The University of Lethbridge has unveiled a Voluntary Retirement Program for its staff and faculty, a measure intended to relieve some of the budgetary issues it faces in the wake of expected funding cuts by the provincial government.

The Voluntary Retirement Program (VRP) was released to staff and faculty Friday, Sept. 25 and is estimated to be available to some 200 individuals. Although it is a voluntary program, all applications for voluntary retirement are subject to approval by the University's Board of Governors.

For more information on the VRP and its eligibility requirements, visit http://www.uleth.ca/hum/VoluntaryRetirementProgram/VRP_website_page.htm

Individuals may begin applying for VRP beginning Oct. 1. The final date to submit an application to Human Resources for inclusion in the VRP is Dec. 15. Those applications approved by the Board of Governors would take effect beginning Jan. 1, 2010 and continue through Dec. 31, 2011.