Final Approval Body: Board of Trustees
Senior Administrative Position with Responsibility for Policy: University Secretariat
Date Initially Approved: 2013
Date of Last Revision, if applicable: March 2024
DEFINITIONS
Emeritus, Emerita, Emerit: Honorary titles recognizing exemplary service, accomplishment, and contributions, as well aslong service, to Queen’s University. The honorary designation does not include rights or privileges, except those conferred in this policy by the Board of Trustees. The beneficiary may select which of the three titles they prefer to use upon conferral of the title, with emeritus, emerita, and emerit being the traditional male, female, and gender-neutral selections, respectively.
I-EDIAA: Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
PURPOSE OF POLICY
This policy and related procedures set out the nomination, appointment criteria, and procedure to confer the honorary title of chair emerit honorary title to retired chairs, or the honorary title of trustee emerit to retired trustees of the Board of Trustees of
Queen’s University.
SCOPE OF PROPOSED POLICY/PROCEDURE
This policy applies to Queen’s Board of Trustees, and its former members and chairs, per the Board’s by-law 1.12.
POLICY STATEMENT
Queen’s University recognizes the valuable contributions of former chairs and members of the Board of Trustees in the institution’s governance and in upholding the university’s vision and values. To recognize the exemplary contribution of these individuals, the title of “Trustee Emerit” or “Chair Emerit” may be conferred. In making recommendations to the Board for conferring of the honorary title of trustee emerit or chair emerit, the Governance and Nominating Committee must consider the former trustee's/chair's:
- Exemplary service to the Board and the University during their term as trustee or chair.
- Ability and willingness to further the University's external relationships, including willingness to serve as an advocate on behalf of the University and for its priorities, values, mission, and strategic objectives.
- Demonstrated capacity and willingness to continue to add value to the University or the Board on a continual basis in the future.
- Demonstrated contributions to the board’s dynamics, collegiality, integration, inclusion, and equal standing of trustees, as well as the board’s cohesiveness and effectiveness.
- Demonstrated commitment and contributions to governance and advancing the University’s strategic goals around Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism.
Exemplary service shall have been demonstrated by:
- A retired trustee's/chair's active participation and engagement when serving in a leadership role as a member of the board or chair, as the case may be;
- Consistent philanthropic support; and
- Demonstrated interest in and service to the institution beyond the role of trustee/chair.
The term for an appointment under this policy is for the life of the individual unless otherwise specified in the resolution of the Board establishing the appointment. The honorary title of emerit may be immediately revoked if the trustee is automatically vacated from office for reasons of bankruptcy, incapacity, criminal conviction, resignation or ineligibility under the Income Tax Act.
Trustees emerit will have no voting rights at meetings of the Board, nor the right to attend closed sessions of the Board, nor have their attendance counted for quorum. However, trustees and chairs emerit can be appointed to committees of the Board, in which case they will have voice and vote, and their attendance will count for quorum.
The Committee will annually consider nominating candidates who have retired from the Board of Trustees, having served at least six years.
Following nomination in accordance with this policy, trustees or the Board Chair may be appointed to the honorary title of emerit by the Board of Trustees on recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee. Appointments will not normally be to both the role of trustee emerit and the role of chair emerit. Such appointments will normally take effect at least one year following the conclusion of the chair's or trustee's term of appointment on the Board. However, this criterion may be waived in exceptional circumstances. Consideration of appointments will normally come forward at the first closed meeting of the Board in the fall of the year.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Board of Trustees – The Board is responsible for carefully considering the information and recommendation provided by the Governance and Nominating Committee regarding the nominee’s contributions and exemplary service.
Governance and Nominating Committee – The Committee is responsible for carefully and thoughtfully assessing the nominee’s candidacy and preparing for the Board of Trustees the dossier and summary narrative accompanying the candidacy.
Related Policies, Procedures, Guidelines: n/a
Policies Superseded by this Policy: n/a
Responsible Officer: University Secretary
Contact: University Secretariat
Date for Next Review: 2028