For a permanent faculty separation the department should forward to Academic Human Resources the original or a copy of the letter of resignation stating the following:
Faculty who resign and are offered and accept a position to remain as affiliate or clinical courtesy faculty must follow the procedures for resignation. The unit then follows the procedures for a new clinical/affiliate title as those of a new appointment. This includes the faculty vote, Chair/Director recommendation, Dean/Chancellor approval.
General Information
Mandatory retirement for faculty was eliminated effective January 1994. Faculty are, therefore, eligible to continue their employment at the University of Washington until they voluntarily choose to leave, either fully or in some phased-out structure. There are several options available to faculty to reduce or end their active involvement with the University; though, regardless of which option is chosen, continued connection to the University through the University of Washington Retirement Association (UWRA) is encouraged and anticipated. Below are described the several options available for faculty who are considering reducing or ending their active involvement in teaching, research, and service.
Retirement Plan (UWRP) Payment Eligibility
The University of Washington has an outstanding retirement plan (the UWRP). Pursuant to state law, faculty members are eligible to retire from the University after age 62, the first year they are eligible to receive the funds from the Social Security program. Learn about the steps you need to take when preparing for retirement from work at the University of Washington. Make sure you are planning for secure retirement by working closely with the Benefits Office.
Partial Reduction of Appointment
Faculty members may request to reduce the percentage of tenured appointment on a permanent basis rather than retire. As long as the overall appointment does not reduce to below 50%, benefits can be maintained. For example, a 100% faculty member on a nine-month basis may choose to work only two of three quarters, and, thereby, resign one-third of his or her tenured appointment. Alternatively, a faculty member may choose to resign a percentage of time all year, thus becoming partially employed across the year. Decisions about a reduced teaching load and other assignments are determined at the unit level. Faculty members remain voting members of their units while they are on reduced appointments in the quarters in which they are salaried.
There are a number of legitimate reasons a faculty member may choose to reduce his or her appointment rather than retire. By retaining 50% percent or more of an appointment for at least six consecutive months during an academic year, the faculty member retains the University contribution toward benefit programs during the employment months. A faculty member who retains his or her appointment at 50% or more for six consecutive months would be eligible to receive the University's contribution toward medical payments for those six months, and only need go on self-pay for the six months he or she is not on payroll. Alternatively, if a faculty member reduces his or her appointment to 50% for three or four quarters (depending on if they are on a nine- or twelve-month basis), the state contribution to benefits would continue throughout the calendar year. Faculty members who are not retired, but who have reduced their appointments, are not eligible to begin UWRP distributions.
Emeritus and Retired Faculty Titles
Upon retirement from the University, faculty members are eligible to be considered for emeritus status. Pursuant to Faculty Handbook rules, this requires an affirmative vote of the unit faculty, and concurrence by the Dean/Chancellor and the Provost.
Faculty members often provide long years of service, beginning at an early age, and choose to leave the University before age 62, which is the UW Retirement Plan (UWRP) basic retirement age. While some benefits such as participation in the retiree medical plan flow from official UWRP retirement status, others are granted by the University, and can be granted regardless of retirement plan status.
Many faculty members who retire from the University choose to continue their activity through instruction or research after retirement. An Associate Professor or Professor who retires from the University and who remains actively engaged by the University may choose to use his or her regular title, if the Retired or Emeritus title is not desirable. After the period of reemployment ceases, faculty members will use the Retired or Emeritus designation. Retired/Emeritus status provides substantial privileges to the University faculty member, including continuation of Library borrowing privileges, access to University email accounts, discount prices on University productions and museums, among others.
Retirement/Emeritus Procedures
Eligible faculty who are retiring should provide a letter to the Dean/Chancellor with a copy to Academic Human Resources stating the intention to retire.