Phased Retirement Policy for Tenured Faculty at the South Orange Campus

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Policy Description

Purpose

This policy is designed to assist tenured faculty at the South Orange campus as they prepare for retirement by facilitating the transition from full time responsibilities to a reduced teaching load accompanied by the flexibility to pursue scholarly interests.

Policy

Eligibility. Full-time tenured faculty members at the South Orange campus whose age and years of full-time service at Seton Hall University total 65 years may apply to the Provost for a phased retirement agreement (hereinafter referred to as “agreement”). The decision to request a phased retirement agreement is at the sole discretion of the faculty member. No faculty member shall, in any manner, be coerced by any University officer or employee to request or accept a phased retirement agreement.
Approval/Denial. Approval of a request for a phased retirement agreement shall not be automatic. Approval or denial shall be within the discretion of a Chair, Dean and the Provost based on the needs of the department or college and the best interests of the University. Only the Provost shall have the authority to approve a phased retirement agreement. The University shall not be obligated to enter into such an agreement or to extend such an agreement beyond its original term.
Tenure Status. If approved, the faculty member shall voluntarily and irrevocably relinquish tenure at the inception of the agreement period, replacing tenure with the term of employment specified in the phased retirement agreement.
Title. The faculty member shall be awarded the title of “Professor Emeritus/a” at the commencement of the agreement.
Term of Agreement. The agreement shall be for a term of one to three years, in the sole discretion of the Provost, on terms and conditions approved by the Provost. It may be renewed for one year terms at its expiration, in the sole discretion of the Provost and on terms and conditions approved by the Provost.
Course Load. The faculty member shall be employed at a 6 credit hour course load, or its equivalent, per semester, which may include released time for scholarly pursuits or administrative projects, the specific terms of which shall be set forth in detail in the agreement itself.
Salary. The faculty member shall be paid at one-half of the base salary being received as of the first day of July immediately preceding the commencement of the phased retirement agreement, with increments added annually in the same manner and percentage as provided for full-time tenured faculty members.
Benefits. The faculty member will be eligible for benefits in accordance with University policies and benefit plans applicable to phased retirees under this policy.
Privileges. The faculty member may attend meetings of his/her department and school or college. The faculty member shall relinquish voting membership, but not voice, in his or her departmental or school or college. The faculty member shall not be obligated to serve on departmental or other committees. The faculty member shall continue to have access to private office space, as allocated by the Dean and which may be shared office space, secretarial assistance, refreshed laptops, email service and other such services that are typically provided to full-time tenured faculty members. Access to laboratory and other such facilities may be provided for in the agreement, depending on the responsibilities of the individual faculty member. The faculty member shall otherwise be governed by the Faculty Emeritus/Faculty Emerita Policy.
Application Procedure
a. The faculty member shall first discuss a phased retirement agreement and its terms with his/her department Chair. If the faculty member and the Chair agree on the terms of an agreement, the Chair shall recommend the proposed phased retirement agreement to the Dean for approval. If the Chair does not recommend a proposed phased retirement agreement, the faculty member may seek approval directly from the Dean.

b. If the Dean approves the terms of a proposed phased retirement agreement, the Dean shall recommend the proposed phased retirement agreement to the Provost. If the Dean does not approve the terms of a proposed phased retirement agreement, the matter shall end there.

c. The Provost, in considering any application for such an agreement, shall conduct an independent review of the proposed phased retirement agreement and its terms to assure that such an agreement serves the University’s instructional and other needs.

d. If the Provost approves a phased retirement agreement, the terms shall be incorporated into the attached phased retirement agreement. By entering into a phased retirement agreement, the faculty member voluntarily releases the University from all claims or causes of action s/he might have had arising from any aspect of his/her employment at the University.
Expiration/Voluntary Termination. The phased retirement agreement shall automatically expire at the end of the term set forth in the agreement, without further action by the University, and the faculty member shall automatically cease to be an employee of the University unless another term contract, including but not limited to a phased retirement agreement, is executed, in writing, by the faculty member and the University. The University is under no obligation to renew any phased retirement agreement. The phased retirement agreement may be terminated at any time if the faculty member and the University both agree.
Renewal. Any renewal of a phased retirement agreement shall be governed by this policy.
Compliance. Failure to fulfill the responsibilities under a phased retirement agreement or this policy may result in sanctions, including but not limited to, loss of Emeritus/a status or actions by the University to recoup any salary or cost of benefits paid under a phased retirement agreement. The faculty member remains subject to all other University policies and procedures.

Responsible Office

The Office of the Provost shall be responsible for implementing this policy.

Related Policies/Plans

Faculty Emeritus/Emerita Policy
SHU Defined Contribution Plan (TIAA-CREF)
SHU Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (TIAA-CREF)
SHU Welfare Benefits Plan (medical, dental, prescription drugs, long-term disability, life insurance and Employee Assistance Program)

Approved

Approved by the Board of Regents on December 4, 2008

Effective Date

January 1, 2009