Office of Research Administration

Procedures for Retired Faculty Applying for Grants or Contracts

This policy was outlined in a Feb. 1, 1994, memo to members of the faculty, from Jehuda Reinharz, then provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; and Irving Epstein, then dean of arts and sciences

This memo establishes the procedures by which emeritus faculty or faculty who are applying for grant support that extends into retirement may do so. These faculty will need written approval from the chair of their department and the dean of arts and sciences before any grant or contract can be submitted.

Several important factors have to be taken into consideration by the chair and dean of arts and sciences before approval can be given to sponsor a retired faculty member's application for a grant or contract, or to authorize a research appointment for a retired faculty member on the grant or contract of a current member of the faculty. These factors include the availability of office and laboratory space; the direct and indirect effects upon other research and training programs within the department and the university; and the contribution of the proposed research to the university community.

If an emeritus faculty member is half-time or more on an annual basis, he or she will be entitled to fringe benefits normally accorded to senior research associates, with the exception of retirement payments. If employment is less than half-time, only FICA will be charged. Half-time is defined on the basis of a 12-month working year.

If an emeritus faculty member is to receive a salary from the sponsored research awards, the emeritus faculty member will be given the additional title of senior research associate, to be held during the period of grant or contract support. The same procedures will apply in the case of emeritus faculty who seek appointment as a senior research associate on the grants or contracts of nonretired members of the faculty.

An emeritus faculty member who is appointed as a senior research associate under the above conditions may be paid salary from the grant or contract for any fraction of his or her time, up to 100%. The initial salary rate may not exceed that at which the faculty member was being paid at the time of retirement. This amount can be adjusted consistent with annual university increases and the approval of the dean of arts and sciences.