VER Plan. We have allocated $3 million from the pension surplus for a Voluntary Early Retirement Plan. It is likely that this allocation will be increased to $3.5 million when we have full information about the size of the pension surplus. The eligibility requirements and the benefits provided are pretty much the same as the last VER plan. Anyone who reaches the eligibility requirements by August 31, 2001 may apply. However, there will be only one application "window," open from December 15, 1998 to January 31, 1999. The application procedure is different in the following respect: you are no longer required take early retirement in the first year you are eligible; however, when you apply for early retirement you must indicate the year in which you propose to commence retirement. If you are granted Early Retirement Benefits and a full Retirement Allowance, you will be committed to retire in the year you have proposed.

Retirement Allowance. The retirement allowance is a one-time grant of a portion of salary made to encourage early retirement. We have negotiated the terms on which such allowances are granted, and agreed to an additional pension contribution holiday for the University to provide the fund for the allowances. The size of the fund will be $1.4 million. The allowances will be made on the basis of formula which is sensitive to both the number of years the retiree is giving up and the years of service at the University of Windsor. Retirement allowances will be granted only so long as money remains in the Retirement Allowance fund. (There was approximately $700,000 left unexpended in the last Retirement Allowance fund, which reverted to the University for their use. Under the proposed new Agreement, any unexpended amount will be dispersed jointly by the University and the Faculty Association.)

Benefits

There are some small enhancements to health benefits (see Article F, clause 2).
The Vision plan will now allow $150 toward eye glasses every two years (previously $80);
The maximum for massage therapy goes from $84 per year to $300 per year;
The maximum for speech therapy goes from $200 per year to $400 per year; and you will be covered for 50% of the scheduled fee to a clinical psychologist for ten visits (previously $35 for a first visit, $20 for subsequent visits, to a maximum of $200).

The rest of basic Green Shield coverage remains unchanged. We have agreed to extend the life of the committee that had been established to determine which non-prescription drugs will be covered by the Green Shield drug plan, and we have enhanced the mandate of that committee to look at possible improvements to the Extended Health Plan. Such improvement might be possible if the combined effect of changes to the drug plan and changes to extended health benefits do not result in any overall increase for the University. (See Letter of Understanding VIII on Health Insurance Plan.)

S. Sessional Instructors will have the right to free tuition for one course in each teaching year in which he or she has been appointed to teach one or more courses. (See Article G, clause 2.)

Other matters

Among other changes of note are the following:

new provisions governing outside professional activities see especially 5:36(b), © and (f);

The recognition that a member's files and personal communications, including those stored or transferred on University computer systems, are private and that the university does not have a right to examine or utilize their content - 5:55;

Recognition of a faculty member's right to select those teaching and support materials and those specific instructional techniques and technologies which he/she believes to be appropriate - 5:23;

Free use of computing dial-up services for members for the duration of this agreement (8:01(f) ? which means that the fees announced for such use will not go into effect;

Establishment of a joint committee to make recommendations on the responsible use of emerging teaching technologies (Letter XI).

In AAUs that have co-op programmes, sabbaticals may now commence of any one of four different dates - see 17:03(c);

The academic and administrative duties of heads have been revised to reflect changes in the academic and administrative structure of the University - 31:02;

The body that considers sabbatical applications is no longer called the Council of Deans, but is called the Sabbatical Review Committee, and has a somewhat different composition - 17:05(c).

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