Message From Provost Lois Agnew

Dear Colleagues:

Today, Syracuse University is introducing a voluntary retirement incentive aimed at providing eligible faculty a voluntary pathway to retirement with financial recognition of their many years of service.

The roughly 175 faculty members who are eligible will receive a message later today with details about the Voluntary Faculty Retirement Incentive and how it applies to their individual situation. Participation is entirely voluntary; no one is obligated to participate.

Eligibility

Faculty may be eligible if they have 35 or more years of service at the University or if their primary appointment is in a school or department with an undergraduate program designated for closure, experiencing sustained low enrollment, or showing significant enrollment decline over the past several years. Eligibility is based on objective criteria and is not a reflection of individual faculty performance.

Incentive Structure

Participating faculty will receive:

• a lump-sum payment of two weeks of pay for every year of credited service, up to 100% of FY26 base salary;
• a supplemental payment of $500 per year of credited service, up to $15,000; and
• access to retiree benefits, including the University’s retiree health plan, tuition assistance programs and other post-retirement resources.

Please note, faculty with existing retirement agreements with a planned retirement date may elect to participate in the incentive and receive a prorated amount, or retain their current agreement. For example, a faculty member with a planned retirement date of Jan. 1, 2027, who elects to participate would receive up to two weeks of pay for every year of credited service, up to 50% of FY26 base salary.

Timeline

The election window opens today (Friday, April 10) and closes May 15, 2026. The effective retirement date for all participants is Aug. 16, 2026.

Academic Continuity

Schools and departments will work to ensure continuity in teaching, advising and program delivery. Where replacement hiring is appropriate, we will prioritize tenure-track faculty in alignment with academic needs and strategic priorities.

Support and Resources

Eligible faculty are encouraged to review all materials carefully and to consult with Human Resources, which offers confidential benefits counseling and guidance. A full FAQ is available for your review.

I am grateful for the contributions our faculty make to this University every day. This incentive opportunity reflects our ongoing commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our students and strengthening our academic mission, while honoring the extraordinary contributions of our talented and dedicated faculty scholars.

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources.

Sincerely,

Lois Agnew
Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer