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Retirement & Reemployment at the UW

This guide consolidates essential administrative guidance provided as part of a joint presentation by the Office of Academic Personnel & UW Human Resources Benefits, given January 2025.

Agenda Overview

UW Retirement Benefits Information

  • Eligibility
  • Applying to retire
  • Retirement plan restrictions on reemployment

Academic Personnel Reemployment Information

  • Emeritus appointments
  • Academic personnel policies

UW Retirement Benefits

Important Disclaimers

  • Information is current as of the presentation date
  • Informational only; not exhaustive
  • Plan rules summarized for clarity
  • Do not rely solely on examples for planning
  • Final limits determined by the applicable retirement plan

Retirement Eligibility

Eligibility depends on the retirement plan:

Applying To Retire

UW Retirement Application Requirements

  • Online application required
  • May submit:
    • No earlier than 6 months before UW separation date
    • No later than 60 days after leaving employment
      • Applications submitted after 60 days = not a UW retiree
    • TRS/PERS participants must also submit a DRS Retirement Application
    • UW Retirement Checklist (PDF)

Retirement vs. Termination Dates

  • Termination date: last day worked
  • Retirement date: first day of the next month
    • June 15 → July 1
    • December 31 → January 1
  • Contact UWHR Benefits if termination falls on a weekend/holiday

Reemployment After Retirement – Benefits Rules

UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) Retirees

  • Must identify as a UWRP retiree
  • No waiting period to return to work
  • Immediate return may delay retirement fund access
  • Limited to 40% FTE per calendar year (Jan–Dec)

Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) Retirees

(Applies to TRS, PERS, and other DRS plans)

  • Must identify as a DRS retiree
  • 30-day waiting period after retirement date
  • Returning early:
    • TRS 3 benefit reduced 5.5% per 7 hours/month
    • Reduction continues until 30 consecutive days without work
  • Returning before retirement date cancels DRS application
  • Maximum 867 hours per calendar year
    • Exceeding limit stops monthly benefit
    • Benefits resume when employment ends or next calendar year begins

Washington State Department of Retirement Systems

Retirement Education & Workshops

Academic personnel are strongly encouraged to attend a retirement workshop.

Academic Personnel: Working After Retirement

Giving Notice of Retirement

Guidance published on APF’s Leaving the UW page:

  • Faculty & Librarians: written notice to dean/chancellor as soon as possible (preferably 1 quarter ahead)
  • Other academic personnel: written notice to supervisor (preferably at least 2 weeks ahead)

Academic Reemployment

  • Reemployed faculty must have:
    • An emeritus appointment, or
    • A retiree-version of their pre-retirement title
  • Reemployment is at the unit’s discretion, unless vested right applies

Pro Tip:
Run Workday Report R0749 to confirm no outstanding sabbatical service obligation.

Emeritus Status

What Is Emeritus?

A lifelong honorary designation recognizing achievements and service.

Eligibility

  • Retiring faculty at full or associate professor rank (tenure, WOT, research, teaching, clinical)
  • Retiring librarians with permanent or continuing status
  • 10+ years of meritorious service

Emeritus Appointment Basics

  • Requested at time of retirement
  • May begin:
    • Day after retirement, or
    • No later than 1 year after retirement
  • Lifetime appointment
  • May be paid or unpaid

Vested Right To Reemploy (Faculty)

Who Has a Vested Right?

  • Faculty retiring from a tenured associate or full professor role
  • Age 62 or older at retirement

Limitations

  • Limited to 40% of tenure value
  • Applies only to the 5 years following retirement
  • Applies only to classroom teaching
  • Subject to:
    • State FTE limits
    • UW compensation rules

Additional Considerations

  • Retiring early does not extend the 5‑year window
  • Skipping years does not extend eligibility
  • Faculty retiring before age 62 lose vested right
  • No vested right for faculty on DRS retirement plans
  • UW may discontinue reemployment due to:
    • Performance concerns
    • Program elimination
    • Financial emergency

Compensation & Reemployment Policies

  • Total compensation limited to 40% of base salary at retirement
  • Applies across all funding sources
  • Base salary must match retirement base
  • Academic year considered July 1 – June 30
  • 9‑month appointees may request inclusion of summer salary history
  • No merit-based salary increases for reemployed retirees

Rehiring In Workday – Resources

Key Contacts & Resources