The university Board grants emeritus status upon the recommendation of the president. Retired staff with 20 or more years of outstanding service to Southern Adventist University may be recommended to the President by their respective Vice President for the rank “Emeritus.” Staff must retire from a salaried staff position to be eligible for emeritus status. Examples of salaried staff emeritus rank are “Treasurer Emeritus,” and “Vice President Emeritus for Finance.” The president, at their discretion, may nominate a staff member for emeritus rank who at retirement has less than 20 years of service at the university and has had an extraordinary influence in the accomplishment of the university's educational mission.
Emeriti staff are eligible to participate in graduation marches, attend faculty social events, gain free admission to events for which ID cards are accepted, be eligible for tuition-waived classes, free membership for the Hulsey Wellness Center, and have their names appear in the Southern Adventist University Catalog.