About the O'Leary Professorship
The Vincent O'Leary Professorship honors selected retiring members of the UAlbany teaching faculty.
O'Leary Professors hold a special assignment for up to two years post-retirement, allowing the University to retain the important experience and contributions of these valued colleagues while also enabling them to adjust the level of their responsibilities.
Faculty must elect to pursue an O’Leary Professorship at the time of retirement (in other words, faculty can not retire and then choose to apply at a later time).
O'Leary Professors may contribute to the university's research, teaching, and service missions in accordance with an individual agreement negotiated annually with the applicable Dean and subject to approval by the Provost. Typically, O’Leary Professors also teach one course. Note: Extra obligation support is not permitted.
In addition, O'Leary Professors may enjoy:
- A special assigned obligation
- Participation in directing masters’ theses and doctoral dissertations as appropriate
- Eligibility for available travel funds
- Eligibility for the same benefits as other part-term faculty based on terms of appointment
- Continued email, parking (with registration fee), University Library and recreation facilities privileges
- Office space appropriate to the continuing assignment and dependent on availability
The duration of the appointment is one year. There is the potential for one renewal for a possible total of two years by mutual agreement. The second year requires a new approval process and offer letter.
O'Leary Professors may be compensated up to 25% of the appointee's final academic year salary calibrated to the scope of the duties, but not to exceed $30,000. At the end of the term of appointment, O'Leary Professors continue in emeritus status at the rank of retirement.
Individuals interested in an O'Leary Professorship should contact their Chair and Dean.
Procedures
- The faculty member should write a letter expressing their interest in the O’Leary Professorship and detailing their planned retirement date and what activities they plan to engage in.
- The Department Chair should then write a recommendation to the Dean confirming their approval and confirmation of the planned activities.
- The Dean should then write a recommendation to the Provost that specifies the semester the appointment is to begin and details the responsibilities in teaching, service and/or scholarship that will occur during the O’Leary Professorship.
- The Dean should submit all three documents to the Provost’s Office at [email protected] by May 31.
- The Provost will review the Dean’s request.
- Upon approval, the appointment will be codified in a letter from the Provost to the appointee, copied to the Dean, Chair, Provost Chief of Staff, Assistant Vice President for Administration and HR.
- The letter will be sent to the appointee who must officially accept the appointment by signing the letter and returning it to the Provost’s office.
- The School/College will then enter the appointment in HRTS using the code REHIRE (only after submitting the retirement request in HRTS). Copies of the final, signed O’Leary appointment letters will be saved in the Office of the Provost.