2025 Stony Brook University Faculty Voluntary Separation Program (“VSP”)

Dear Faculty,

As a flagship institution and top-tier public research university, our continued momentum and ability to achieve our aspirational vision for the future require sustained investment in our academic and research enterprises. Growing our faculty and bolstering research are vital to our continued success.

In support of these goals, the university is offering a one-time, local, Stony Brook University (SBU) Voluntary Separation Program (“VSP”) to all SBU full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty meeting the criteria below. The intent of this program is to provide salary savings that will be reinvested fully into new tenure-track faculty hiring.

SBU faculty who are in a full-time status effective March 10, 2025, who are New York State (“NYS”) retirement eligible as of March 10, 2025, may participate based upon the following:

• Years of Full-Time Service: 23 or More
• New York State Retirement Eligible: Yes
• *Lump-Sum Payment: Lump-sum payment of one year of base annual salary, capped at $150,000. 

Eligibility:

• To participate in the program, interested faculty must meet eligibility requirements included above.
• Eligible faculty must complete the Application to Participate Form (“Application”) and return the signed copy to Human Resources (HR) no later than December 12, 2025.
• Interested faculty MUST consult with HR to receive additional information on the VSP (e.g.: lump-sum amount, health insurance, dental and vision coverage, sick leave calculation, etc.) In addition, interested parties should review these details with their tax advisors.
• SBU retirement providers will also be available throughout the period of consideration (October 29th through December 12th), though this additional consultation is not required in order to participate in the program.

Pertinent Information:

• Participation in the program is voluntary.
• All applications will be considered on a rolling basis as received, by the interim University President (and/or his designee(s)) with final decisions communicated to the applicant no later than December 19, 2025. The interim University President has final approval on all applications.
• The University reserves the right to deny VSP applications consistent with institutional needs, e.g., if the applicant is critical to research, enrollment needs, or program sustainability.
• Eligibility to participate does not guarantee approval nor does submission of an Application.
• Faculty whose applications are approved must select a departure date effective December 31, 2025, or March 31, 2026.
• Eligible faculty who are currently in their tenured/tenure-track position (not including those who have already transitioned to a Toll Professorship) and who have already completed their paperwork for retirement will be considered for the VSP payment.
• Faculty approved for the VSP may also request emeritus status, and if granted, will receive the associated benefits of the program.
• Full-time faculty, on an approved leave (e.g.: Sabbatical, FMLA, etc.), are considered full-time for the purposes of eligibility for this program.
• A faculty member who has received formal written notice of an involuntary separation from SBU is not eligible to participate.
• The date used to calculate years of State service and salary will be March 10, 2025.
• Approved VSP participants should assume they will not be rehired by SBU in any capacity (excluding Toll professor appointments).
• The VSP lump-sum distribution is taxable income from a non-state entity. Individuals will be issued 1099s, as the lump sum distribution will not flow through the New York State Payroll.
• Employees who are interested in reviewing their options are encouraged to seek counsel from their tax advisors, retirement system representatives, financial planner, the Social Security Administration, before deciding to apply to participate. Employees represented by a union also have the right to consult with their union representative. To ensure that employees have sufficient information, a meeting with a representative from Human Resources is a requirement for participation.