Northern Illinois University’s provost presented an informational report recognizing 22 faculty members who retired in fiscal 2025 and who are being recommended for emeritus status, and she outlined the benefits and the university’s review process.
Provost Lori Eilish Piper told the Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Personnel Committee that “this item is always a bit bittersweet” and described the routine review and recommendation process: human resources compiles a list of ranked faculty who announced or finalized retirement during the fiscal year, the provost’s office reviews it, and the president presents it to the board. Piper said this year’s list covers retirees whose retirement dates were between July 2, 2024, and July 1, 2025.
Why it matters: Emeritus status provides retired faculty ongoing, formal ties to the university that support research, mentorship and occasional teaching—resources the university may rely on as programs pursue continuity and student progress.
Piper described benefits conferred to emeritus faculty: the ability to use the emeritus title, continued access to NIU libraries and research software and databases, eligibility to teach or serve in interim roles where needed, and the possibility to continue serving on graduate thesis and dissertation committees. On office space she said that any assignment is “based on the availability in the department and college” and that assigned spaces are generally shared.
Committee members asked clarifying questions. Trustee Bartzema asked whether the names come from departments or HR; Piper responded that HR assembles the list and the provost’s office reviews it before recommending the list to the president and board. When asked how many of the 22 are teaching this fall, Piper said she did not know the precise number and that often retirees take a break before returning to teach; she said HR was gathering the data.
The item was presented as informational; no committee vote was required. The provost noted the university is grateful to the retired faculty and encouraged continued engagement.
Ending: The committee acknowledged the emeritus recipients and proceeded to the next informational item on curriculum changes reported to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.