By Ella Prieto, Editor-in-Chief
On Feb. 16, Gettysburg College launched a Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) by sending an email to the following employees: administrators in Dining & Catering, administrators and support staff in Musselman Library and hourly-paid administrative support personnel in roles focused on general administrative coordination, customer service and operational support. In total, the program was offered to around 50 people. To be eligible for the program, employees must have at least 5 years of continuous full-time service as of June 1, 2026. The voluntary program lets eligible employees end their employment in exchange for enhanced financial benefits beyond a standard separation.
The President’s Council selected groups eligible for VSIP based on areas where work has changed, where staffing levels could scale with enrollment and where voluntary programs had not previously been offered. From a legal standpoint, voluntary programs must be offered within defined “decisional units”, meaning groups of employees performing similar work. In this case, the Library and Dining constitute decision-making units. Hourly administrative assistants perform substantially similar roles across the institution, and this role is an area where voluntary programs have not previously been offered.
On Feb. 18, there was an in-person information session for eligible employees led by representatives from Human Resources (HR), the Provost’s Office and the Finance Office. The information session was then followed by a formal FAQ document sent via email the next day. March 3 was the election form deadline for all eligible employees to submit a form to HR indicating whether they are interested in VSIP. By March 17, severance agreements will be sent to interested employees, who will then have seven days to rescind their involvement in the process if they wish. There will be a 45-day review next, during which employees must sign their severance agreements. May 22 is the departure date for employees who accept the VSIP.
Students and faculty expressed concerns that the VSIP targets the majority of a department. For example, 16 of the 18 full-time staff members in Musselman Library were invited to participate in VSIP. Provost Jamila Bookwala addressed that concern at the March 5 Faculty Meeting, stating that the College does not expect nor want every eligible person to participate in VSIP, as running the College that way would not be possible. Bookwala also plans to hold meetings with the library, administrative assistants and faculty chairs to determine how work can be structured in the future to sustain the services students rely on, while adapting to the College’s evolving needs.
In recent years, similar programs included two Faculty Retirement Incentive Programs (FRIP), which took place before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, another VSIP was offered to faculty and full-time administrators across the College who were age 55 or older and had 10 or more years of service. This aligned with the College’s retirement eligibility. This iteration of VSIP differs in that it is intended for employees beyond those nearing retirement.
Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Jamie Yates explained that it is common for institutions to offer voluntary separation plans, and that this is the fourth such plan Gettysburg has offered over roughly the past decade.
“These plans create organizational flexibility for the College while also providing financial support for employees who may be considering a transition in their careers. This step is part of a broader effort to ensure the College is responding thoughtfully to the many challenges and opportunities facing higher education,” she elaborated. “As demographic shifts and competition reshape the landscape, Gettysburg is adapting with a clear focus on its core mission. From introducing new academic programs and expanding co-curricular opportunities to organizing our work in ways that better meet the needs of today’s students, the College continues to evolve while remaining grounded in what has always defined a Gettysburg education. Taken together, these efforts are aimed at ensuring the College remains strong and vibrant as it approaches its third century.”
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes publicly available.
