3.3 Retirement

The normal retirement date for faculty members will be at the end of the academic year in which they reach 70 years of age, or on the date they reach 70, whichever is specified in the contract. Two years prior to retirement, faculty members should work with the Provost and the Dean of Faculty Affairs to ensure an orderly transition- i.e., making proper provisions for staff/postdocs, and other matters. Professors are not permitted to accept new PhD students and to serve as their primary supervisors after reaching 65. No external Unit review will be conducted after 65 years.

Faculty members may choose to retire early, after the age of 60, if they have served the university in a significant capacity for at least 10 years. Early retirement will be granted at the discretion of the President.

3.3.1 Emeritus Professor

OIST will apply the title Emeritus Professor indefinitely to all full-time faculty upon retirement, including those who have retired early. This comes with no salary, but with access to OIST resources and limited privileges for a period of five years, which may be renewed in negotiation with the President. Entitlement to emeritus status and access to OIST resources is conditional upon adherence to Japanese law and University policies, rules, and procedures. The President may rescind both emeritus status and access without notice in the event of a violation.

3.3.2 Continuing employment beyond retirement age

Upon invitation by the President, faculty members may extend their contracts beyond retirement age, subject to successful external review. Such cases will be highly unusual.

For continuing employment, faculty members will submit a research plan with a term of no more than 5 years to the President for agreement, including a strategy for closing the unit within the term, and for being substantially financed using external funds. The President and faculty members will discuss access to space and equipment with the Provost and the Dean of Faculty Affairs. If faculty members invited by the President wish to continue doing research after retirement, they must undergo an external review with their research plan in the academic year in which they turn 68 in principle. Faculty members thus approved after the external review will continue doing research and carrying teaching and service responsibilities and the title “Professor” during the agreed term beyond retirement age.

This is considered a fixed-term, untenured position and will involve a significant reduction in unit space and funds. Salary will be negotiable, but will normally be reduced.

3.3.3 Faculty members serving in executive capacities

Faculty members who have served in executive capacities (i.e. Dean or Vice President) for a certain period will be allowed additional time for research after the retirement date, that was negotiated with the President. This policy will function as an incentive for faculty members to assume executive functions. Research funds, salaries and unit space will not be affected during this period, and will continue as stipulated in their then current contract for the duration of their additional service.

3.3.4 Non-Faculty Research Appointments

There are five classes of non-Faculty Research Appointments; Postdoctoral Scholars, Staff Scientists, Senior Staff Scientists, Technicians and Science and Technology Associates. Non-faculty research staff may undertake limited teaching duties as described in 3.2.2 item 6. The definition of each non-Faculty Research Appointment is stipulated in 4.2.

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