Johnson School
Cornell University

Retirement and Phased Retirement

A person who has retired is no longer considered tenured. At the point of full, formal retirement, tenure is surrendered.

It helps to think of the technical meaning of "tenure"-- "appointment with indefinite tenure". [Academic appointments are contracts, and as such have start dates and end dates, so they have "definite" time in the appointment; but for those who have been elected to "appointment with indefinite tenure" by the Trustees, the end-date of the appointment is removed. This is "tenure" -- appointment on a contract with no end-date.] "Appointment with indefinite tenure" is removed at the point of retirement -- thereafter, active appointment is on a year-to-year basis, with each active appointment having a definite end-date.

For those on phased retirement, tenure is surrendered at the point of full, formal retirement. Full, formal retirement occurs at the end of the phased retirement agreement. The phased retirement contract anticipates this and defines the date when that will happen. But the appointment is not changed to reflect surrender of tenure until the point of full, formal retirement. For additional information on Phased Retirement go to http://www.ohr.cornell.edu/benefits/programs/retirePhasedEndow.html. In addition, a sample Phased Retirement Agreement is available at Phased Retirement Agreement.

For those with named chairs, the chair is held actively until the time of full, formal retirement. It is held actively during the period phasing toward retirement, if the person is in a phased retirement agreement. At the point of full, formal retirement, the professor may be recommended for emeritus status -- the recommendation almost always includes continued use of the chaired title in emeritus status. But that title in emeritus status is honorary only; it does not encumber funds and it does not prevent refilling the chair at the point of full retirement at the end of the phased retirement contract.

The recommendation for emeritus status originates with a vote of the faculty and the recommendation of the Dean. The recommendation is forwarded to the Provost along with a UPAF for emeritus status. Following approval, the Dean's Office is notified by e-mail that the emeritus recommendation has been approved.

As for voting rights, the Provost's Policy Statement on the Transition of Faculty to Emeritus Status states:

Voting and Committee Status

• University Faculty. According to the By-Laws of the University (Article XIII), emeritus professors are voting members of the University Faculty. Therefore, they are eligible to serve on elected or appointed University Faculty committees.
• College, School or Department. The University By-laws grant to each college, school and department the right to determine its voting membership. However, emeritus faculty do not vote on tenure or promotion decisions. Eligibility to serve on committees varies widely; individuals should check with their particular unit.

Additional information is available in the Provost's Policy Statement.

Last Modified: July 26, 2004