Rosemary Caulton, who retired at the end of last year, has been named an emeritus member of Otago Polytechnic - only the third person to be awarded the title since the institution began in 1966.
About 30 teaching colleagues, former students and family members gathered for an award ceremony at a polytechnic council meeting on Thursday.
Mrs Caulton graduated as an occupational therapist in Auckland in 1961, spending the next 20 years working in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and South Africa.
She moved into teaching after obtaining a bachelor of science degree and a postgraduate certificate in education in Wales.
In 1991, she moved to Dunedin as a senior lecturer and founding staff member of the School of Occupational Therapy.
As well as teaching, Mrs Caulton wrote much of the school's curriculum content and assessment processes, as well as helping organise work placements for students and editing the school's journal for 10 years.
Speaking at the meeting, Mrs Caulton said she felt "most honoured" to be awarded the emeritus member title.
The word emeritus meant discharged with honour, so that part of the title was "really, really nice", she said.
"And the word member means one who belongs to something . . . and I am particularly glad to be offered the opportunity to still be a part of Otago Polytechnic. It has been a wonderful place to be."
