WASHINGTON, DC — Howard University’s decision to offer a Voluntary Retirement Incentive Program is part of our responsibility to plan thoughtfully for the University’s long-term financial sustainability and continued academic excellence. This program provides eligible faculty and staff who have dedicated significant years of service to Howard an opportunity to consider retirement with additional financial support and benefits. About 16.5% of the University’s employees are eligible to participate in the program. We are deeply grateful to the employees who elect to participate, for their service and for the contributions they have made to generations of Howard students.  

The University has previously offered voluntary retirement incentive programs as part of its workforce planning efforts. Prior programs include the Faculty Phased Retirement Program (2013-2017) and the Staff Retirement Program (2009 – 2010).  

As Howard continues to evolve as a Research One institution, we must also ensure that our workforce, academic programs and resources are aligned with the University we are becoming. The program gives us an opportunity to thoughtfully assess our organizational structure, create greater operational efficiencies and make strategic investments in emerging academic and research priorities.   

Howard is not alone in taking these steps. Colleges and universities across the country are confronting a rapidly changing and increasingly challenging financial environment. Institutions are navigating rising operating costs, pressures on tuition-dependent revenue, uncertainty surrounding federal research funding, and changes in federal student financial aid. Voluntary retirement and separation programs are among the measures higher education institutions have used to responsibly manage these pressures while positioning themselves for long-term stability.  

At Howard, our responsibility is to anticipate these challenges and make decisions today with the long-term health of the University in mind. Our goal is not simply to reduce costs; it is to ensure that we are deploying our resources wisely and sustainably in support of our most important mission—providing our students with an exceptional education and advancing research, scholarship and service that have distinguished Howard University for nearly 160 years.  

 Attribution: Office of University Communications, Howard University  

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