The broader UBC community offers a number of opportunities to practice meditation.

• UBC Zen sitting group: The group organized by UBC Zen is led by E’cho Sirotnik, an ordained monk and UBC’s Zen Buddhist Chaplain. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
• Meditation at The UBC Yoga Club: The UBC Yoga Club seeks to provide yoga and meditation to the UBC community looking for a way to wind down, relax, and take a break from the stresses of life.
• Meditation at The Old Barn Community Centre: The Old Barn Community Centre offers a variety of programming including yoga, mindfulness and meditation classes. View their current program guide.

• School of Economics Labyrinth: The Vancouver School of Economics (on the UBC Point Grey campus) has an outdoor Maltese labyrinth. It is outside, open to anyone and an inspiring space to just follow a path in calming meditation. Learn more.
• The Nitobe Memorial Gardens: Located within the UBC Point Grey campus, the Nitobe Memorial Gardens are considered to be the one of the most authentic Japanese gardens in North America. Admission to the gardens is free for UBC students, faculty, and staff.
• The Rose Garden: Located on the northwesterly tip of UBC’s Point Grey campus the Rose Garden with its elevated design overlooks the North Shore offering an opportunity to explore dozens of rose species in a variety of colours and an altogether peaceful meditative experience. View directions.

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 subsequently only be extended by agreement between the faculty association member and their unit head to maximum of one year.

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.

The faculty member will need to complete a Retirement Option Election form and submit to their Head of Academic Unit. 

Administrative process: 

1. If the Study Leave has already been entered in Workday. a) Work with the ISC to have the leave cancelled. b) Process a Change Job BP selecting Retirement Option 3: Faculty Reduced-Scope appointment.  
2. If the Study Leave has not yet been entered in Workday.  Process a Change Job BP selecting Retirement Option 3: Faculty Reduced-Scope appointment.   

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.

Members of the UBC Faculty Association are eligible for reimbursement 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.

How to Apply: 

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, GreenShield, 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. 

Policy HR11 – Employment Advertising provides that in special circumstances, the responsible executive may waive UBC’s advertising requirement. Refer to section 5.2 of Policy HR11 for full details. 

A request for a waiver must be made and fully approved in advance of any job offer using the UBC Employment Advertising Waiver Request Form (HR11):

Waiver Request Form

UBC Employment Advertising Waiver Request Procedure:

1. Department, Faculty or Provost’s Office completes the UBC Employment Advertising Waiver Request Form (HR11) and:
   • Attaches appropriate and relevant supporting documentation (e.g. CV for faculty appointments), and
   • Obtains Requestor’s signature as outlined by the relevant UBC policy.
2. For both staff and faculty, the initiator forwards form with supporting documentation:
   • For UBCV requests, to Central HR Advisory (hr.info@ubc.ca)
   • For UBCV requests requiring the President’s approval, to the Director, Human Resources, Office of the President, Office of the Provost and VP Academic, Office of the VP Research and Innovation (patrizia.todaro@ubc.ca)
   • For UBCO requests, include the hiring request form with your submission to Human Resources (ubco.hr@ubc.ca).
3. HR will review the rationale and supporting documentation to facilitate completion of approval process.
4. Once approval has been obtained, HR will return a fully executed copy of the UBC Employment Advertising Waiver Request Form to the initiator.
5. When processing the appointment, the initiating unit will attach the approved Employment Advertising Waiver Request Form to the Business Process in Workday. The Initiator will need to ensure that the appropriate reason is selected in the Business Process to indicate that a waiver has been approved.

Approved special circumstances (Waiver Exemption – HR11 5.2); attach approved UBC Employment Advertising Waiver Request Form (faculty/staff).

It is required that the approved Employment Advertising Waiver Request Form is attached to the applicable Business Process in Workday.

