YOUNGSTOWN - Members of Youngstown State University’s faculty union are scheduled to vote on a proposal to establish an incentive to encourage voluntary retirements or separation from employment.

YSU Trustees on Wednesday approved a resolution supporting a Voluntary Separation/Retirement Program.

Developed in collaboration with YSU-OEA leadership, faculty members would be offered an incentive to separate their employment, according to a statement from the University.

"As the university continues to move forward on the Plan for Strategic Actions to Take Charge of our Future and makes a commitment to academic program enhancement, this resolution allows us to establish a program to create the opportunity to compensate our dedicated faculty members, while also making the academic changes necessary to guide YSU into the future," said YSU President Jim Tressel.

The University statement says the proposal to optimize instructional and academic needs, is part of YSU’s Academic Program Enhancement and Effectiveness Initiative to gain a deeper understanding of academic programs, optimize the portfolio of academic programs and gain appropriate curricular efficiencies.

The terms of the Program will be finalized considering the results of a vote by the YSU-OEA faculty on Friday, April 30, 2021.