Scope
Article 1- These Regulations cover the principles regarding the retirement or end-of-service dates for Bilkent University academic staff due to age limit.
Definitions
Article 2- The following definitions are used in these Regulations:
a) University: Bilkent University,
b) Faculty member: An full-time employee working in an academic position at the University,
c) Department Head: The head of the department where the faculty member works,
d) Dean: The dean of the faculty where the faculty member works,
e) Provost: The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at Bilkent University,
f) Rector: The Rector of Bilkent University,
g) Faculty: The faculties of Bilkent University,
h) Retirement Committee: The committee appointed by the Rector of Bilkent University,
i) Promotions and Appointments Committee: The Promotions and Appointments Committee of Bilkent University.
Principles
Article 3- For faculty members working at Bilkent University, the mandatory retirement date due to age is the first February 28 or August 31, whichever comes first, following the day they turn 67. The employment of faculty members who are working in retired status (having previously retired per Social Security Institution regulations) or who have not gained retirement rights from the Social Security Institution at these dates also end on the dates mentioned in this article.
For faculty members with administrative duties at the level of Dean, Vice Rector, and Rector there is no mandatory retirement date due to age, as long as their administrative duties continue.
The retirement or end-of-service dates of faculty members who continue to show high-levels of research, education, or service performance and for whom it will be difficult to find new academics to replace them may be postponed for up to two years at a time, by the decision of the Retirement Committee.
Application and Dean’s Report
Article 4- A faculty member requesting the postponement of the retirement date applies to the Dean to whom they are affiliated at least 6 and at most 12 months before their regular retirement date as specified in Article 3. If deemed necessary, the Dean may also initiate the application by consulting with the faculty member.
After soliciting the opinion of the Department Head, the Dean submits a report to the Provost detailing their own opinion, along with the faculty member’s application, within one month following the application.
Retirement Committee
Article 5- The Retirement Committee consists of five members, one of whom is the Provost. The other four members are appointed by the Rector, selected from full-time professors who have been approved for professorship appointments by the Promotions and Appointments Committee and have not yet turned 65. Members are appointed to the committee for two years; members whose terms have expired may be reappointed. The identities of the members other than the Provost are kept confidential.
Retirement Committee Decision and Voting
Article 6- The Retirement Committee meets within two months following the receipt of the application by the Provost and evaluates the research, education, and service performance of the applying faculty member and the Dean’s report, and decides whether to extend the faculty member’s term for one or two years starting from the date specified in Article 3 or to reject the application.
The Retirement Committee meets with the participation of all members, makes decisions by secret ballot, and by majority vote.
The decision of the Retirement Committee is communicated to the faculty member who applied for retirement postponement by the Provost.
Enforcement
Article 7- These Regulations enters into force on the date they are approved by the Board of Trustees of Bilkent University.
Execution
Article 8- These Regulations are executed by the Rector.
Temporary Articles
Temporary Article 1- For faculty members who have turned 67 or will turn 67 by 31 August 2024 as of the date these Regulations enters into force:
a) For those who have not yet turned 67 as of 31 August 2022 and will turn 67 between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2024, the age-related retirement or end-of-service date is 31 August 2024. Faculty members in this group must apply for postponement by 1 April 2024.
b) For those who turned 67 before 1 September 2022, the retirement or end-of-service date is 28 February 2024. Faculty members in this group must apply for retirement postponement by 1 September 2023. However, with the recommendation of the Dean and the approval of the Provost, the retirement date can be postponed to 31 August 2024 without the approval of the Retirement Committee.
Temporary Article 2- Faculty members who have been notified of their retirement or end-of-service date before the entry into force of these Regulations are not subject to the provisions of these Regulations.