• Parenting
• Racial Trauma-Informed
• Abuse
• Trauma
• Gender-Affirming Care (TGNB)
• Indigenous Healing Practices
• Palliative/End-Of-Life Care
• LGBTQ2S+
• Systemic Oppression
• Workplace Issues
• Executive/Leadership counselling
• First Responders
• Psychosocial Oncology
• Developmental Disabilities
• Grief and Loss
• Chronic Illness or Pain
• Learning or Intellectual Disabilities
• Life Coaching
• Marriage and Romantic/Sexual Relationships
• Behavioural Addictions
• Domestic or Intimate Partner Abuse Violence
• Religion and Spirituality
• Racial/Cultural Identity
• Harassment and Bullying
• Military Veterans
• Migrants/Immigrants/Refugees
• Physical Disabilities
• Infertility
• Polyamory/Non-Monogamy
• Continuous Displacement/Homelessness
• Victims of Narcissistic Abuse
• Sports Psychology

• Christianity: Catholicism
• Christianity: Protestantism
• Christianity: Other
• Judaism
• Islam
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Sikhism
• Indigenous Spiritualities
• Non-religious Spirituality
• Baháʼí Faith
• Taoism
• Shinto
• Falun Gong
• Jainism
• African Traditional Spiritualities/Religions
• Asian Traditional Spiritualities/Religions
• Land/Earth Based Spiritualities
• Shamanism
• Wiccan/Paganism
• Atheism
• Other

If you are a new or returning resident coming to BC from outside Canada, you should arrange for private coverage during the period you are waiting for your BC Medical Services Plan coverage to become effective. Normally, the waiting period consists of the balance of the month of your arrival, plus two months. If you are a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) with a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) work permit please review the section below for additional information and the requirements for private medical coverage.

When and how do I arrange for private coverage?

Make arrangements for private coverage as soon as you arrive in Canada. If you are a Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) with a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) work permit, you must have private coverage in place on the day you arrive in Canada (please review the section below for private coverage options that are available on the date of arrival). 

We have presented two options below, but you can make arrangements with other private insurance agencies. No matter which insurance policy you purchase, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the details of the plan before you buy it.

Purchasing private coverage through Sun Life

Sun Life is UBC’s Extended Health and Dental benefits provider. The company also offers a private health insurance plan, called the Inpatriate Plan, that covers medical expenses during the MSP waiting period, including coverage for pre-existing medical conditions and pregnancy and childbirth for UBC faculty and staff (excludes those who are ineligible for UBC benefits such as Visiting Faculty and Adjunct Professors). 

This plan is available on your date of arrival to Canada provided that you submit an application within 60 days of arrival. However, it is advisable to apply in advance of arrival.

If you decide to purchase a plan from Sun Life, your Department/Faculty will be charged the expense (Sun Life will not charge you). However, your Department/Faculty may require you to reimburse them for this cost. The current monthly rate as of January 1, 2025 is $183.00 (single); $366.00 (couple) and $549.00 (family). 

If you purchase this plan

• your Sun Life Inpatriate Plan will begin on your date of arrival.
• your UBC Extended Health Plan that supplements your MSP coverage and Dental Care coverage will begin on your date of hire and once you have enrolled in the plan.

In order to purchase the Inpatriate Plan, UBC Human Resources requires an emailed authorization from your Supervisor with the UBC ledger account, spend category and worktag that the premiums are to be paid from. Your Department or Supervisor should email the authorization to janet.mchugh@ubc.ca as confirmation of payment of the premiums. Please note that without this confirmation you will be unable to purchase the Inpatriate Plan.

Note the following payment options that you should discuss with your department prior to enrolling and purchasing:

Option 1:

Your Department covers the cost of the Plan for you and reimburses Human Resources within 31 days of notification

Option 2:

Your Department submits payment on your behalf to Human Resources within 31 days of notification (in this event, you will be required to pay back your Department for these costs).

Once confirmation of your application has been received by UBC HR from your Department/Faculty, you will be sent an application form. If you enrol within 60 days of your arrival in Canada, you do not need to provide a Health Statement. However, if you apply late (after 60 days following your arrival), you (and your dependents) will be required to provide a Health Statement that is subject to review and approval by Sun Life. If you are applying for coverage for your dependents only, they will need to provide evidence of good health by submitting a Health Statement regardless of the timing of the application.

Note to Departments: once the amount of premiums owing has been reconciled with Sun Life, this amount will be processed in Workday by UBC Human Resources and forwarded to the department for approval.

Purchasing private coverage through David Cummings Insurance Services

David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) is an insurance brokerage specializing in health insurance. DCIS offers a range of temporary private health insurance options to cover the MSP waiting period.

