UNIVERSITY-FUNDED RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
Rules for Faculty and Staff Newly Hired
on or after January 1, 2026
The University makes retirement contributions for most employees in benefit-eligible positions. For most employees, the University contributes an amount equal to 14.2% of pay. Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the applicable retirement plan.
Certain individuals are not eligible for retirement benefits: employees serving as an exchange employee from outside the State of Utah (such as J-1 exchange visitors) and educational trainees and individuals whose employment is incidental to their educational program (such as F-1 students, including those with OPT and OPT STEM authorization and postdoctoral fellows).
These plans are fully funded by the University, employees cannot contribute to these plans. Information about each of the University’s plans is also included in the Retirement Planning Guide.
401(a) Plan:
Feature
401(a) Plan (Originally enrolled before 01/01/2026)
401(a) Plan with Vesting* (Originally enrolled after 01/01/2026)
Post-1996 - $51,700 (2026)
Post-1996 - $51,700 (2026)
Fully Vested: Same as 401(a) plan (originally enrolled before 01/01/2026)
Utah Retirement Systems controls all the rules for the URS Plans.
- The URS Plans are governed by Utah law.
- Newly hired public safety officers and dispatchers are enrolled in the URS Public Safety plan.
- Employees who previously worked for the University must be reenrolled in the same plan upon rehire. New hires who were enrolled in a URS plan with another employer and wish to be enrolled during University employment, must complete the Irrevocable Election online before your first paycheck.
- Rehired University employees who participated in a URS plan during their prior University employment will be reenrolled in the same URS plan upon rehire in accordance with URS Rules.
Visit our Plan H Page for details on this benefit.
Log into UBenefits and click on the “Retirement Savings” tile to see your retirement plan enrollment.
In UBenefits, you can direct contributions to the other investment provider or divide your contributions between Fidelity Investments and TIAA.
Plan rules for the 401(a) Plan are included in the Retirement Planning Guide.
See Manage Your Accounts for additional information on investments and making changes to your accounts.