Post-Doctoral Scholars Retirement Program

Post-Doctoral Scholars may participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) as set forth by Oregon law.

Exceptions:

  • Employees of the University holding an Educational Visa (i.e., J-1, F-1, etc.) are not eligible to participate in the retirement program per Oregon Revised Statute 238.015(4) and Oregon Administrative Rule 459.010.0025(1).

The Oregon Public Universities Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) - Post-Doctoral Scholars has one component:

  1. Employer Match of up to 4% of your salary paid by OSU if you participate in the voluntary retirement savings Tax Deferred Investment (TDI) 403(b) Plan through Fidelity or TIAA

 

DISCLAIMER - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

The information on this website and in the ORP Retirement Options for Post-Doctoral Participants Guide is intended to assist in the administration of the plan and it includes a summary of common ORP Plan provisions. Contact the Retirement team in the Employee Benefits office at [email protected] for more information and assistance with questions, transactions, or circumstances not included on this website or the guide. In case of conflict between this website or the guide and the official plan documents of the ORP and Oregon state law regulating OPSRP/PERS, the official plan documents, Oregon state law, and federal regulations will govern. A copy of the ORP Full Plan document is available on the Oregon Public University Retirement Program (OPURP) website.

New Post-Doctoral Scholar Employees

Please review the Roadmap to OSU’s Retirement Benefits: Post-Doctoral Scholar Employees for guidance during your first 6 months of employment.

Eligibility

  • Post-Doctoral Scholars hired on or after January 1, 2018.
  • Eligibility begins on the first day of the month following the later of:
    • Enrollment in the public universities' Tax-Deferred Investment (TDI) 403(b) Plan under ORS 243.820; or
    • Completion of:
      • 600 hours of employment or the equivalent as determined by the governing board; and
      • Six months of employment that is not interrupted by more than 30 consecutive working days

Optional Retirement Plan [ORP) - Post-Doctoral Scholars

The Oregon Public Universities Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) - Post-Doctoral Scholars has one component:

  1. Employer Match of up to 4% of your salary paid by OSU if you participate in the voluntary retirement savings Tax Deferred Investment (TDI) 403(b) Plan through Fidelity or TIAA

The Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) - Post-Doctoral Scholars is administered Oregon Public University Retirement Program (OPURP) through a Plan Sponsor (Provider), Fidelity Investments or TIAA. This program is a defined contribution plan* and is participant-directed (you select the investments). Your account is credited with earnings/losses based on your investment returns. At retirement, you will work directly with Fidelity or TIAA to withdraw, roll, or take distributions from your account. This is not a lifetime benefit.

Important Note about Contribution Limits: The ORP is a defined contribution plan and is subject to IRS limits on contributions. The current IRS limits can be found in the ORP Plan Highlights. Contributions made to the Tax-Deferred Investment (TDI) 403(b) Plan are subject to limits of that plan. When planning your TDI 403(b) contributions, pay careful attention to the limits applicable to the TDI 403(b) Plan. ORP Employer Match contributions will only be paid on a per-pay-period frequency based on TDI 403(b) contributions made during that month. (e.g. you will receive ORP Employer Match contributions only if you make a TDI 403(b) contribution during the month.)

How to Participate

  • If eligible, you will receive the Retirement Plan Notification to your OSU email account in your fourth month of employment
    • Review information in the notification, including attachments
    • Complete and submit the 403(b) Voluntary Savings Plan form

Retirement Contributions

  • Must meet eligibility requirements
  • Amount of contributions
    • Up to 4% of your salary paid by OSU if you participate in the voluntary retirement savings Tax Deferred Investment (TDI) 403 (b) Plan through Fidelity or TIAA

Vesting

Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) - Post-Doctoral Scholars

  • Employer Match Account
    • 100% vested once membership is established

Resources

Oregon Public Universities Retirement Plans (OPURP) OPURP is the Plan Administrator for the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) -Post-Doctoral Scholars

Other Resources
OSU Voluntary Retirement Savings Programs
Retiring from OSU
OSU HR Workshop & Events - Register for upcoming financial and retirement workshops and events

 

*Defined Contribution= retirement plan benefit at retirement is based on the contributions to the plan plus any investment earnings. This is not a lifetime benefit.