Please note that the deadline to apply has passed and the VRP program is now closed.
Please refer to the 2025-2026 Voluntary Retirement Program (VRP) for FAS page for the full details. If you have any questions, please email deanartsci@queensu.ca.
Please note that the deadline to apply has passed and the VRP program is now closed.
Please refer to the 2025-2026 Voluntary Retirement Program (VRP) for FAS page for the full details. If you have any questions, please email deanartsci@queensu.ca.
²Ï³Ü±ð±ð²Ô’s  has a comprehensive list of resources to help you understand your retirement options, make informed decisions, and plan for retirement. 
Below are some of the commonly-asked questions and answers from the information sessions.
Adjunct 1 Appointment
Can I supervise students, access my research funding, apply for grants etc. post-retirement?
Pension
How do I access my pension information – i.e. how much will I receive?
Retiring Allowance
Is the lump sum payment considered a "retirement allowance"?
Academic Leave
Can I still apply for / take my academic leave?
Office Space
Can I still have access to an office after I retire?
Additional Resources
What resources are available to support me making this decision?
Transitioning to Retirement Brochure-> Core Terminology, fundamentals
Faculty members who are on an approved Reduced Responsibility Appointment, pursuant to Article 26 of the ²Ï³Ü±ð±ð²Ô’s-QUFA Collective Agreement, on August 20, 2025 are eligible to apply for the 2025-2026 VRP for FAS faculty members but their Regular Salary for the purpose of determining the retirement incentive payment will be based on their reduced Full-Time Equivalent on November 3, 2025. 
Faculty members who are on a Negotiated Leave on August 20, 2025, are not eligible to apply for the 2025-2026 VRP for FAS faculty.
Participants may indicate on their application if they are interested in office space in their home department for a period not exceeding two-years post-retirement. Allocation of space following retirement date is not guaranteed.
Participants may apply for Adjunct 1 status to enable them to complete current supervisions, co-supervise continuing students, access remaining research funds and hold research grants, should they desire. The grant of an Adjunct 1 appointment is not guaranteed. It will be within the discretion of the Dean.
Those eligible for 6- or 12-month academic leave may request the Dean’s approval to take the leave before their retirement date.
The 2025-2026 VRP for FAS faculty members is a time-limited opportunity for eligible faculty within the Faculty of Arts and Science to elect to retire on either August 31, 2026, or December 31, 2026, in return for which they will receive a lump-sum payment equivalent to one (1) year of their Regular Salary.
The Voluntary Phased Retirement Program (VPRP) is a program established through a Letter of Agreement between ²Ï³Ü±ð±ð²Ô’s and QUFA to provide the opportunity for faculty, librarians, and archivists to plan for retirement over a three-year period in which the participant will have reduced responsibilities, and at the end of which the participant retires. Participants work one-half (1/2) to two-thirds (2/3) of their normal workload over the three-year period and receive a phased retirement supplement payment equal to 75% of their Regular Salary. 
Faculty members who have been approved for the VPRP but have not yet commenced their Phased Retirement Period may apply for the 2025-2026 VRP for FAS and, if approved, must retire on one of the two dates specified in the VRP.
Faculty members who have already commenced their Phased Retirement Period are not eligible to apply for the 2025-2026 VRP for FAS.
The 2025-2026 VRP for FAS faculty members is part of the university’s plan, along with the hiring freeze announced previously and other actions being taken, to restore its operating budget to balance.
The 2025-2026 VRP for FAS faculty aims to build financial capacity to continue to advance the academic mission of the university, including faculty renewal.
By offering a retirement incentive for eligible longer-serving faculty members that hold one of the following appointments: Tenured, Tenured track, or Continuing Adjuncts within the QUFA bargaining unit, FAS and ²Ï³Ü±ð±ð²Ô’s reduce salary costs.
No. The program is voluntary, meaning the decision to apply is entirely at the discretion of the eligible individual.
The 2025-2026 VRP for FAS faculty provides an opportunity to assess our teaching and research offerings and to also invest in faculty renewal where it best advances the academic mission.
We are addressing our current challenges to ensure the Queen's community’s continuing success in fulfilling our academic mission, and so some replacement hiring is anticipated. 
By supporting faculty renewal in areas of growth or need, the 2025-2026 VRP for FAS faculty will advance ²Ï³Ü±ð±ð²Ô’s academic mission and further enhance the student experience.
We will continue to refresh our course offerings and engage faculty to expand and update our programs.
No.
An applicant who retires under the 2025-2026 Voluntary Retirement Program (VRP) for FAS will not be eligible for paid employment or re-employment in any capacity at ²Ï³Ü±ð±ð²Ô’s University on and after their retirement date. An applicant who retires under the VRP is also ineligible to provide services to ²Ï³Ü±ð±ð²Ô’s University as a contractor for services on and after their retirement date.
Yes.
An applicant who retires under the 2025-2026 Voluntary Retirement Program (VRP) for FAS is still eligible to be considered for an unpaid Adjunct 1 appointment post-retirement. Decisions regarding Adjunct 1 appointments rest with the Dean.