Awards
The USC Emeriti Center sponsors or coordinates a number of awards recognizing the accomplishments and service of our distinguished staff and faculty retirees. Read below for more information about each award and how to nominate individuals.
The USC Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award is an official University Award. It honors up to four retired faculty each year for their eminent careers. Since its inception in 1982, the award has been bestowed upon retired faculty from the arts and humanities; social sciences; science, technology, engineering and mathematics; medicine; and other professional disciplines.
Active and retired faculty, administrators and staff, and friends of the university are urged to make nominations. Awards are conferred at the annual Academic Honors Convocation. The Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award includes an honorarium of $2,000, an illuminated scroll setting forth the honoree’s contributions, and a citation in the Honors Convocation program, all provided through the generosity of the Provost.
Beginning in 2022, the USC Emeriti Center Service & Learning Award recognizes individuals who exemplify an unwavering commitment to the retiree community and the University. Their dedication is extraordinary, and they embody the Trojan Family Spirit, caring for the campus and community with warmth, expertise, and empathy. Award recipients exhibit a strong commitment to the Emeriti Center’s mission, which includes multidisciplinary, multigenerational, and multicultural initiatives that benefit the university community and beyond. Their contributions are invaluable, and they serve as a model for others to follow in the pursuit of excellence and service.
The Paul E. Hadley Faculty Award award acknowledges special service by a retired USC faculty member to any academic or administrative unit at USC following their retirement. Nominees must have made outstanding voluntary contributions toward enhancing the overall quality of university life for students, faculty, staff, alumni, retirees, or other members of the USC community and have contributed to the positive collegial spirit of the Trojan Family. The award is presented every year at the annual Provost’s Faculty Retirement Recognition Luncheon in November.
The special award is conferred upon any retired faculty or staff member at USC who has served in a volunteer position and promotes collegiality among all disciplines and between both faculty and staff. The award is for extraordinary volunteer service in retirement.
The Douglas C. Basil Awards celebrate the valuable contributions of retired faculty in higher education. The Douglas C. Basil Award provides a retired faculty with a $5,000 stipend for a special project or research. One or two retired professors are selected annually from online submissions.
An honored Emeritus Professor, Dr. Basil retired in 1989 from the Management and Organization Department at the USC Marshall School of Business after 28 years of service. We are grateful for Professor Basil’s generous endowment to support retired professors.
“My philosophy is that it was a university education that allowed me to be a professor and that I must give back to university education” said Basil. “I have great admiration for my fellow Emeriti, and wish to provide some assistance to sponsor their research and contributions…I wish to thank USC faculty, students, and administration for a wonderful life and the opportunity to contribute to my students and to USC.”