There are a number of benefits available to members of the Faculty Association (also outlined in the current Collective Agreement): health benefits, insurance plans, the pension plan , tuition waivers and funds to reimburse you for professional expenditures.
Health Benefits
Medical Services Plan of British Columbia (MSP)
Residents of British Columbia are required to register themselves and their dependents with the Medical Services Plan. There is no cost to this plan. You are not eligible for extended health benefits if you fail to enroll in MSP.
For further information about the Medical Services Plan, including extent of coverage or wait times if you are new to BC, please visit the MSP website
Extended Health Plan
The Extended Health benefits provide coverage of some items not covered by the provincial plan, including ambulance fees, out-of-country emergency medical care, vision care, prostheses, and some prescription drugs. For full details on coverage, please refer to the HR Benefits website .
There is a $25 deductible per year/per family. Claims can be filed manually or electronically through the Sun Life website.
Depending on your rank and the amount of work, the premiums are either paid in full or shared equally with UBC.
Dental Plan
The dental plan covers 100% of Basic Preventative and Restorative Procedures, 70% of Major Restoration Procedures and 65% of Orthodontic Procedures up to $3000.00 lifetime maximum per person. The plan will not cover every type of procedure, so Faculty Association members are strongly encouraged to confirm coverage or submit a treatment plan to Sun Life in advance of any major procedure. For full details on coverage, please visit the HR Benefits website or refer to the SunLife Financial booklet “Your Group Benefits“.
Depending on your rank and the amount that you work, the premiums are either paid in full or half by UBC.
Health Spending Account
All bargaining unit members have access to an annual Health Spending Account, which can be used to cover health care costs not already covered by Extended Health benefits. Annual contributions to the HSA are:
- 2025: $400
- 2026: $400
- 2027: $600
- 2028: $600
- 2029: $800
Members may roll over their entitlement to a maximum of 2 years.
Further information on the HSA, including how to seek reimbursements, is available through HR on the Health Spending Account webpage.
Personal Spending Account
Effective 1 January 2029, each member of the bargaining unit will have access to an annual Personal Spending account of $200. This money may be used for a range of services from covering the cost of non-work related courses, sporting equipment, childcare expenses and even deposited directly into your RRSP or TFSA. See Sunlife’s list of eligible expenses.
Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)
EFAP offers a range of services including confidential individual and couples counseling, financial advice, personalized nutrition counseling and career counseling. Enrollment is mandatory for those with appointments of at least 50% and at least four months. The premiums are 100% employer paid.
The current provider of this service is Green Shield Health. You can access the Green Shield platform at app.greenshieldplus.ca
Insurance Plans
Basic Life Insurance
This benefit is mandatory for those with full-time appointments of one year or more. It is optional for those in part-time appointments, “without review” appointments of at least 50% and terms of four months or more. Your age and annual salary determine your coverage – for full details of coverage, see the HR Benefits website.
Optional Life Insurance
In addition to the Basic Life Insurance provided by UBC, Optional Life Insurance is available for Faculty Association members, their spouses or common-law partners and dependent children. The Optional Life Insurance can be bought in units of $25,000.00 to a maximum of $750,000.00. For full details on coverage, see the HR Benefits website. Additional terms are found in the Sun Life benefits booklet.
The premiums (paid by the Faculty Association member) vary depending on age and whether you smoke.
Income Replacement Plan (IRP)
The Income Replacement Plan (IRP) is intended to provide income to those who are unable, due to illness or injury, to perform their own or a similar occupation. This benefit is mandatory for members of the Faculty Association. The premiums are 100% employee paid.
IRP benefits begin after a qualifying period of six months. This six-month period is usually covered by the paid sick leave available to most Faculty Association members. IRP provides a percentage of monthly salary 67% of the first $5,500 of your basic monthly salary, plus 43% of your monthly salary in excess of the first $5,500).
The maximum monthly benefit is $30,000, and net monthly payments from the Income Replacement Plan are not subject to Income Tax. For full details on coverage, see the HR Benefits website.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance provides benefits for accidental death, loss of limbs, sight or hearing. This insurance is available to the Faculty Association member and spouse or common-law partner. For full details on coverage see the HR Benefits website.
The premiums (paid by the Faculty Association member) vary depending on level of coverage.
Tuition Waiver
Tuition fee waivers for UBC credit courses are available for Faculty Association members and their dependent children. After September 1, 2023 faculty may transfer their tuition fee waivers to their spouse. Faculty Association members may receive a waiver for up to 12 credits per year of graduate or undergraduate courses (some conditions apply). Dependent children may receive a waiver for up to 120 credits of coursework in an undergraduate degree program (some conditions apply). For full information on how to apply for the tuition fee waiver for Faculty Association members or the tuition fee waiver for dependent children, please see the HR Benefits website. The benefit is paid for by UBC and is a taxable benefit.
Professional Development Funds
All Faculty Association members are provided an annual fund from which they can seek reimbursement of some of their professional expenses. These funds can be banked for up to five years and may be used for books or other teaching materials, conference travel, computer supplies, research materials and any other expense that enhance your ability, performance or the effectiveness of your work. To review the types of eligible expenses, or to check whether you are eligible for the fund, please see the Faculty Relations website.
The annual PD fund allocation for all bargaining unit members except Non-Continuing Sessionals is as follows:
- Prior to 2026: $1700
- Effective 1 July 2026: $3000
- Effective 1 July 2027: $3500
- Effective 1 July 2028: $4000
Non-Continuing Sessionals are entitled to following an annual PD reimbursement up to a maximum equivalent to the amounts for other bargaining unit members:
- Prior to 2026: $100 per credit
- Effective 1 July 2026: $150 per credit
- Effective 1 July 2027: $200 per credit
- Effective 1 July 2028: $250 per credit
Faculty Pension Plan
Terms of the Faculty Pension Plan are not bargained by the Faculty Association. Accessibility and contribution rates are bargained. Participation is mandatory for those with an appointment that is full-time and for one year or more. Sessional Faculty with appointments of four months or more are eligible for membership. Those holding sessional appointments should consult with the Faculty Pension Plan Administration office to determine eligibility.
The Faculty Pension Plan is a defined contribution plan. Contributions are made by a Faculty Association member and UBC. Faculty Association members may choose from a variety of different investment funds. You may choose to divide your pension monies among several funds or transfer between funds. For further details on the Faculty Pension Plan, or your options upon retirement, please see the Faculty Pension Plan website.
The defined contributions (as specified in the Collective Agreement) are 15% of your salary: the Faculty Association member puts in 5% of their salary, and UBC puts in 10% of a member’s salary. This total amount is offset by the CPP contribution amount.
Optional Supplemental Pension Arrangement
There is a Supplemental Pension Arrangement for those Faculty Association members who are members of the Faculty Pension Plan, and whose contributions exceed the maximum annual amount allowed by Revenue Canada. For further information on the Supplemental Pension Arrangement, see the Faculty Pension Plan web site.
