Faculty retirement

Faculty with a tenure or confirmed appointment can request a reduced appointment (refer to Part 8 of the Collective Agreement), or one of three gradual retirement options. Faculty with a term appointment can request a move to a part-time or reduced part-time status from their head of academic unit.

Retirement options are set out in Appendix C of Part 1 of the Collective Agreement, and are a decision between the faculty member and the head of their academic unit.

Faculty salary during a reduced appointment is commensurate with percentage of workload performed.

This option is provided for and details of which are in the agreement on reduced appointments in the collective agreement. A reduced appointment may be approved on either a continuing (until retirement) basis or for a specific period.

Reduced appointment arrangements can range from full workload for part of the year in combination with no assigned duties in the balance, to partial workload (to a minimum of 50%) for all or part of the year.

To request a reduced appointment, please complete the Reduced appointment form (.doc).

UBC and the Faculty Association have agreed to three options for retirement. The agreement is set out in the Letter of Understanding Re: Retirement Options (Appendix C) of Part 1 the Collective Agreement. To request one of the options, the faculty association member must:

1. Be a tenure stream faculty, program director or librarian, or a full-time lecturer.
2. Be at least 55 years old and have at least 10 years of full-time continuous service to the university.
3. Understand that by entering into an option that it constitutes irrevocable notice to retire.

If the faculty association member wishes to elect or request a retirement option, they must give advance notice of their intention (the “notice period”). Eighteen months’ notice is preferred, but a minimum of 12 months is required, which may be waived by agreement between the faculty association member and the head of their academic unit.

If they wish to elect or request a retirement option, they must complete the Retirement Option Election form.

This option is for a maximum of four years in total, at the faculty association member's election (i.e. the notice period, plus the phased-in retirement). During a phased-in retirement appointment, they must continue to perform the full scope of your duties, which will decrease their workload percentage over three years to 75%, 50% and 33-1/3%. This can be modified by agreement between them and the head of your academic unit, provided the minimum level of workload is 33-1/3%.

Benefits provided during the phased-in retirement appointment are as provided for in the agreement on reduced appointments, except that where the load, by agreement, is between 33-1/3% and 50%, benefits shall be maintained as if the appointment were 50% or higher. Salary during a phased-in retirement appointment is commensurate with percentage of workload performed.

This option is for a maximum of five years in total (i.e. the notice period, plus the part-time appointment). If the faculty association member elects to take this option they must continue to perform the full scope of their duties at 50% of full-time workload.

They may, in consultation with the head of their academic unit, choose from a range of load-options, from full-time/partial-year to part-time/full-year. The head will make a reasonable effort to accommodate their request for load-options. Please note that a part-time appointment with a workload between 51% and 80% requires agreement between the faculty association member and their unit head.

The maximum period for a part-time appointment is four years. The retirement date can be shortened with at least six months’ notice provided on either June 30 or December 31 but can only be extended by agreement between the faculty association member and their unit head.

Salary during a part-time appointment is commensurate with percentage of workload performed.

This option is for a maximum of two years in total (i.e. the notice period, plus the one-year reduced scope appointment). It provides for reduced scope of duties (remaining as a full-time appointment) where the faculty association member can request a reduction in their contribution in one area of their duties, and possibly increase it in others.

Approval of a reduced-scope appointment is at the sole discretion of the dean of the faculty (or equivalent), upon the recommendation of the head of the faculty association member's  academic unit.

The period for a reduced-scope appointment is one year. The retirement date can be shortened with at least six months’ notice provided on either December 31 or June 30, but can only be extended by agreement between the faculty association member and their unit head.

A member who has been granted a study leave may, at any time prior to the start date of the leave elect to replace the study leave with a Reduced-Scope Appointment (Option 3) to commence on the date at which the study leave was to commence.  The duties to be undertaken in the reduced-scope appointment will be consistent with the duties outlined in the approved study leave plan.

