Professor emeritus is a title given to retired professors many colleges and universities. Academics earn or receive the title if they meet the requirements established the institution where they work. Within the academic community, there is no single standard for bestowing the title of professor emeritus. Instead, colleges and university systems establish their own criteria for awarding this title to their faculty. In many cases, having the title of professor emeritus confers certain benefits. These benefits can range from the ability to keep an on-campus office to the ability to continue teaching to the use of institutional facilities.
Professor emeritus is a title that recognizes an academic’s previous and ongoing relationship with and contributions to the academic community. In some schools, it is standard practice to confer the title on all retirees who have worked at the school for a specified period of time. Retirees at other schools aren’t always guaranteed the title or the benefits that come with it. Instead, the professor’s contribution to the university must have been notable in some way. A department chair, a committee, or an administrative board can bestow the honorary title. A high-ranking administrator, such as a college dean, may be required to nominate a candidate for professor emeritus status the school or its governing system.
After receiving the title, the academic may be eligible for a variety of benefits. Because many academics wish to continue their research after retirement, access to university libraries, laboratories, computers, and databases is essential to their continued work. Professor emeritus status allows retired academics to continue their research and contribute to their scholarly community. Because many colleges and universities provide comprehensive services to students and faculty, such as counseling, wellness, and on-campus exercise facilities, a professor emeritus and possibly his family may be able to take advantage of these benefits as long as he lives near the school.
If a professor emeritus enjoys teaching, she may be able to do so in some cases. Professor emeritus courses can be part of the regular curriculum, but they can also be high-level seminars in a specific area of interest to the professor. Some people with this title may be able to work directly with graduate students as advisors or members of thesis/dissertation committees in addition to teaching.