The York University Retirees Association (YURA) is a voluntary group which represents retired employees from all the employee groups - faculty, staff, and managers - who wish to maintain contact with the University and each other. Established in 1986, YURA's mandate includes four major responsibilities:

• to provide a forum for York retirees to discuss common interests
• to represent the interests of all York retirees to the University, particularly concerning pensions and benefits
• to offer opportunities for networking among members
• to foster social, recreational, and learning activities for members.

In October 2012, the president of York University and the two co-presidents of YURA signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a collaboration agreement between the Association and the University. The MOU ‘is intended to provide a framework for collaboration that maintains and enhances the relationship between the University and its retirees and that recognizes the contributions and continued membership of retirees in the York community.