In every meaningful way it is the same thing as a professor emeritus, Fox and Thompson say. Just like professors emeriti, research professors do not receive salaries, teach classes, retain a vote in Faculty meetings or have departmental responsibilities. But both titles allow professors office space and continued access to the Harvard library system, among other perks.

But the "active" sound of the title has convinced many Faculty members to take the new option.

According to Fox, about 80 percent of the Faculty who have retired since the new title has been offered have chosen the research professor moniker, while 20 percent have chosen to become professor emeritus.

While administrators and Faculty say that the professor emeritus title once had a certain status to it, it has since become synonymous--especially to grant-giving organizations--with inactive academics resting on their laurels. For those seeking to continue research after giving up teaching, the continued flow of grant money is the only way to sustain academic life.

For such Faculty members, the active sound of the title "research professor" convinces many that grant committees won't just toss their proposals aside.

"[Faculty] perception is that it would be easier to get grants. And perceptions count," Thompson says.

Fox says many Faculty members simply feel research professor is a more accurate description of their activities.