Faculty Retirement

Navigating the transition to retirement is a significant milestone in your academic career. Whether you’re preparing for full retirement, considering phased retirement or modified service, or interested in requesting emeritus status, this page is designed to provide you with the essential information and resources you need to ensure a smooth transition.

The following information is also available to download here.

 

Many faculty will qualify to retire from the University before they are ready to stop working. Here are some items to keep in mind if you plan to work after you reach age 65.

Age 65

At least three months before you turn 65, contact Social Security to enroll in Medicare Part A.

  • If you continue to work at the University half-time or more after turning 65, you can delay enrollment in Medicare Part When you are no longer working at 50% time or more, you must inform Medicare and enroll in Part B.
  • See the following pages for additional information:

Age 72

The Internal Revenue Service requires you to start minimum distributions from ORP and other tax-deferred retirement accounts at age 72 (70 ½ if you were born before July 1, 1949).

Confirm Eligibility

It is essential to understand that eligibility to retire through your retirement program—either the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) or the Optional Retirement Program (ORP)—does not automatically mean you meet the University’s requirements for official retiree status and retiree insurance.

To be considered an official University retiree, you must:

  • Retire through your designated retirement provider (TRS or ORP),
  • Notify Human Resources of your intent to retire, and
  • Enroll in University-sponsored retiree insurance.

Taking the time to confirm your eligibility and understand the retirement process can help you make informed decisions about when to retire. Be sure to:

Once you’ve decided you are ready to retire or enter phased retirement, start the conversation with your chair, director, or dean:

  • Ideally before course planning is finalized for the upcoming semester.
  • At minimum, notify them 3 months before your planned retirement.
  • Submit written notice of your retirement, including your last day of work and official retirement date.

Understand Medicare

As you approach age 65, it is important to know when to enroll in Medicare and how University insurance is affected, whether you plan to retire or continue working.

  • Medicare Part A primarily covers hospital care.
    • Enroll in Part A at age 65 regardless of whether you continue working.
    • Begin the enrollment process at least 3 months before your
    • 65th birthday.
    • Visit Social Security – Medicare Benefits for more information.
  • Medicare Part B covers doctor services, preventive care and  outpatient services.
    • Enroll in Part B at age 65 if you plan to retire and stop working OR if you plan to work less than 50% time.
    • If you continue working 50% time or more, you can enroll when you stop working at least 50% time, even if past age 65.
    • Contact Social Security about 3 months before your enrollment date for a smooth transition to Medicare coverage as your primary insurance.
    • Visit Social Security – Medicare Benefits for more information.
  • UT CARE Medicare is an enhanced Medicare Advantage Plan provided to eligible UT It offers additional coverage beyond the benefits of Medicare Part A and Part B.
    • As a UT retiree you will be enrolled in UT CARE at age If you work past age 65, you will be enrolled in UT CARE when you stop working at least 50% time.
    • Retirees who work more than 50% time, or are under age 65, continue in the standard UT Select medical plan.
    • No monthly premium for UT retirees–the cost is fully offset by Premium Sharing.
    • Dependent coverage premiums are reduced by Premium Sharing.
    • Prescription drug coverage is included—no separate Part D plan is needed.
    • For details, see the UT CARE Medicare Plan information
  • Medicare Part C, Part D, and Supplemental Plans
    • If you’re enrolled in UT medical insurance, there’s no need to enroll in Medicare Part C, Part D, or any outside supplemental Medicare plans. The UT CARE Medicare plan already provides comprehensive and cost-effective coverage.

Follow the Retirement Checklist

Follow the steps outlined in the Pre-Retirement Checklist provided by Human Resources, including the timely submission of all required forms to ensure a smooth retirement process.

Retirement Planning Resources

 

Some faculty members arrange to continue working on a part-time basis for a period of time after retirement when the continued appointment benefits the retired faculty member and results in a significant benefit to the University.

Faculty Employment after Retirement Overview

  • Phased Retirement (additional details below).
    • Formal agreement to continue employment for 1 to 3 academic years.
    • Available only to tenured faculty.
  • Modified Service (additional details below)
    • Agreement to continue employment for up to one academic year, subject to annual review.
    • Available to tenured, tenure-track and professional track faculty.
  • Faculty retirees work half-time or less.
  • TRS retirees must follow TRS regulations which include:
    • Taking a one calendar-month break in service before returning to work.
    • Adhering to limits on teaching load and maximum hours worked per month.
    • See the TRS Employment after Retirement brochure for more information.
  • Service after retirement is without tenure.

