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The University of British Columbia
- a place of mind
- The University of British Columbia
- UBC Human Resources
The University and the Faculty Association have ratified an agreement placing a moratorium on mandatory retirement at UBC. We know that you may have questions about the different retirement options for Faculty Members We hope that the following Questions and Answers will help you understand the implications of the parties’ Agreement.
There are three Retirement Options available to tenure stream members and full-time 12-month lecturers. Of these, both the Phased-in Retirement and Part-Time Appointment (50%) Options are at the eligible Member’s request. Part-Time Appointments may include workloads between 51% and 80% if agreed between yourself and the member. Reduced-Scope Appointments are requested by the member and are subject to the approval of both the Head and the Dean, who has sole discretion to grant a request for a Reduced-Scope Retirement Option.
Yes, there are notice requirements for the election or request of one of the retirement options. For a summary of these notice periods, please see the “Notice Requirements for Retiring or Resigning Faculty Members, Librarians and Program Directors in Continuing Studies(doc)” which is available online.
Members who wish to take and are eligible for a study leave during their Retirement Option must indicate this when declaring their Option. The study leave must be taken within the appointment period of the Option such that the requirement to return to work for one year after the leave is concluded is honoured, as per the Collective Agreement provisions on Leaves of Absence. Note that members do not accrue credit towards study leave while working in a Retirement Option.
Yes, OUC service will be considered eligible service to meet the requirements for a Retirement Option.
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Emeritus status is granted upon the recommendation of Senate to retiring faculty members and librarians who hold tenured/confirmed positions and whose combined age plus years of service to the University equal to 70 or more at the time of retirement or resignation.
For faculty members and librarians who retire on or after their normal retirement date, Faculty Relations will automatically forward names to Senate for consideration for emeritus status. For faculty members and librarians who retire or resign before their normal retirement date and wish to be considered for emeritus status, they should contact Faculty Relations 6 months prior to their early retirement or resignation date.
Emeriti are eligible for membership in the Association of Professors Emeriti. They also receive free parking passes, a library card, internet and email access, and tuition waivers for dependent children. Office space is at the discretion of the Head. For further details, click here.
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Yes. Policy 27(pdf) which provides for post-retirement appointments continues to be in place, and members who have retired may be appointed or continue to be appointed under that Policy, providing that the requirements of the Policy are met.
Post-retirement appointments are not eligible for pension or benefits, with the exception of the faculty tuition waiver. Post-retirement appointees can access the Retirement and Survivor Benefits Program. Benefits for any existing post-retirement appointment will continue as was initially offered to the member subject to the terms of the Plans.
Yes. With the moratorium on mandatory retirement the University is able to hire faculty who are over the age of 65. You will need to consider what the appropriate appointment would be and what advertising requirements apply. The individual is effectively a new hire to the University – and does not regain any rights or benefits that would have been gained in their previous appointment. So, for example, a Sessional would not regain their continuing status, until they have the necessary credits for that status.
Retirees being rehired will be considered new hires unless they are appointed under Policy 27(pdf) as a post-retirement appointment. We anticipate that all new hires will go through the normal appointment process but please contact Faculty Relations to discuss options.
Benefits would be the same as for any other new hire. If the member is over the age of 65, the member would not be eligible for IRP or optional spousal life insurance, and Basic Group Life Insurance would be limited to 1x the member’s annual earnings. If the member is over the age of 71, the member would not be eligible for the University’s pension and benefits, with the exception of Tuition Waivers subject to eligibility criteria. These members could access the Retirement and Survivor Benefits Program.
The faculty member can choose to continue or to opt out of the Retirement and Survivor Benefits (RSB) Program to access the University’s pension and benefits (subject to the terms of the Plans). If the faculty member chooses to opt out of the RSB Program, the faculty member can choose to access the Program again at a later date.
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Faculty appointments are evaluated under the Collective Agreement for different purposes including tenure, promotion, reappointment and merit and PSA consideration. Under the Sessional Agreement, Sessional Lecturers are to be evaluated on a regular basis. At the same time, there will be discussions on campus about introducing a more comprehensive approach to performance planning and review. That, however, is not part of the Agreement to place a moratorium on mandatory retirement.
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Professor White can choose to retire early, on her Normal Retirement Date (NRD), or continue to work past age 65. She may elect a Phased-in Appointment Option, a Part-Time Appointment Option, or may request a Reduced Appointment or Reduced-Scope Appointment Option.
Mr. Orange must indicate that he is considering a Retirement Option to his Head by August 31, 2007. He must give irrevocable notice of the Option by March 31, 2008. The deadline may be reduced or extended by mutual agreement of Mr. Orange and the Head.
Dr. Green is eligible to either (1) move to a part-time appointment on an ongoing basis until she chooses to retire or (2) she may elect a Part-Time Appointment Option and work 50% of her workload or she may agree with her Head to work between 51% and 80% of her workload, for a maximum of 4 years. As a Lecturer, Dr. Green is not eligible for a Reduced Appointment.
By June 30, 2007, Professor Pink must inform his Head in writing of his choice to retire on his Normal Retirement Date or to continue to work either full-time or on a reduced appointment under the Agreement on Reduced Appointments. Professor Pink does not yet have the requisite years of service to access the Retirement Options; however, Professor Pink may continue to work for three more years and may then elect or request a Retirement Option.
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