The University of Waterloo’s board of governors voted June 6 to end mandatory retirement, six months ahead of the deadline set by the Ontario government.

The board gave approval to changes in the memorandum of agreement between the university and the academic staff association, deleting many references to retirement and specifying that a faculty member “has the right to retire at a date of his or her choosing.” The same right is being given to staff members starting immediately.

The board also approved revisions to the pension and benefit plans that result from the end of mandatory retirement. Employees who stay at the university after age 65 will have most of the same benefits they had before: the extended health care plan will continue for those individuals as will the dental plan and sick leave coverage.

At age 69, employees who stay on the job will start getting the same benefits as retirees: a health plan similar to what they had before, but no dental plan. Long-term disability will end at age 65, sick leave after 65 will be limited to 120 days and life insurance will be available on a reduced scale.