College of Physical Sciences
PROPOSALS FOR HONORARY STATUS
GUIDANCE NOTE
Honorary Status is provided to those staff who engage in a non-contractual/non-salaried but
collaborative relationship with an individual or group from the University. Typically this will
be in support of teaching and/or research. Honorary status may not be conferred on anyone
who is employed by the University in any capacity.
Consideration should be given:
 to defining the expected benefits of the relationship. This should be clearly stated on
the proposal form. Where the case is considered to be insufficient to allow
appropriate decision making, the forms will be returned for further information;
In the case of research this could include leverage for funding, publications,
advancement of research projects (eg through access to facilities etc). Where possible,
an indication of expected quantitative as well as qualitative benefits should be
provided.
In the case of teaching, this might be the provision of guest lectures, leveraging
access to, and support for, placements, mentoring of students, etc. Where possible, an
indication of expected quantitative as well as qualitative benefits should be provided.
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to ensuring that the period requested is appropriate to the expected duration of the
relationship. Honorary status can be extended, so it is recommended that initial
proposals should normally be in the period range of 1 year to 3 years, with the 5 year
period being limited to professorial or reader level proposals (see below). Any
variance to this should be explicitly stated and justified on the proposal form;
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to clearly setting out any resource implications involved (eg access to facilities,
provision of support, provision of office space or computing equipment);
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to the grade of status being proposed. The College would expect that the following
would apply:
 Chair/Reader proposals should be considered as a rarity. Normally, these
would be proposed for long term, sustained and substantive research
collaborations, which can be shown to have strategic benefits. Most
candidates would already hold, or have held, similar, substantive positions at
recognised universities. Where such equivalence can be demonstrated the
requirement for external references may be waived. Where the collaboration
is with a non-university person, eg an industrial leader, then an equivalence
of seniority and experience will be expected, alongside evidence of academic
activity.
 Senior Lecturer/Lecturer will also normally be awarded where a longer term
and substantive relationship is clearly demonstrated, either for teaching
and/or research purposes. Candidates should already hold, or have held,
similar, substantive positions at recognised universities.
 Research Fellow/Teaching Fellow: this will be the normal entry level for
Honorary status. The criteria for consideration should include: active
engagement in research projects, contribution to the development of funding
applications and/or publications, leverage for funding and/or access to
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facilities, provision of guest lectures, leveraging access to, and support for,
placements, mentoring of students, etc
For all levels, a proposer is required, who will normally be an academic member of
staff, currently employed by the University and based within the College.
Heads of School should approve all applications and be confident that a persuasive
case has been put forward. In the case of Lecturer and above, Heads of School must
provide an explicit statement in support of the application, but it is recommended that
this is good practice for all levels.
The College will monitor the anticipated benefits of the relationship at the end of the
period. Where extension of the honorary status is sought, this assessment will be
required as part of the request for extension.
Honorary status brings with it additional benefits, including access to University library,
sports and IT facilities.
VISITING ACADEMICS (SHORT PERIODS)
Where a visitor will only be at the university for a single, short period, of up to 2 months, then
Honorary status may not be appropriate. In such cases, what is normally required is access to
Library and/or Computer facilities. The following options are recommended:
Access to the University’s computing facilities requires the setting up of a guest
account. Apply at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/dit/staff/help/guestaccounts.php
Guest accounts are computer accounts set up specifically for short term use by nonUniversity of Aberdeen users. They may be issued to individuals who are visiting or
collaborating with the University and who require only basic access to the internet
and/or to a SharePoint site - for example, researchers, conference attendees, or those
on University business.
Requests for Guest accounts are made on behalf of guests by the relevant University
host, e.g. academic department.
There are two types of Guest account.
1. A standard Guest account provides:
login details (userid and password) to allow basic internet access via the
campus wireless network, and/or classroom and library PCs.
2. A Guest+SharePoint account provides:
login details (userid and password) to allow internet access via the campus
wireless network, and/or classroom and library PCs
access to a SharePoint site - For example, if a department is working on a
project with collaborators not affiliated with the University of Aberdeen and
would like them to have access to their SharePoint site. Note: Hosts are
responsible for adding guests to their SharePoint site and for providing
guidance on its use.
Neither of these provide:
 A University of Aberdeen email account
 Printing on University MFDs or networked printers
 Filespace on the University's servers
 Access to MS Office applications on classroom PCs
 Access to electronic resources licenced for University staff and student use
only, e.g. Library Catalogue and MetaLib
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Library access is provided with a formal letter of introduction from Head of
Discipline/School (or other senior staff member). This letter can be supplied in paper
or electronic format. Visitors are required to sign a membership form stating they will
comply with the Library regulations.
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Susan McCourt is the first point of contact for the College (s.mccourt@abdn.ac.uk)
x3287. Once the formal letter has been received by Susan McCourt, she in turn
passes it to the Issue Desk Supervisor who prepares the temporary pass for collection
by the visiting academic. The visitor will need to provide Photo ID (eg a passport).
The pass allows access to materials within the Library only. If the visitor also
needs to borrow books, the School is required to pay a £15 fee. For e-access to
journals and databases a computing account is required. Susan McCourt is happy to
meet any approved visitor to discuss the Library services.
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PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED:
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Proposals should be submitted to the College Registrar using the Proposal for Honorary
Status form accompanied by a current CV.
·
Appointment is for a maximum of 5 years (renewable). See note above regarding the
normal recommended length.
·
A HoC statement is required for Honorary Lectureship and above, in addition to one
from the HoS.
·
For Honorary Readerships and Professorships, there must be a substantial connection
with the University of Aberdeen and the candidate must be academically qualified for
the status proposed. Three external references are required. Where a candidate already
holds a professorial appointment at a sister1 university, external references are not
required.
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Consistency of treatment of staff at the local research institutes is essential to avoid
causing offence to others who consider themselves equally deserving by qualification or
level of co-operation.
Approval
TA/TF
RA/RF
Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Reader
Professor
Renewals
HoS
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HoC
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SVP
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Once the required approval has been given the proposal form, CV and references (if
appropriate) are forwarded to HR for the issue of an appointment letter.
·
Requests for renewals can be submitted in memo form by the HoS to the relevant
College Registrar.
·
By a decision of the University Court, all members of the Academic and Academic
Related staff, on retirement, retain their current status on an honorary basis.
·
Honorary staff do not receive payment. Appointment is on the basis of a contribution
to teaching and/or research. They are given access to library and computing facilities
and departmental facilities at the discretion of the HoS.
·
Undergraduate students are not eligible for honorary status. Instead a letter should be
issued by the HoS in confirmation of their presence in the department of their
participation in departmental activities etc. Such letters should be copied to the
Insurance Office (Finance Section) if the activities are off-campus.
·
Visiting students should register under the Visiting Students & Temporary Trainees
Scheme which has a registration fee of £95. Contact Registry Services, tel: 3614.
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A sister university would be a recognised HEI within the UK system, or one with an international
reputation as evidenced by, for example, inclusion in the THES Top 200 list.
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