, service to the school/campus/university, service to the professional/community, and academic citizenship. A current CV should also be provided.
• Department chair their letter, candidate CV, and a copy of the letter/email indicating an intent to retire to the dean.
• Dean provides a short letter indicating whether they support the case and forwards it to the provost along with the other materials prepared by the candidate and chair. The request packet must be in one combined PDF and sent to ude[dot]ui[at]rhdaca. One request packet per email if sending multiple requests.
  

Guidance for Successful Submission Content

The provost evaluates emeritus applications with excellence in teaching, research (for tenure-track and research faculty), service to the discipline, and service to the campus in mind. Successful applications will demonstrate how a faculty member has made exceptional achievements in two or more of these areas. Exceptional achievements may include:

• Demonstrated sustained excellence in teaching with measurable and significant impact on student learning, curriculum, and/or success.
• Significant contributions to disciplinary research and innovation as evidenced by publications, external funding, patents, creative work, and other related metrics.
• Evidence of success in significant leadership roles in the university, campus, school, department, or program.
• Evidence of impact in significant leadership roles in the university or campus faculty governance.
• Evidence of impact in leadership in a professional and/or community organization.

Review and Approval Process

Following receipt of the nomination:

1. The provost reviews the nomination.
2. The provost consults with the chancellor regarding the recommendation.
3. The provost will send a letter communicating their decision to the candidate.
4. A campus recommendation is forwarded to the president.
5. The nomination is presented to the Indiana University Board of Trustees.
6. The Board of Trustees votes on the recommendation.

Emeritus status becomes official only upon approval by the Board of Trustees. Following Board approval, the faculty member receives formal notification of the award from the Indiana University President.

Submission Deadlines

There is no specific deadline for an emeritus application. However, candidates and school leadership may choose to target approval at a specific meeting of the Board of Trustees. To ensure sufficient time for review and inclusion on a targeted Board of Trustees agenda, nomination packets should be submitted at least two months before the date of the preferred Board of Trustees meeting.

Faculty may be nominated before or after their official retirement date.

 

HR Notes

• Following the provost's review, the person who submitted the request will receive an email from ude[dot]ui[at]rhdaca and a copy of the letter sent to the faculty member and placed in the school folder for filing.
• A summary of the materials from the application packet are shared with the president in a meeting held with the chancellor discussing entries made on the campus's submission to the Board of Trustees' Agenda.
  
• The school HR staff will include an admin post of emeritus/a (for the correct rank) during the 'termination' eDoc process. Emeritus/a status has to be approved by the campus before the termination eDoc is processed which may be before Board of Trustees approval.
  • If the termination eDoc has already been processed, please contact ude[dot]ui[at]rhdaca for next steps.

Benefits

Emeritus status provides continuing recognition as a member of the Indiana University academic community. 

• Emeritus/a status includes continuing access to IU email, software, and library systems. This is subject to IU software licensing agreements. 
  • This Knowledge Base webpage (Access to IU resources for official IU retirees) shows current information. 
    
• IU Indianapolis faculty are encouraged to consider membership in the IU Indianapolis Senior Academy.  
• The Emeriti House is located in Bloomington, but its activities are open to all IU emeriti faculty.  

Note: On IU retirement websites, the term "retired" applies solely to those who qualify for IU Retiree Status. A retiree need not qualify for IU Retiree Status to receive emeritus status. 

Reviewed and revised: 8/2026.