Benefits of Membership

Emeriti Enjoying a lecture

Participation in the life of the Emeritus College extends the sense of collegiality beyond official retirement and maintains formal links with UBC. The College is a key voice and advocate for retiring and retired UBC faculty. It supports a vibrant community in which members can redefine retirement and be enriched by encounters with colleagues across disciplinary boundaries. It is an ideal landing spot during one’s retirement.

Below are just some of the highlights of the approximately 100 events programmed annually and which are available to you as a member. For further details, visit News & Events as well as People & Committees. 

  • General Meetings offer outstanding speakers, musical performances, scholarly displays and social time to renew old friendships and make new ones.
     
  • Communication of news, events, and information:
    • The Newsletter is a highly informative magazine  distributed by e-mail three times a year and contains news about colleagues, university events, and specially selected current affairs. View current and past issues.
    • The E-News is distributed bi-monthly by email and contains monthly events and time sensitive notices for College Members. As a member you are automatically registered for this email. If you would like to receive the emails prior to becoming a member you can sign up for the E-News.
    • The Emeritus College website portal Your Retirement has comprehensive information on planning for and life in retirement.
    • In addition, the College regularly posts stories of interest on social media; consider following by clicking on the icons in the footer below.
       
  • Twelve Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have been established, each with a convenor who organizes regular in person or virtual get-togethers throughout the year. Proposals for additional SIGs are welcome; check out the list of groups and Guidelines on the Special Interest Group webpage.
     
  • Engagement with current philosophical and political topics take place three or four times per year at the Philosophers’ Café sessions at Seasons (formerly Tapestry) Wesbrook Village. Residents of Seasons and members of the College engage in lively discussions.
     

  • An Emeritus Visiting Scholars in Residence Program is a new venture in the long-standing collaboration between the Emeritus College and Green College. The Emeritus College will nominate scholars from outside of British Columbia who are distinguished in their fields and who have a proven track record of interdisciplinary practice or engagement to be a resident at Green College for up to one month. There will be a public event led by the visitor and the residency will allow for extensive collaboration with members of the Emeritus College and engagement with the broader community.

  • The formation of College Chapters based on geographic location are encouraged, such as the one in the Okanagan, in order to meet the needs of our members in outlying areas. If you are in the Okanagan area, consider joining the Outdoor Activities Group or the UBCO Bridge Group!
  • The College provides information on  opportunities during retirement, assistance with the resolution of unresolved roadblocks related to retirement, and in partnership with UBC Human Resources, assists faculty members and librarians to prepare for retirement. 
     
  • The College is a member of and/or keeps connected to many local, national and international academic retirement organizations, sharing success stories from UBC and giving you access to a wide range of resources and benefits. For more information, see the section on Organizations & Association under Recommended Resources. 

The members chair and participate on committees, which benefits College members. Many of the privileges and benefits we enjoy today are the result of countless hours of preparation and negotiation by our retired colleagues; our life in retirement would not be the same without their dedication. If you wish to be involved in advocacy work of various kinds, please consider putting your name forward to the appropriate committee. 

Here are just some of the ways we advocate on an ongoing basis to support our members:

The College has been instrumental in raising the UBC RSB lifetime limit from $50,000 to $200,000, ensuring a direct pay prescription drug card to activate the benefits program at the time of purchase, procuring additional health and travel insurance plan options, protecting complimentary campus parking, and communicating with UBC IT to ensure continued access to UBC email for those eligible. In addition, because of College efforts, the Post Retirement Appointment is now available to all retired faculty members who are awarded UBC emeritus status.

  • Encourages unit heads and administrators to include, support and utilize retired faculty who wish to remain socially and/or academically connected and involved in some way with their unit, and to consider Post-Retirement Appointments.
     
  • Informs UBC Administration about the many ways that retired faculty members have contributed and continue to benefit UBC and its reputation.

For example, small financial subsidies are available from the College for scholarly activity expenses, and there are annual awards for community service and innovative and creative work after retirement. Visit Awards and Support for more information.

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Room 4160, Brock Commons South,
6180 Walter Gage Road
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1
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