Voluntary Separation Incentive Program Now Available to Eligible Faculty

We are pleased to announce that all eligible faculty will have the opportunity to choose early retirement under a Voluntary Separation Incentive Program being offered this fall. The University of Nebraska System has offered early retirement options for many years.

Through the University-wide program, tenured faculty who are 62 or older with at least 10 years of service to the University of Nebraska system will be able to retire and receive a lump-sum payment equivalent to 80 percent of their base salary. Approximately 400 faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska at Kearney are eligible to participate in the VSIP.

“It’s the right thing to do to periodically offer a flexible retirement option to our most senior faculty, who have collectively given many decades of service to our university and contributed enormously to our upward trajectory,” Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Sacha Kopp, Ph.D., said in a Monday email to faculty announcing the program.

“Based on past experience, we know a number of faculty may be considering retirement and the VSIP gives those faculty an attractive option, while also creating some flexibility in the university’s budget.”

The university is accepting VSIP applications, available here, until Dec. 3, 2019. The UNO Office of Academic Affairs will notify faculty by Dec. 16 whether their applications have been accepted. Details on the VSIP are also available on the university’s website. Faculty with questions are encouraged to contact Dr. Regina Toman, Faculty Human Resources Officer, in the Office of Academic Affairs (Eppley 202 | 402.554.3191 | rtoman@unomaha.edu.)

Phased Retirement Option

As a reminder, the University of Nebraska at Omaha also offers a Phased Retirement option to eligible faculty. The main differences between Phased Retirement and Voluntary Separation are as follows:

1. Phased retirement is a continuing option for eligible faculty. At this time, there is no projected end date to this option.

2. Tenured faculty with 10 or more years of full-time employment at UNO are eligible for Phased Retirement at age 55.

3. Phased retirement offers faculty participants to continue employment at UNO for a period of one, two or three years (maximum) at a reduced workload with salary at the reduced workload rate.

Questions about the Phased Retirement Option should also be directed to Dr. Regina Toman, Faculty Human Resources Officer, in the Office of Academic Affairs (Eppley 202 | 402.554.3191 | rtoman@unomaha.edu.)