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Human Resources

Voluntary Phased Retirement Program for Unclassified Employees

Phased retirement is a program that allows a qualified faculty or unclassified professional the opportunity to phase retirement over a selected period of time.

Who's Eligible?

This program is open to all benefits-eligible faculty and unclassified professionals who have attained age 55 and who have completed at least 10 years of service with one or more Board of Regents educational institutions.

What are the Program Features?

  1. A participant's current appointment is reduced to no less than .25 FTE;
  2. The participant's salary is reduced but benefits (health insurance, death and disability coverage, and retirement contributions) stay at the pre-retirement rate;
  3. Tenure is not affected; and
  4. The participant must retire at the end of the agreement period.

How Do I Apply?

  1. Submit a written request to the department head/dean. Ensure the request details the plan of work over the life of the phased retirement period. The department head/dean discusses with the employee.
  2. The dean's office completes the Transmittal form
  3. A memorandum from the department head and/or dean which includes recommendation to the Provost and Executive Vice President OR appropriate Vice President (Vice President for Student Life, Vice President for Research, or Vice President for Communications and Marketing).
  4. All above listed documents are sent to Human Resources - Benefits for processing.

Who Approves the Request?

The Provost and Executive Vice President OR appropriate Vice President (Vice President for Student Life, Vice President for Research, or Vice President for Communications and Marketing).

Common Questions

  • The participant must retire at the end of the agreement period.
  • The agreement must be mutually agreed upon by the employee and the appropriate institutional officer.
  • The employer may deny the request.
  • The agreement may be modified by further reducing the participant's fractional appointment or by permitting full retirement at an earlier date.  Modifications must be by mutual consent.
  • The agreement can be rescinded within 48 hours of signature at the option of the employee, but is otherwise irrevocable.
  • The average period of phased retirement that will be approved is two to three years.  In unusually meritorious cases a maximum length of phased retirement agreement that may be approved is 5 years.
  • The participant may be re-employed 60 days or later after completion of a phased retirement agreement on a post-retirement basis if no retirement plan distributions have been made.
  • The participant is not eligible for overload pay, except when the participant is on a nine-month appointment and is hired to work during the summer while the participant is on leave.
  • Can phased retirees receive an additional pay? Please see PPM Chapter 4810.030B which states, in part, "Phased retirement participants are not eligible for overload pay, except when the participant is on a nine-month appointment and is hired to work during the summer while the participant is on leave."

Where Do I Go for Answers?

Questions? Contact Benefits by emailing benefits@ksu.edu or calling (785) 532-6277.

Related KSU Policy and Procedures Manual Chapter(s):