Approved by the Board of Trustees of Rockland Community College on March 16, 1989. Amended on June 21, 2007. Amended on June 26, 2024.

Professor Emeritus is an honorary title for professors who have made significant contributions to the College and the community during their tenure at the College.

Eligibility requirements for Professor Emeritus status:

  1. Must be retired at the rank of Full Professor.
  2. Award will be granted when the faculty member retires at the full-professor status and is a non-teaching faculty member within one year after retirement.
  3. The title of SUNY Distinguished Professor is automatically deemed Professor Emeritus status upon retirement.

Nominees will be judged on:

  1. Length of service to the institution
  2. Leadership and/or active participation in a discipline
  3. Excellence in the performance of assigned professional responsibilities
  4. Service to the College, community, and one’s profession
  5. Demonstrative collaboration in service to students and colleagues.

Committee:
The Professor Emeritus nomination committee will be populated through the Faculty Senate President. The committee will be comprised of 5 full-time faculty members from among the current Full Professors. The committee will choose its own chairperson. Nominated candidates are not permitted to serve on the committee.

Nominations:
A call for nominations will be distributed to the faculty of the College via e-mail by January 31st each year. Candidates must be nominated by a full-time or part-time faculty member of the College, past or present, by March 1st of that year. Candidates may be nominated posthumously. Nominations must be sent to the Faculty Senate President in writing and must include a rationale for the nomination.

Recognition:
Candidates who receive Professor Emeritus status will be recognized on the College website and be honored at the May Board of Trustees meeting of the year candidates are selected.

Chosen candidates will be:

  1. Presented an award recognizing their status.
  2. Granted privileges to an RCC email account.
  3. Granted access to athletic facilities that include the fitness center and pool.
  4. Granted access to the College Library’s resources and services.
  5. Granted two complimentary tickets to student visual and performing arts productions.