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Honorary titles

The granting of honorary titles is intended to facilitate collaboration with distinguished individuals from other universities or external organisations, and with retiring members of staff. An honorary title carries no privileges other than access to the University's IT services and Library; any local arrangements are the responsibility of the department concerned. With the exception of Emeritus Professors and Emeritus Readers, honorary titles are bestowed for a fixed term only. 

Honorary titles policy note

1. Introduction

1.1 This Policy Note provides further information on the granting of Honorary Titles of the University, which are subject to formal approval by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, following a mechanism of formal review and recommendation as set out in this Policy Note. 

1.2 The granting of honorary titles is intended to facilitate collaboration with distinguished and high-reputation individuals from other universities, partner organisations including or external organisations, and with retiring members of staff.

1.3 Honorary titles:

  • carry no privileges other than access to the University's IT services and Library; any local arrangements are the responsibility of the department concerned is not transferable to, or held jointly or severally by anyone other than the named individual under any circumstances may be suspended or revoked by the University under exceptional circumstances are determined by the University of York department. Titles are bestowed for a fixed term only of up to five years (which may be subject to renewal²) , with the exception of Emeritus Professors and Emeritus Readers and honorary titles granted to CITY College University of York Europe Campus academic staff.
  • do not confer University of York employee status on holders.

2. Submitting a recommendation for approval

2.1 Recommendations from a Head of Department for the conferment or renewal of an honorary title should be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor's Office Manager (julie.sugden@york.ac.uk) for consideration by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, and should comprise: 

a) a letter of recommendation (as a pdf), including

  • details of the department’s intended relationship with the honorary appointee.
  • the effective date and length of the appointment (up to 5 years). See footnote 1.
  • the appointee’s postal and preferred email address for subsequent
    correspondence.

b) a brief curriculum vitae (two sides - as a pdf).

c) two external references (not required for renewal of an existing appointment or for a retiring member of staff).²

3. Honorary titles awarded by the University of York 

Title Designated to
Emeritus
Professor/
Emeritus
Reader
Retired Professors and Readers. Nominees should be fully retired; any part-time contract undertaken subsequent to retirement from a full-time position must be completed before an emeritus title becomes effective.
Honorary
Professor 

Distinguished individuals with an international research or equivalent reputation who have or retain a link with a department:

  • Former Professors of this University, other than those who have retired Former Professors of other institutions.
  • Current or Former Professors of partner institutions/campuses (ie, City College Thessaloniki)³.
  • Distinguished individuals of professorial-equivalent status outside Higher Education.
Honorary
Senior
Lecturer⁴
Academic staff from CITY College, University of York Europe Campus who have Associate Professor title at
the College, and a significant reputation in the field of research/expertise/teaching and are active in disseminating findings through high-quality publications. Such individuals will hold Associate Professor Title at CITY College, University of York Europe Campus. 
Honorary
Lecturer
Academic staff from CITY College, University of York Europe Campus who are developing a strong reputation in research at any beyond postdoctoral level/teaching, scholarship and professional practice/academic citizenship and who are raising their profile through disseminating findings through high-quality publications. Such individuals will be Assistant Professors or Lecturers at CITY College, University of York Europe Campus.
Honorary
Fellow 
  • Retired staff, other than Professors, who continue an association with their department.
  • Individuals outside the University who have an active and continuing association with a department.
Honorary
Visiting
Professor 

Distinguished individuals of professorial or equivalent
status who: 

  • are visiting the University for a term or more, or
  • collaborate with the University on a regular basis, the title to lapse when the collaboration comes to an end. 
Honorary
Visiting
Fellow

Academic visitors and individuals outside Higher
Education, not of professorial status, who:

  • are visiting the University for a term or more, or
  • collaborate with the University on a regular basis, the title to lapse when the collaboration comes to an end. 

Recommendations

Recommendations/renewals will need to be received by Julie Sugden, Vice Chancellor's Office (julie.sugden@york.ac.uk)  by the following dates if they are to be submitted to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost for consideration:

Deadlines:

  • Friday 20 September 2024
  • Friday 18 October 2024
  • Friday 22 November 2024
  • Friday 31 January 2025
  • Friday 11 April 2025
  • Friday 25 July 2025

Following approval by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, the Vice-Chancellor's office will:

  • send written confirmation to the titleholder, with a copy to the Head of Department
  • add the titleholder to the People Database for network access 
  • update a database of honorary titleholders. 

  1. In the case of honorary titles granted in respect of CITY College, University of York Europe Campus staff, the honorary title remains in force for the period in which the individual holds the relevant academic title and position at CITY College, University of York Europe Campus. On this basis, the five-year time limit does not apply to CITY College designations. 
  2. For CITY College, 1 external reference and 1 CITY College management reference is sufficient, in lieu of two external references. 
  3. Such individuals will hold/have held prior to department a Professorial Title at CITY College, University of York Europe Campus. 
  4. Honorary Lecturer and Honorary Senior Lecturer designations are currently only awarded to eligible academic staff CITY College, University of York Europe Campus and are not for wider application. This may be subject to future review.