NB: The neologism "emerit" has been recently adopted as the gender-neutral singular form of "emeritus/emerita." Both "emeriti" and "emerits" are acceptable plurals.
The process for requesting emerit status is described in the 2019 bylaws (lines 310-344).
While it isn't spelled out here, the timeline starts in spring and progresses at fairly unpredictable intervals. the department has forwarded its letter to the provost in the spring; the BOT may or may not be able to review it during the May meeting when tenure decisions are discussed. If not, it's tabled until the fall meeting. In short, the candidate and department shouldn't expect a final decision by the last day of class/commencement, etc; that conferral may happen well after the academic year has ended.
FROM THE BYLAWS:
II. D. IV. c.4:
Emeritus and Emerita Rank
a) The rank of Professor Emeritus or Professor Emerita is a distinct honor that may
be conferred only upon those faculty members who retire from the College, after
having distinguished themselves through sustained high quality of teaching and
service to students, scholarly achievement, and service to the College. Faculty
are eligible for nomination for emeritus or emerita status if they have served at
least ten years at St. Mary’s College and have attained the rank of Professor by
the time of retirement. The rank exists to recognize outstanding accomplishment
and loyalty to the College and to provide the opportunity for continuing
institutional affiliation after formal retirement.
b) The Board of Trustees may waive these criteria to permit the awarding of
Emeritus or Emerita rank to faculty members of distinguished achievement.
c) The following procedures shall be followed in awarding the Emeritus or Emerita
rank to faculty members of distinguished achievement:
i) A candidate for Emerita or Emeritus rank must be recommended by a
majority of the faculty members of the department. The recommendation
is forwarded, in writing and with supporting reasons, to the Dean of Faculty.
ii) The Dean of Faculty makes a recommendation to the President who, in turn,
makes a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for the appointment.
d) The following privileges shall accrue to holders of the rank of Professor Emeritus
or Professor Emerita:
i) They, their spouses and dependents shall have full access to the physical facilities of
the College, consistent with the privileges of a full-time faculty member.
ii) Whenever possible, they shall be provided with office space. [update: the provost is no longer allotting office space to newly-emeritus faculty. We're working with the library to devise a designated emeriti room in the library for shared research space.]
iii) They shall be entitled to a mailbox in an appropriate office and the same mailing
privileges for professional correspondence as a full-time faculty member.
iv) They shall have access to secretarial services on a time-available basis, as
determined by the dean of faculty.
v) They, their spouses and dependents shall receive the same discount for all College
events and productions as received by full-time faculty members.
vi) They shall be entitled to use the name of the College as an institutional affiliation
on grant proposals, fellowship applications, publications, exhibits, etc., subject to
the same restrictions and regulations as for full-time faculty members.
vii) They may be invited to serve in an advisory capacity on College committees, at the
discretion of the dean of faculty or the president.