Procedure: Academic titles conferral: Honorary (Clinical) appointee, Visiting Fellow, Visitor and Emeritus Professor

Purpose

To outline the procedures underpinning the conferral of academic titles at the Australian National University (ANU).

Definitions

Honorary Appointee refers to individuals who possess professional expertise and experience needed to support the research or creative activity, education and service activities of the University.

Visiting Fellow refers to individuals of excellent standing whose activities align with the research or creative activity or education activities of the University and who are employed at other institutions that the University wishes to collaborate with.

Visitor refers to individuals employed at other Universities of excellent standing whose activities align with the research or creative activity or education activities of the University; or Individuals who possess professional expertise and experience needed to support the research or creative activity, education and service activities of the University.

Emeritus Professor refers to retired ANU Professors whose sustained and eminent contribution to ANU warrants recognition.

Procedure

Application for conferral or renewal of Honorary, Honorary (Clinical), Visiting Fellow or Visitor titles

1. Applications for the conferral or renewal of honorary appointments, visiting fellow or visitor titles will be submitted on the current, approved University pro forma by published dates, comprising:

1. Part 1: Applicant details, nature and length of proposed association, alignment of proposed activities with the research or education activities of the University (visiting fellow and visitor only) statement relative to opportunity (where appropriate) and declaration;
2. Part 2: Research/School Director or Medical Dean endorsement;
3. College Executive endorsement of any non-baseline privileges not outlined in the associated policy;
4. Part 3: College Dean and Medical Dean (where relevant) acknowledgement (honorary, Level E and E3 only);
5. Part 4: Applications for the conferral of Honorary or Visiting Fellow titles (where the proposed association with the University is for three months or more) will be accompanied by two references from individuals with appropriate experience and expertise to comment on the applicant’s proposed association with ANU.
6. Part 5: An up to date curriculum vitae that includes as a minimum:

2. Applicants will ensure that the application is complete and accurate.

Determination of conferral of Honorary, Honorary (Clinical), Visiting Fellow or Visitor titles

3. Outcomes for the conferral of an academic title are determined on the basis of the holistic recognition of the quality and impact of applicant achievements in research/creative activity, education and service to the profession or disciplinary area (and University in the case of renewal applications) as demonstrated through various forms of evidence.
4. Additional information may be required before a decision can be made. The applicant will be notified if additional information is sought.
5. For applications within the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology, additional information is obtained from the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology Appointment, Renewal and Clinical Promotion Committee regarding clinical contributions and performance.
6. College Deans or Research/School Directors approve (where the delegation has been transferred) the conferral of the title Visiting Fellow or Visitor.
7. Research/School Directors endorse, and College Deans or the Medical Dean approve the conferral of Honorary titles levels B–D.
8. College Executive approves any non-baseline privileges for honorary academic members or visiting fellows.
9. Research/School Directors endorse, College Deans and the Medical Dean acknowledge (where relevant) and the Vice Chancellor approves the conferral of honorary academic title for level E or E3.

Use of the title ‘Clinical’

10. Use of the title ‘Clinical’ for honorary academics is restricted to practitioners on the ANU approved Health Practitioner List:

Expense claims of Visiting Fellows or Visitors

11. Colleges provide holders of a conferred academic title with a specific statement of any expenses to be met.

Application for conferral of the Academic Title Emeritus Professor

12. Supervisors and College Deans nominate staff to the Vice Chancellor for consideration of conferral of the academic title Emeritus Professor on the grounds of:

1. demonstrated eminence in research or creative activity, as seen for example in achievement of sustained, outstanding research outcomes at ANU and recognition of that eminence by international peers; or
2. demonstrated eminence in education, as seen for example in evidence of sustained, outstanding education outcomes at ANU and recognition of that eminence by international peers; and
3. demonstrated sustained excellence in service, as seen for example in evidence of excellent service outcomes at ANU and recognition of that excellence by the University.
4. Nominations for conferral of the academic title Emeritus Professor must include a substantial evidence base, including a curriculum vitae that includes as a minimum:

13. Applications for the conferral of an Emeritus Professor title will also include comments from two referees of appropriate international distinction who do not have conflicts of interest.
14. Applicants will ensure that the application is complete and accurate.

Determination of conferral of Emeritus Professor title

15. Outcomes for the conferral of an Emeritus Professor title are determined in exceptional cases on the basis of the holistic recognition of the quality and impact of applicant achievements in research/creative activity, education and service to the disciplinary area, and demonstrated eminence in one or more areas specified in clause 12 above, as demonstrated through various forms of evidence.
16. Additional information may be required before a decision can be made. The applicant will be notified if additional information is sought.
17. College Executive approves any non-baseline privileges not outlined in the associated policy.
18. The Vice Chancellor approves and the University Council notes the conferral of the academic title Emeritus Professor.
19. Where an Emeritus Professor title has been conferred, an appointee may elect to utlise Emerita Professor as an alternative title.

Communication of outcomes

20. Applicants will receive written notification of outcome from the relevant College Dean or Research/School Director (where the delegation has been transferred) or the Vice Chancellor.

Appeals

21. Applicants who are unsuccessful may lodge an appeal only on the basis that there has been a procedural irregularity resulting in material disadvantage.
22. Appeals are made in writing to the Vice-Chancellor within three months of delivery of the notification of outcome.
23. The Vice-Chancellor will seek advice as to whether or not there has been a breach of procedure, and on the basis of that advice:

1. confirm the original determination to deny the conferral of an academic title, or
2. uphold the appeal and approve the conferral of an academic title.

24. Appellants will receive written notification of the outcome of the appeal.
25. The effective date of conferral will be set out in the letter of offer.

Review or withdrawal of title

26. ANU reserves the right to review or withdraw an academic title and any associated privileges and conditions if the College Dean (Visitors, Visiting Fellows, honorary academic member levels B–D) or the Vice Chancellor (Level E or E3 honorary academic or Emeritus) deem that the individual:

1. is no longer contributing sufficiently or in fulfilment of expectations to the research/creative activity, education or service activities of the University;
2. used an inaccurate title or used title in a way not in accordance with the policy;
3. has breached the ANU code of conduct or other ANU workplace policies;
4. demonstrates a conflict of interest between University activities and any outside work or activities;
5. commits the University to any contractual or legally binding agreement;
6. fails to comply with the University’s intellectual property requirements as outlined in the letter of offer; or
7. has changed or ceased their external employment situation justifying the withdrawal of the academic title.

27. ANU reserves the right to review or withdraw any academic title conferred under this procedure if the Vice-Chancellor deems that the continuation of that appointment is otherwise no longer in the best interests of the University.
28. There is no appeal process to a decision of the Vice-Chancellor.
29. The withdrawal of any academic title under Section 27 will be noted annually by Council.
30. Anyone, whose position awarded under this procedure is being withdrawn, will be informed, in writing, by the Vice-Chancellor or relevant College Dean.