This plan generally has some limitations for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions and on coverage for pregnancy and childbirth. However, there are coverage options available and it is important for you to discuss your particular circumstances with the DCIS agent to ensure you get the right coverage for you and your dependents.

To apply:

• Submit a quotation request form or contact a DCIS agent for more information or to enrol in the plan.
• Advise DCIS of your UBC employment/affiliation.

If you decide to purchase a plan from DCIS, you pay them the full cost. For information on rates, contact DCIS directly.

• If you are a faculty member, you may be eligible for reimbursement from the UBC Relocation Fund.
• If you are a staff member, you may be eligible for reimbursement depending on your employment group. 

For more information, contact the Administrator in your hiring Department or Faculty.

If you purchase this plan

• Your private plan with DCIS will begin on the day you arrive in Canada if you purchase it before you depart for Canada. Otherwise, if you purchase your private plan after arrival in Canada, the accident coverage starts on the date of purchase, and the sickness coverage would start after a waiting period (typically 48 hours after the policy start date). To avoid being uninsured for any amount of time in Canada, it is advisable to contact DCIS before travelling to Canada.
• Your UBC Extended Health Plan that supplements your MSP coverage will begin once you have met the MSP waiting period and you have enrolled in the plan.
• Your Dental Care coverage will begin on your date of hire and once you have enrolled in the plan.

You should apply for MSP coverage as soon as you arrive in BC rather than at the end of the waiting period. It is very important that you apply as soon as you arrive in BC to allow time for your application to be processed.
You can enrol for MSP directly with Health Insurance BC (administrator of MSP).

After your application has been processed by MSP, you will receive a health card called a BC Services Card with a unique lifetime identifier for health care called a Personal Health Number. If you are re-establishing residency in BC and previously received a Care Card, you will not receive a new one, as your former coverage will be reinstated.

Effective September 26, 2022, under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), if you are a TFW with a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) work permit, your department is obligated to pay for your private health insurance upon arrival to Canada. As noted in the above section Do I Need Private Coverage, UBC provides access to two private health insurance programs: 

• Sun Life Inpatriate Plan: available on day of arrival provided the application is made within 60 days of arrival to Canada.
• David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS): available upon the day of arrival provided it is purchased in advance of arrival. This plan generally has some limitations for coverage of pre-existing medical conditions and on coverage for pregnancy and childbirth. It is important for you to discuss your particular circumstances with the DCIS agent to ensure you get the right coverage for you and your dependents.

Given that private health insurance coverage is required to be in place on your date of arrival, it is important that you apply and ensure you are covered for the Sun Life Inpatriate Plan or the  David Cummings Insurance Services (DCIS) plan for your arrival well in advance of arriving in Canada. You can connect with your department to ensure payment to DCIS or enrolment and payment to Sun Life. 

Submit a quotation request form or contact a DCIS agent for more information or to enrol in the plan.

​​​​​​To ensure no gaps between the private and public health coverage, ensure you apply for BC Medical Services Plan public insurance as soon as you arrive (BC Government Website: How to Apply for MSP).

If you are working in British Columbia under a work permit and you are enrolled in MSP, your medical coverage will end at the end of the month that your work permit expires. If you have not received your new work permit prior to the expiry of your current one, we recommend that you purchase private coverage while you are on Maintained Status (and not covered for MSP) if you have a pre-existing condition, pregnant (or your spouse is) or anticipate that you and/or your dependents will obtain doctor and/or hospital services and you do not want to wait until your new work permit is issued in order to be reimbursed. You can purchase private coverage through Sun Life. 

There is more information for people on Maintained status on our Medical Service Plan page, under the section Work permits and MSP coverage.

For information on MSP:

You can visit the MSP website at www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp.

For information on the Sun Life Inpatriate Plan and all other questions:

UBC Human Resources, Benefits Administration
Telephone: 604-822-6823
Email: janet.mchugh@ubc.ca

David Cummings Insurance Ltd.:

David Cummings Insurance Ltd.
Telephone: 604-228-8816
Toll-free (within North America): 1-800-818-3188
Fax: 604-228-9807
Email: info@david-cummings.com