To recognise distinguished persons, who are not staff members of the University, and to establish a mutually beneficial formal relationship between the individual and the University contributing to the University's mission.
To outline the procedure for the appointment of honorary, adjunct and visiting appointees and ensuring, where applicable, these appointments are in accordance with the University Statute Division 3 - The Professoriate and Visiting and Adjunct Staff.
To outline the procedure for the awarding of Emeritus Professor status to a former Professor of the University who has shown distinguished service to the University.
This procedure applies to:
- Executive Dean of Institutes or heads of academic units recommending or endorsing recommendations for honorary, adjunct and visiting appointments for individuals who can make a significant contribution to the University’s teaching and research and those individuals so appointed;
- Delegated officers including Council who are responsible for approving the appointments;
- People and Culture who are responsible for preparing letters of invitation and maintaining a register of appointees; and
- Emeritus Professors of the University awarded by the University Council.
| Term | Definition |
| Academic unit | An area within the University with teaching and/or academic staff. |
| Adjunct appointee | An expert in the relevant profession, working within industry or the community, who offers a valuable contribution to the University’s teaching, learning, research and/or advisory and/or other committees. |
| Academic Levels: | The qualifications, duties and responsibilities of academic staff members in accordance with the Minimum Standard for Academic Levels as per the University Collective Agreement. |
| Delegated Officer: |
A staff member of the University who is responsible for approving the appointment of honorary, adjunct and visiting appointees:
|
| Emeritus Professor |
Emeritus status awarded by Council through an absolute majority vote of its members to a former Professor of the University who has:
|
| Honorary appointee | A highly regarded individual within their area of expertise/discipline with whom the University has established an ongoing association of mutual benefit to both parties. |
| Honorary Professor appointee |
A retired professor of the University who after retirement is engaged in research relevant to some discipline of university studies; or a professor or past professor of another university engaged in research work relevant to some discipline of university studies. |
| Letter of invitation | A letter offering the appointee a Honorary, Adjunct or Visiting Appointment at the University which also outlines the title, conditions and term of appointment. |
| Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow and Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellow | Vice-Chancellor’s Fellows are honorary positions appointed by the Vice-Chancellor to provide a thought leadership role and act as an informal ambassador in a strategic area of focus for the University. A Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellow is the designation applied to national or international leaders of recognised distinction in their field. The nomination of Vice-Chancellor’s Fellows is designed to establish a mutually beneficial formal relationship between a highly regarded individual within their area of expertise/discipline and the University to contribute to the University's mission in their area of expertise. Vice-Chancellor’s Fellows are appointed on an honorary basis, generally for a fixed period. |
| Visiting appointee | An Academic, Teacher, Senior Educator or Researcher who holds a position within another university or vocational institution and who can contribute to the University’s teaching, learning, research and/or advisory and/or other committees. |
The principles of merit selection and equal employment opportunity are applicable when recommending, endorsing and appointing honorary, adjunct and visiting appointments.
Federation University Australia offers the following honorary, adjunct and visiting appointments:
| Appointment Type | Categories | Description | Qualification Requirements |
| Honorary appointments | Professor | Professor with recognition as an eminent authority in their discipline. | Doctorate. |
| Teaching/Research Fellow | Academic, teacher or researcher. |
Academic Level A – Higher Degree. Academic Level B – Masters Degree. TAFE Teacher. |
|
| Senior Teaching/Research Fellow | Academic, senior educator or researcher. |
Academic Level C – Doctorate. Senior Educator. |
|
| Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow or Distinguished Fellow | A person who is recognised as an industry-leading technical/ theoretical specialist. National or international distinction in a field is required for a Distinguished Fellow. | Senior leader or scholar of distinction. | |
| Adjunct appointments | Professor | A person who is recognised as an eminent authority in their profession. | Doctorate. |
| Associate Professor | A person who is recognised at a national or international level in their profession. | Doctorate. | |
| Teaching/Research Fellow | Academic, teacher or researcher who offers a valuable contribution to the University. |
Academic Level A – Higher Degree. Academic Level B – Masters Degree. TAFE Teacher. |
|
| Senior Teaching/Research Fellow | Academic, senior educator or researcher. |
Academic Level C – Doctorate. Senior Educator. |
|
| Senior Industry Research Specialist | A person who is recognised as an industry-leading technical/ theoretical specialist. | Higher Degree and/or Doctorate. | |
| Senior Industry Practitioner | A person who is recognised as a business leader in commerce, management, finance or law. | Higher Degree and/or Doctorate. | |
| Senior Research Specialist | A person who is recognised as a leader in their field | Higher Degree and/or Doctorate and/or significant experience | |
| Senior Practitioner | A person who is recognised as a leader in their field | Higher Degree and/or Doctorate and/or significant experience | |
| Visiting appointments | Professor | Professor with recognition as an eminent authority in their discipline. | Doctorate. |
| Teaching/Research Fellow | Academic, teacher or researcher who is capable of making a significant contribution to the University. |
Academic Level A – Higher Degree. Academic Level B – Masters Degree. TAFE Teacher. |
|
| Senior Teaching/Research Fellow | Academic, senior educator or researcher. |
Academic Level C – Doctorate. Senior Educator. |
The University values the contribution of honorary, adjunct and visiting appointees to the teaching, research and academic culture of the University.
Honorary and adjunct appointments would normally be for an initial three year period.
Visiting appointments would normally be for an initial period of less than 12 months.
Appointments may be renewed for a further term subject to the continuing contribution of the appointee and based upon the approval of the recommendation by the appropriate delegated officer.
Honorary, adjunct and visiting appointees are not remunerated for their service.
Appointments will cease if the appointee obtains a continuing or fixed-term appointment with the University. Honorary, adjunct and visiting academics may be appointed on a casual basis for limited period of no more than three months during a calendar year.
An appointee may terminate their appointment in writing to the Vice-Chancellor at any time.
The Vice-Chancellor may terminate an appointment in writing at any time.
Recommendations must be approved by the Vice-Chancellor or responsible VCST member as the Delegated Officer with the sign-off from People & Culture that all human resource implications and obligations have been met. Where the appointment is cross-portfolio or inter-disciplinary those portfolios/disciplines must agree.
The recommendation must consist of:
- a memo outlining the reason for the application and the contribution that the individual can make to teaching and/or research at the University as well as a brief assessment of the individual’s qualifications and experience (in accordance with the appointment type and categories of appointment in the Policy);
- a Curriculum Vitae (including the contact details of the individual);
- a proposed period of appointment (in accordance with Policy); and
- the proposed title.
The approval of the recommendation must be in accordance with the University’s Delegations - Contract, Financial, Staffing and Tender Procedure and, where applicable, Statute 3 - The Professoriate and Visiting and Adjunct Staff.
- Council is responsible for approving the appointment of Honorary Professors by majority vote as per Statute 3 - The Professoriate and Visiting and Adjunct Staff.
- The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for the appointment of:
- honorary, adjunct and visiting associate professors or equivalent research or industry roles;
- adjunct and visiting professors or equivalent research or industry roles: and
- Vice Chancellor’s Fellows and Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellows
- The relevant member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Team (VCST) is authorised to approve appointments at AcademicLevels A to C, Teacher and Senior Educator levels; and equivalent research or industry roles.
Once the appointment is approved, the Delegated Officer must forward the recommendation (application) to People and Culture.
All appointments are confirmed through a letter of invitation issued by People and Culture or, in the case of some honorary appointments, by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, outlining the terms and conditions of appointment and accepted by the employee through the return of an employee acceptance.
Honorary, adjunct and visiting appointees are not remunerated for their service.
Honorary, adjunct and visiting academics may be appointed on a casual basis for a period of three months or less during a calendar year. Casual appointments cannot commence prior to approvals being received and processed by People and Culture.
Appointments will cease if the appointee obtains a continuing or fixed-term appointment or a casual appointment of more than three months duration within a calendar year with the University.
An appointee will be accorded the normal rights and privileges of a University staff member; specifically use of library, office, computer, communication facilities.
