Retiring and Emeritus Faculty
John S. Toll Professorship Program
The John S. Toll Professorship provides an opportunity for full- and part-time tenured faculty to hold a part-time, post-retirement assignment and allows the university to retain the faculty member’s experience and contributions over the appointment period.
To become a Toll Professor
Faculty who have announced their retirement date may submit a request to their department chair to become a Toll professor.
Upon approval, the department chair will forward the request to the college or school dean, who will then submit the request with their recommendation to the Provost’s Office.
The Provost’s Office will generate an offer letter that includes the Toll professor’s assignment.
Toll Appointments
Toll professors are part-time, temporary appointments that may be renewed annually for up to three years after the faculty member’s retirement date. Toll professors will be hired to positions at the academic rank achieved at the time of retirement.
Ten-month faculty may be appointed to Toll professorships for the fall and spring semesters only. Toll professorships are terminal state appointments.
Participation in the Toll Professorship program precludes participation in any other University separation incentive program, unless directly allowed in any particular incentive program.
Salary and Benefits
The Toll Professor’s starting salary is calculated as a percentage of the full-time base salary of their salary immediately preceding retirement. It will correspond to the percentage of effort, but will not exceed the salary cap, currently $30,000. Participants are eligible for negotiated across-the-board salary increases but not discretionary increases. The salary will be annualized and paid according to the state pay schedule.
Toll Benefits
Eligible participants may elect to enroll in health insurance, and union-provided dental and vision coverage. Premiums for health insurance are established by the Department of Civil Service and participants may be entitled to use the value of accumulated unused sick leave to offset all or part of the cost of health insurance during retirement.
There will be no further contributions or service credit to the retirement systems. Participants will be retired from Stony Brook University and as retirees will not be eligible to participate in any legislated retirement incentives.
Please contact HRS Benefits at 631-632-6180 for more information.
Toll Professors remain represented by the United University Professions and are subject to applicable union dues.
Participants will accrue leave on a part-time basis, according to the UUP agreement. They are not eligible for sabbaticals or Title F leave.
Becoming an Emeritus/Emerita/Emeriti Faculty Member
Emeritus/Emerita/Emeriti status is an honorary designation granted by the Provost to retired Stony Brook University faculty or librarians who have made meaningful contributions during their careers.
Eligibility
Emeritus/Emerita/Emeriti status may be considered when all of the following apply:
- The individual is a tenured or tenure-track faculty member. Tenured faculty may be full- or part-time. Tenure-track faculty must be full-time.
- The individual is retiring pursuant to Article XV, Title B or C of the SUNY Board of Trustees Policies (see SUNY policy).
- The individual is in good standing.
Faculty holding a Toll Professorship may apply only after the Toll term has concluded.
Request and Review Process
At least three months before retirement, the faculty member will submit their retirement paperwork and an emeritus request to their department chair. The chair will then forward the request to the school/college dean, who will submit it to the Provost’s Office.
Documentation should be submitted to the Provost’s Office via email to provost_reappointments@stonybrook.edu with the subject line, “Emeritus Request.”
The Provost’s Office will review the request, including confirming the employee’s good-standing status, a month to a few weeks before the anticipated retirement date. The process is complete only when the good standing review is finalized and all required approvals or communications have been issued.
Benefits of the Emeriti Faculty Association
As an emeritus/emerita/emeriti faculty member, the individual retains library privileges and access to their Stony Brook email address.
Emeritus/Emerita/Emeriti faculty are also invited to join the Emeriti Faculty Association.
The Association meets monthly during the academic year and offers talks, newsletters, and community activities for members and their significant others.
Emeriti Faculty Association Members List
Provost's Office Staff Contact
Faith Mirabile
631.632.7010