Voluntary Separation Incentive Program 2025-2026

A focused Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) is available to select employees during the 2025-26 academic year. Through this program, some units will offer a one-time, lump-sum payment to eligible individuals within the time period of the program. Participation is voluntary for qualifying individuals. The program is intended to realize cost savings for participating units, so not all units will participate. The program is also limited to tenured faculty and indefinite academic staff, as cost savings for those positions are more difficult to generate, based on lower attrition rates and long layoff processes. 

General Terms

1. VSIP provides incentive to incumbents who hold positions to leave employment at UWM. This VSIP is intended to help individual schools and colleges more quickly align their expenses to budgets based on activity metrics and resulting five-year planning (FY 26 to FY 30).
2. Employees who may be considered for the VSIP are: tenured faculty and academic staff with an indefinite appointment, who, by the date of their separation, are eligible for a partial or full retirement annuity from the State (i.e., 55 years of age and 5 years of service in most cases, with some differences depending on the employee’s start date), and employed by a participating unit.
   1. Individuals who have submitted written notice of retirement/resignation, have been formally non-renewed, or have received notice of pending layoff by the VSIP program announcement date of September 12, 2025, are not eligible.
   2. Individuals who have been provided notice of layoff or an at-risk letter prior to the VSIP program announcement date of September 12, 2025, are not eligible.
   3. Limited Appointees are not eligible.
3. Vetting by leadership in schools/colleges/divisions will occur at the division, department, employee category and position level. The vetting is designed to identify positions that if vacated, would present significant, on-going cost savings but still preserve the University’s teaching and research excellence and mission.
4. For all eligible employees, the incentive for the Fall 2025 VSIP is 50% of an employee’s base salary on the date of program announcement, subject to a maximum of $50,000.
5. The separation payment will be processed prior to an employee’s last date of employment and issued as an off-cycle payment on or prior to their separation date.
6. Eligible employees will be notified of their eligibility and be approved for participation (and separation date) in the VSIP by October 17, 2025.
7. The separation date will be January 8, 2026, or May 24, 2026 (the last day of the Fall/Spring contract period) for faculty and indefinite instructional academic staff. Indefinite non-instructional academic staff may request a separation date on or between January 8, 2026, and May 24, 2026.
8. VSIP participants will not be eligible to be employed by a WRS employer for a minimum of 75 days from the date of separation. Deans/Division Heads/Supervisors may not discuss reemployment with a VSIP participant, including on a temporary or ad hoc basis, prior to an individual’s actual separation or during the 75-day period.
9. Faculty may continue to supervise graduate students on a voluntary basis for up to 2 years (or longer with relevant Executive Committee approval) pursuant to Faculty Document No. 3134R2 (PDF). These arrangements are not subject to the 75-day separation period noted above and may be discussed and agreed prior to the employee’s separation.