Faculty members may request the option to “phase” into full retirement by continuing to work on a part- time basis for up to three years after their official retirement date. Phased Retirement is a type of Modified Service arrangement to continue the faculty member’s appointment when such arrangement is beneficial to both the retired faculty member and the University.

Considerations during Phased Retirement

  • Medicare Part A
    • Contact Social Security to enroll in Medicare Part A at least 3 months before your 65th birthday, regardless of whether you plan to continue working.
    • See this page for enrollment information: Social Security – Medicare Benefits.
  • Medicare Part B
    • If you are 65 or older and you stop working at half-time or more, contact Social Security to enroll in Medicare Part B.
  • Required Minimum Distributions

Plan ahead!

If you’re considering Phased Retirement, start the conversation early with your chair, director, or dean. Below is a summary of the key steps outlined in the Modified Service and Phased Retirement for Tenured Faculty policy.

  • Complete planning at least one semester before phased retirement start date.
  • Discussions and planning should address:
    • Semesters involved
    • Percent time of employment
    • Workload and academic duties
    • Compensation
  • The faculty member and chair, director, or dean must complete the Attachment A – Phased Retirement Agreement.
  • The dean’s office submits the agreement to Executive Vice President and Provost for approval via EVPP ServiceNow portal.
  • TRS retirees must follow TRS regulations which include:
    • Taking a one calendar-month break in service before returning to work.
    • Adhering to limits on teaching load and maximum hours worked per month.
    • TRS recommends starting the retirement process 10 to 12 months prior to retirement.
    • See the TRS Employment after Retirement brochure for more information.

Transitioning from Active Employment to Phased Retirement

During phased retirement you will be a retiree for benefits purposes, so it’s important follow the steps on the Pre-Retirement Checklist provided by Human Resources to ensure a smooth transition for your insurance coverage and your authorizations to access University systems. Please begin the checklist at least three months before your phased retirement begins.

To transition your University employment to Phased Retirement, the university must end your active employee record and reinstate you as a working retiree.

  • This transition may briefly impact access to systems such as university email, Workday and Canvas.
  • You will be prompted to complete onboarding steps in Workday to reconfirm your personal information.
  • Your email address and accesses will remain the same while your employment continues.
  • Retiree status always begins on the first of a month.
    • If your phased retirement agreement begins mid-month (such as August 16) your work hours in your active faculty position may be reduced until the end of that month to accommodate the transition.

Additional Resources

 

Tenured, tenure-track, or professional track faculty retiree may hold part-time appointments under a Modified Service agreement when the arrangement benefits both the faculty member and the University. A modified service agreement will be up to one academic year and can be reviewed annually for renewal.

Considerations during Modified Service

  • Medicare Part A
    • Contact Social Security to enroll in Medicare Part A at least 3 months before your 65th birthday, regardless of whether you plan to continue working.
    • See this page for enrollment information: Social Security – Medicare Benefits
  • Medicare Part B
    • If you are 65 or older and you stop working at half-time or more, contact Social Security to enroll in Medicare Part B.
  • Required Minimum Distributions

Plan ahead!

If you are considering Modified Service after retirement, it’s important to begin planning early. Start the conversation with your chair, director, or dean as soon as possible.

  • Ideally, planning should be completed before the budget is prepared for the following year, or at least 3 months before your retirement date.
    • The semesters during which you plan to work.
    • Your percent time (e.g., 25%, 50%).
    • A clear outline of your workload and academic duties.
    • Your proposed compensation.
  • TRS retirees must follow TRS regulations which include:
    • Taking a one calendar-month break in service before returning to work.
    • Adhering to limits on teaching load and maximum hours worked per month.
    • TRS recommends starting the retirement process 10 to 12 months prior to retirement.
    • See the TRS Employment after Retirement brochure for more information.

Transitioning from Active Employment to Modified Service

During Modified Service you will be a retiree for benefits purposes, so it’s important follow the steps on the Pre-Retirement Checklist provided by Human Resources to ensure a smooth transition for your insurance coverage and your authorizations to access University systems. Please begin the checklist at least three months before retirement.

