Enhanced Relocation Incentive (ERLI) 3-year Pilot Program for New Tenure-Track Assistant Professors
Effective with the 2026–2027 academic year, the Provost’s Office is introducing an enhanced relocation incentive (ERLI) 3-year pilot program for new tenure-track assistant professors to promote equitable access to resources and to increase flexibility to meet the needs of new early career faculty. The University of Washington Moving Allowance provides a one-time lump sum payment to new faculty to help cover relocation and travel expenses. For new assistant professors on tenure track, the Provost’s Office will now match that contribution from schools and colleges dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $15,000. Colleges and schools can still provide additional relocation incentive amount based on specific situations and availability of funding.
Requirements
This program is for new tenure-track assistant professors who are being offered Moving Expense payments by the recruiting unit.
Procedure
To process these payments, units must complete the Academic Personnel Enhanced Relocation Incentive (ERLI) Payment Approval Form below, in accordance with Administrative Policy Statement 34.2.
All requests will be reviewed by the provost. Please submit ERLI forms to VPAP@uw.edu. The Office of Academic Personnel and Faculty (APF) will coordinate provost review and return approved forms to unit administrators for processing in Workday.
Repayment
If within one year of the appointment date, the employee voluntarily terminates employment, or engages in behavior that makes termination of employment necessary, the full amount of the enhanced relocation incentive payment (and additional relocation incentive funds, if applicable) must be repaid to the University.
Contingent upon provost approval, relocation payments in excess of $100,000 may include a repayment obligation period of longer than one year. In such cases, the repayment obligation period may not exceed the recipient’s initial period of appointment. Employment offer letters must clearly state the terms of the repayment obligation.
Termination of employment as a result of layoff, disability separation, or other good cause as determined by the provost (or the provost’s designee), will not require repayment of the relocation compensation.