In addition, an appointee:
- may have their name added to the list of academic, teaching or research staff in the official listing of University staff upon the recommendation of the relevant Dean or Director of academic unit and approval of the relevant delegated officer;
- may represent the University in professional forums, conferences and seminars;
- may request to nominate the University as the host institution for the purpose of research applications, with the University administering any grants and associated staff appointments, provided any publications resulting from the research appropriately name and recognise the University. Approval for any application must be gained from the relevant Dean or Director of academic unit and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) prior to submission of any application; and
- is eligible to co-supervise higher degree or diploma students providing they meet the eligibility requirements of the University HDR Supervision Procedure.
On Ceremonial Occasions:
- Adjunct Professors and Associate Professors rank with Professors and Associate Professors;
- Adjunct senior lecturers, teachers, senior educators and senior researchers rank with senior lecturers, teachers, senior educators; and
- Adjunct lecturers, teachers and researchers and Visiting Fellows and Research Fellows rank with lecturers and teachers.
Appointments may be renewed for a further term subject to the continuing contribution of the appointee and based upon the approval of the recommendation by the appropriate Delegated Officer.
To recommend renewal of an appointment the Delegated Officer must be provided with a memorandum outlining the way in which the person has contributed to teaching and/or research at the University for approval.
People and Culture maintains a register of honorary, adjunct and visiting appointees.
People and Culture will advise responsible units of the cessation of appointments at least two weeks prior to the cessation date. Adjunct, Honorary or Visiting appointees who will be based at, or who will work from a Federation University Australia campus will be responsible for ensuring they complete the Corporate Induction, Local and OHS inductions as well as required online Equity, Preventing Workplace Bullying and White Ribbon training.
The principles of merit selection and equal employment opportunity as per the University’s Continuing and Fixed-Term Recruitment and Appointment Procedure are applicable when recommending Emeritus Professor awards.
Emeritus Professor status is awarded by Council only to persons who have been a member of the Professoriate of the University, whether appointed to the position of Professor by the University or, when appointed to the University, already held the rank of Professor.
Awarding of Emeritus Professor status would usually only occur after a person has left the service of the University.
The awarding of Emeritus Professor status is an honour and will usually only be awarded to highly distinguished candidates.
Emeritus Professor status does not entitle the Emeritus Professor to exercise any normal administrative functions associated with the rank of Professor nor does it entitle him/her to membership of the Academic Board or any other body or committee of the University.
On University ceremonial occasions, an Emeritus Professor will rank with Professors.
Emeritus Professors are not remunerated for their service.
Members of Council or members of the University Professoriate may nominate a person for the award of Emeritus Professor status. Nominations will be received by the Secretary to Council or Office of the Vice-Chancellor at any time.
The nomination must consist of:
- a summary statement addressing the criteria (see above under ‘Definitions’) for the awarding of Emeritus Professor status;
- a detailed Curriculum Vitae (including contact details) of the nominee.
All awards will be confirmed through a letter issued by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, copied to People and Culture on behalf of the University Council and must be accepted by the Emeritus Professor in writing.
The Vice-Chancellor or the Vice-Chancellor's nominee is responsible for the review and implementation of this procedure.
- Academic Governance Policy
- Global Partners and Community Engagement Policy
- People and Culture Policy
-
Federation University Australia Statute
- Division 3 – The Professoriate and Visiting and Adjunct Staff.
- University Collective Agreement, Academic and General Staff Employees Schedule 4 and 5
- Continuing and Fixed-Term Recruitment and Appointment Procedure
- Delegations - Contract, Financial, Staffing and Tender Procedure
- Equal Opportunity and Valuing Diversity Guidelines
| Title | Location | Responsible Officer | Minimum Retention Period |
| Letter of Invitation | People and Culture File | Director, People and Culture | 7 years |
The Honorary Adjunct and Visiting Appointments Procedure is to be implemented throughout the University community via:
- an Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the ‘Recently Approved Documents’ page on the ‘Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University’ website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Procedure, and
- notification forwarded by the Director, People and Culture to the Vice-Chancellor and VCST for distribution to their team.
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