To transition your University employment to Modified Service, the university must end your active employee record and reinstate you as a working retiree.

  • This transition may briefly impact access to systems such as university email, Workday and Canvas.
  • You will be prompted to complete onboarding steps in Workday to reconfirm your personal information.
  • Your email address and accesses will remain the same while your employment continues.
  • Retiree status always begins on the first of a month.
    • If your modified service agreement begins mid-month (such as August 16) your work hours in your active faculty position may be reduced until the end of that month to accommodate the transition.

Additional Resources

Serving as a Principal Investigator (PI)

Retired/emeritus faculty are not automatically approved for Principal Investigator status even if PI status was held before retirement. A co-PI must be identified and must be a UT employee who is PI-eligible and able to actively participate in the project. The Serving as a Principal Investigator reference page has more information about PI status and exception process.

Serving on a Graduate Studies Committee (GSC)

Retired faculty with emeritus status and those with active appointments at the University (e.g. those on modified instructional duties, 0% appointment, etc.), may continue serving on GSCs under specific conditions. Faculty in phased retirement may continue to serve on GSCs during the phased retirement agreement period without additional action or exception request. For additional information, refer to GSC Membership and Retiring Faculty or email gs_gsc_admin@utlists.utexas.edu.

University Email Address

Emeritus faculty can retain the University email account they had during active service. If you will not have an emeritus title, you may set up a UT Retiree Personal Account. You can request that the contents of your mailbox be exported and sent in a .pst file before you leave the University by emailing help@utexas.edu. Former supervisor approval is required.

Retired Faculty-Staff Association

The Retired Faculty-Staff Association of the University of Texas at Austin provides the point of connection, continuity and communication for the mutual benefit of its members and the University. Stay connected with fellow retirees through activities, events, and travel. For more information go to the UT RFSA webpage.

 

The emeritus title is an honorary designation awarded upon retirement in recognition of a faculty member’s accomplishments, distinction, and dedicated service to the University. The conferring of an emeritus title is not automatic upon retirement.

  • The emeritus title may include any named professorship or endowed chair held at the time of retirement, with approval from the department chair and dean.

Faculty member must also be at least 55 years old with at least 10 years of active service at UT Austin at the time of separation.

Emeritus titles may only be conferred upon faculty members who held one of the following titles during their period of active service at the University (HOP 2-2430 Emeritus Titles):

  • Tenured Professor
  • Tenured Associate Professor
  • Research Professor
  • Research Associate Professor
  • Distinguished Senior Lecturer
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Clinical Professor
  • Clinical Associate Professor
  • Professor of Practice
  • Associate Professor of Practice
  • Professor of Instruction
  • Associate Professor of Instruction
  • Professor of Medicine
  • Associate Professor of Medicine

Emeritus Faculty Privileges

  • Emeritus faculty retain their University email address from active service.
  • They may also retain access and privileges to university systems, as appropriate and determined by their department.

Transition to Emeritus Status

To assign emeritus status, the University must end your active employee record and update your affiliation to emeritus. This process may take a few days, during which there may be temporary disruptions to access (e.g., email, Workday, Canvas). Access is typically restored shortly after the status update is complete.

Steps to Request Emeritus

You or a colleague may initiate the request by contacting your department chair or dean to request emeritus status.

The Dean’s Office submits a nomination packet to the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost (EVPP) via the EVPP Service Now portal. The packet must include:

  • Memos of recommendation from the dean and the department chair (if departmentalized). Memo should include:
    • Individual’s accomplishments, quality of contribution, service to the University (should not be a restatement of the CV)
    • Vote count. A majority vote of support from department’s Executive Committee or Budget Council is required
    • Emeritus effective start date
    • Recommended endowed honorific title, if applicable
  • An up-to-date CV for the faculty member

If the request has not been fully reviewed by the president prior to the retirement date, you may be granted an “Interim Emeritus” title to ensure continuity of access and privileges during the review process.

Upon approval by the president, your official emeritus title(s) are recorded in the

Additional Resources

HOP 2-2430 Emeritus Titles

Other University Resources

Additional Information
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