Faculty in a term appointment may wish to transition into retirement over an extended period of time. Whether they wish to move from full-time to part-time, or wish to reduce their current part-time status, they must consult with their head of academic unit on the possibility.

Such a transition can begin before or after their normal retirement date and is at the sole discretion of the university. They must be aware of eligibility requirements for pension and benefits both before and after their normal retirement date.

Administrators and Faculty need to consider what items need to be handled before the faculty member leaves their position.  For example, such things as security access, return of keys, closing accounts, submitting final expense reports, return of equipment, return of goods purchased with PD funds need to be considered.  For administrators there is an offboarding checklist created in Workday as part of the termination BP. 

View the letter template for heads/directors to send to any tenure stream faculty member approaching their normal retirement date.

If you to work past your normal retirement date (NRD) (the June 30th or December 31st following your 65th birthday), you should consider what health care and other economic benefits will be in place for you while you're still working. Please note that if you take your pension while still working past your NRD, your benefits and pension will cease.

For a quick overview, see Benefits Timeline Pre and Post 65 (PPT).

For more information on benefits for faculty working beyond their normal retirement date refer to Article 7.12 of Part 2 of the Collective Agreement.

If you're thinking about retirement, you should review the information and provisions of the Retirement and Survivor Benefits Program. 

Seminars are offered to UBC Faculty Association members aged 55 or older, and spouses and partners are welcome to attend. Seminars are normally offered twice per year.

The sessions provide a practical framework for retirement planning supplemented by information, perspectives and resources related to financial, legal, professional and lifestyle choices. Invitations are e-mailed from UBC Faculty Relations to Faculty Association members about 6 weeks in advance of the seminar.

Questions regarding the seminars can be directed to faculty relations admin.

UBC will reimburse members for retirement counselling from a financial consultant up to a maximum of three hours ($750 limit) per member. The financial consultant must have a designation or degree as follows:

• Actuary
• Certified financial planner (CFP)
• Certified general accountant (CGA)
• Chartered accountant (CA)
• Lawyer
• Registered financial planner (RFP)

Please note that as this is a non-taxable benefit the counselling must be specific to retirement and retirement planning.

To apply for this reimbursement, members need to fill out the Retirement counselling reimbursement claim form. The completed form and proof of payment is emailed to the general Faculty Relations email for approval. Once approved, members will need to upload the form through a Workday Expense Report. 

In addition, the faculty association offers a financial planning lecture series every spring. E-mail the faculty association for information about these lecture series.

Retirement & Survivor Benefits Program

UBC retirees may be eligible to continue benefits coverage (extended health, dental, employee and family assistance program) through UBC’s Retirement and Survivor Benefits Program.

Tuition Waivers for Retired Faculty Members

BC residents who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 65 years or over are not assessed application, tuition or student fees. Some Distance Education and Technology and special fees may be assessed. If you are over age 65, apply directly to UBC Enrolment Services.

Library Card

UBC faculty retirees are entitled to retain library privileges. Cards for retired faculty can be obtained in person at the UBC Card office in the Bookstore or may be applied for online. Retired faculty who do not qualify for emeritus status may apply for a UBC Card for Retired Staff. For further information on obtaining an emeriti/retired library cards please call 604-822-6786 or email ubc.card@ubc.ca.

Please refer to the Emeritus Status and Post-retirement Appointments page for information on:

• Emeritus Status
• Emeritus Policies
• Emeritus College
• Privileges for Emeriti
• Insurance Coverage
• Post-retirement Appointments

Other courses, programs or resources for planning for retirement are offered by:

UBC Emeritus College Report of Preparation for Retirement Committee

UBC’s Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) provider, TELUS Health, also provides retirement planning services and general financial counselling. Get details on EFAP counselling options. 

Retired faculty members (including tenure-stream faculty, librarians and program directors) can be re-hired as a new hire or into a post-retirement appointment under Policy AP1 – Retired Faculty Appointments. Learn about Post-Retirement Appointments.