Retirement/Emeritus Status

1. RETIREMENT AGE--There is no mandatory retirement age for UW-Madison faculty, academic staff, classified staff or limited appointees.
2. RETIREMENT PLANNING--Employee Compensation and Benefits Services offers preretirement planning options for UW-Madison employees. Services should be used according to the following guidelines:

¨ For employes one year or less from retirement:

1. Contact the Department of Employee Trust Funds, (608) 266-3285, to request a Retirement Benefit Estimate.
2. Contact the Social Security Administration, 1-800-772-1213, to request an Earnings and Benefit Estimate statement.
3. After receiving the above two documents, schedule a one-on-one counseling session with a benefits specialist in Employee Compensation and Benefits Services (call 265-2257 for a reservation) to review the information, evaluate the effect of retirement on the other UW benefits, and to chart the next steps. Counseling sessions should be scheduled at least six months before retirement.

¨ For employees one to five years from retirement:

Contact Employee Compensation and Benefits Services, 265-3896, to enroll in small-group (20-30 participants) three-part workshops. These workshops assist employees in preparing their own customized preretirement plan which includes maximizing the UW benefits after retirement, determining their financial needs and determining their optimal retirement date.

¨ For employees age 50 and over:

Attend a UW-Madison Pre-retirement Planning Program designed to assist employees in planning for a successful retirement. This large group lecture-style program includes presentations on Social Security, Wisconsin Retirement System benefits (including health and life insurance), investment planning, and will and estate planning. A program is held in the spring for faculty and academic staff. One month prior to each program, invitations are sent via campus mail to employees.

3. RECOGNITION/STATUS
   1. Certificates--A Certificate of Recognition signed by the President of the Board of Regents, the Chancellor, and either the Secretary of the Faculty, the Secretary of the Academic Staff, or the Director of the Classified Human Resource Office will automatically be sent to those retirees receiving emerita/emeritus status. For other retiring faculty, academic staff, or classified staff departments may request a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the Chancellor by contacting Employee Compensation and Benefits Services [see Appendix 20 -A]. If an employee has 20 or more years of State service, the employee will receive a certificate signed by the Governor.
   2. Emeritus/Emerita Status--Emeritus/emerita status is an honorary title which may be conferred only upon individuals who have had permanent employment with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and who are eligible to activate their annuities from the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).* In rare cases, an exception may be made following the process outlined in b.(1) below. Volunteer staff on a zero-dollar basis who no longer provide volunteer support are not eligible for this status.
      1. Eligibility
         1. Emeritus/emerita status is limited to faculty, academic staff, classified staff and limited appointees retiring after distinguished service at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Academic staff (including limited appointees) and classified staff must have completed ten or more years of service at the University to be eligible for such recognition.
            1. Faculty holding limited appointments may be granted emeritus/emerita status in their faculty appointment.
            2. Academic staff may be granted emeritus/emerita status in their limited appointment, but not in their academic staff back-up appointment.
            3. Classified staff may be granted emeritus/emerita status in a department or departments, or in the University as a whole, depending on their employment record of service.
         2. Individuals granted emeritus/emerita status who have held a concurrent senior administrative title of Dean or higher may, upon recommendation of the Provost, be granted emeritus/emerita status by the Chancellor for the administrative title also.
      b. Process for Obtaining Emeritus/Emerita Status
      1. Recommendations for emeritus/emerita status for retiring faculty, academic staff, or classified staff usually begin at the department level (through the Executive Committee, when necessary) and proceed through the Dean's office to the Chancellor. The recommendation should include the following:

      NOTE: Faculty hired under Faculty Policies and Procedures (FPP) 1.02.B. are an exception, i.e., they are eligible for emeritus/emerita status.

      • A a final copy of a narrative summary citing the professional accomplishments and record of University service of the retiring faculty, academic staff, or classified staff;
      • A the expected date of retirement (a copy of the letter of retirement);
      • A dean level approval.
        
      2. If the employee holds a tenured or affiliate appointment in another department, you are expected to confer with them directly to coordinate the recommendation.
      3. Recommendations may be submitted throughout the year. Chapter 6 of the Budget Instructions provides additional information.
   3. Reappointment of Emeritus/Emerita Staff-- See Section E of this chapter.
   4. PRIVILEGES RETAINED AFTER RETIREMENT--Perquisites of emeritus/emerita designation are privileges extended by the various offices of the University rather than rights inherent in Emeritus status per se. Some privileges are available to all retirees and not merely to those who have formally been designated emeritus/emerita.
      1. Office and/or Laboratory Space--Departmental prerogatives for emeritus faculty, academic staff, or classified staff, such as office and/or laboratory space, are within the purview of the department and dean, and shall be reviewed periodically.
      2. Identification Card--Retired employees (i.e., former employees receiving WRS annuities) should retain their UW-Madison identification cards to use the University libraries, recreational*, and other facilities. Those granted emeritus status will be added automatically to the ID authorization file; other retirees who wish to continue using the facilities will be authorized only by special request to the Academic Personnel Office.

         * Retiree is responsible for annual fee due 9/1 each year for use of recreational facilities (contact 262-8244).

      3. DoIT Services and Products--Emeritus faculty, academic staff,or classified staff, plus those who made special requests (see #2. above), retain WiscWorld (Internet) privileges and continue to have access to specific** DoIT services and products.

         ** Contact DoIT Showroom directly at 262-4418 for current services and products.

      4. UW News--Upon request, a complimentary subscription to Wisconsin Week, the official newspaper of record for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be sent to emeritus/emerita faculty, academic staff, or classified staff at their home address.
      5. Parking Privileges
      6. Other--Nothing in the above paragraphs is meant to alter other currently established policies concerning priorities for use of certain facilities by students, faculty, staff or visitors, nor is there any intent to limit the authority of individual program units to recommend such priority-use policies.