Faculty and staff members who drop below a 50% appointment effort may retain their accrued service to retire with medical, prescription drug, dental, and life insurance benefits under a new policy. Previously, service to retire with these benefits was dependent upon working continuously at a 50% or greater effort. However, a reduction below 50% resulted in the loss of all previously accrued service to retire with benefits. This created an unintended hardship for faculty and staff that had a short reduction in effort.

The new policy permits faculty or staff members to drop below a 50% appointment effort and retain the years of service they have built up to retire with benefits. If the duration of the decrease in effort is less than one year, service accrual continues and credit is given for the time spent below 50%.

If the length of the reduction is one year or greater but less than five years, service during the reduction is not counted. However, instead of losing the service accrued prior to the reduction, it is now added together with or “bridged” to a subsequent appointment of 50% or greater. For complete eligibility rules, see the Addendum to SPG 201.83 Retirement.

The retirement bridge policy is effective immediately and is anticipated to offer greater flexibility and accommodation to faculty and staff members who experience a fluctuating or unanticipated appointment reduction. For complete rules on eligibility to retire, see SPG 201.83.

For a printable copy of the policy, click the link below.
Addendum to SPG 201.83 Retirement (PDF)