UPP is a jointly sponsored defined benefit pension plan open to all Ontario university sector employers and employees.
As of December 31, 2024, UPP manages $12.8 billion in pension assets and serves over 41,000 working and retired members across five universities and 14 sector organizations.
UPP is designed for growth, with the mission to preserve and extend sustainable defined benefit pensions in Ontario’s university sector. Wilfrid Laurier University is set to join as a participating employer in January 2026.
What makes UPP different is that it is dedicated solely to pensions and built specifically for the university sector. It has the infrastructure, expertise, and technology to manage pensions with long-term sustainability. For members, this means professional investment management, strong risk oversight, and dedicated pension support.
The following UPP links are for those who may want to explore the plan and for information purposes only. UPP is not in a position to respond to Waterloo-specific inquiries, as only preliminary discussions are occurring at this stage.
UPP highlights:
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Jointly Sponsored by Employees and Employers
Employees and employers share equal representation in decisions on plan design, funding, and administration. Learn more about UPP’s governance structure. -
Built by and for the University Sector
Created from over a decade of collaboration among university administrations, faculty associations, unions, and non-unionized employees. Learn more about UPP’s history. -
Greater Scale and Strength
As a larger multi-employer plan, UPP can spread risk across a broader member base and invest more widely to support long-term growth. Learn more about UPP’s funded status. -
Portability Across Participating Employers
You can continue to grow your UPP pension if you move between UPP participating employers. Learn more about portability under UPP.
For more information about UPP, please visit the UPP website.