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Retirement Savings Plan
Learn about your health coverage options as a retiree of the University of Arkansas System.
The 403(b)/457(b) Retirement Plan
The 403(b)/457(b) Retirement Plan is a defined contribution retirement plan. An employer, its employees—or both—make regularly scheduled contributions to an account set up in each participating employee’s name. Each account’s value depends on the amounts the employer and/or employee contributes, and investment gains or losses on those contributions.
Plan highlights:
- The University contributes to your 403(b) and you are required to make basic contributions. You can elect to make additional voluntary contributions on a pre-tax or after-tax (Roth) basis. This contribution design is intended to support meaningful retirement savings for all participants.
- Required employee contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, providing you with savings on federal and state income tax by lowering your taxable income.
- The University monitors the core fund lineup, providing for best-in-class investment options for all plan participants.
- For a wider array of investment options, a brokerage window is available with TIAA and Fidelity.
You can invest the money in your Retirement Plan through TIAA or Fidelity. If you need help with your retirement plan investment options or you need personalized financial advice, schedule an appointment with a TIAA or Fidelity representative.
Keep the money in your account if you leave the University. Or, transfer the vested portion (the money you own) to another tax-qualified retirement savings plan. The vested portion is always yours.
- You must contribute 5% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b)
- The University will contribute 5% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b)
If you elect to contribute more than 5% of your regular salary (pre-tax or after-tax Roth), the University will match your contribution, dollar-for-dollar, up to 10% of your regular salary.
There are two types of contributions you can make to your 403(b):
- Pre-tax: Contributions are made from your salary before state and federal taxes are taken out. You pay taxes on the money you withdraw at and after retirement. The required 5% contribution is pre-tax.
- After-tax (Roth): Contributions are made from your salary after state and federal taxes are taken out. Since you’ve already paid taxes on these contributions, you won’t pay them when you withdraw the money at or after retirement.
Note: You can only participate in the 457(b) Plan after you have reached the 403(b) Plan contribution limits before the end of each calendar year. To make a 457(b) contribution, contact your campus Human Resources.
- If you were benefits-eligible prior to July 1, 2020, you must contribute 6% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute 14% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b).
- If you were hired or re-hired, transferred from another campus, or became benefits-eligible after July 1, 2020, you must contribute 5% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute 5% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b). If you voluntarily contribute over 5%, the University will match your contributions up to 10% (within IRS limits).
There are two types of contributions you can make to your 403(b):
- Pre-tax: Contributions are made from your salary before state and federal taxes are taken out. You pay taxes on the money you withdraw at and after retirement. The required contribution is pre-tax.
- After-tax (Roth): Contributions are made from your salary after state and federal taxes are taken out. Since you’ve already paid taxes on these contributions, you won’t pay them when you withdraw the money at or after retirement.
Note: You can only participate in the 457(b) Plan after you have reached the 403(b) Plan contribution limits before the end of each calendar year. To make a 457(b) contribution, contact your campus Human Resources.
- If you were benefits-eligible before July 1, 2020, you must contribute 6% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute 13% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b).
- If you were hired or re-hired, transferred from another campus, or became benefits-eligible after July 1, 2020, you must contribute 5% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute 5% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b). If you voluntarily contribute over 5%, the University will match your contributions up to 10% (within IRS limits).
There are two types of contributions you can make to your 403(b):
- Pre-tax: Contributions are made from your salary before state and federal taxes are taken out. You pay taxes on the money you withdraw at and after retirement. The required contribution is pre-tax.
- After-tax (Roth): Contributions are made from your salary after state and federal taxes are taken out. Since you’ve already paid taxes on these contributions, you won’t pay them when you withdraw the money at or after retirement.
Note: You can only participate in the 457(b) Plan after you have reached the 403(b) Plan contribution limits before the end of each calendar year. To make a 457(b) contribution, contact your campus Human Resources.
- If you were benefits-eligible before July 1, 2020, you must contribute 6% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute 11% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b).
- If you were hired or re-hired, transferred from another campus, or became benefits-eligible after July 1, 2020, you must contribute 5% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute 5% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b). If you voluntarily contribute over 5%, the University will match your contributions up to 10% (within IRS limits).
There are two types of contributions you can make to your 403(b):
- Pre-tax: Contributions are made from your salary before state and federal taxes are taken out. You pay taxes on the money you withdraw at and after retirement. The required contribution is pre-tax.
- After-tax (Roth): Contributions are made from your salary after state and federal taxes are taken out. Since you’ve already paid taxes on these contributions, you won’t pay them when you withdraw the money at or after retirement.
Note: You can only participate in the 457(b) Plan after you have reached the 403(b) Plan contribution limits before the end of each calendar year. To make a 457(b) contribution, contact your campus Human Resources.
- If you were benefits-eligible before July 1, 2020, you must contribute 6% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute a percentage of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b) based on your date of hire:
- If you were hired before July 1, 1992, the University will contribute 12% of your regular salary
- If you were hired after June 30, 1992, the University will contribute 10% of your regular salary.
- If you were hired or re-hired, transferred from another campus, or became benefits-eligible after July 1, 2020, you must contribute 5% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute 5% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b). If you voluntarily contribute over 5%, the University will match your contributions up to 10% (within IRS limits).
There are two types of contributions you can make to your 403(b):
- Pre-tax: Contributions are made from your salary before state and federal taxes are taken out. You pay taxes on the money you withdraw at and after retirement. The required contribution is pre-tax.
- After-tax (Roth): Contributions are made from your salary after state and federal taxes are taken out. Since you’ve already paid taxes on these contributions, you won’t pay them when you withdraw the money at or after retirement.
Note: You can only participate in the 457(b) Plan after you have reached the 403(b) Plan contribution limits before the end of each calendar year. To make a 457(b) contribution, contact your campus Human Resources.
- If you were benefits-eligible by July 1, 2020, you must contribute 6% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute a percentage of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b) based on your date of hire:
- If you were hired before July 1, 1991, the University will contribute 12% of your regular salary
- If you were hired after June 30, 1991, the University will contribute 10% of your regular salary.
- If you were hired or re-hired, transferred from another campus, or became benefits-eligible after July 1, 2020, you must contribute 5% of your regular salary, pre-tax, to the 403(b). The University will contribute 5% of your regular salary automatically to the 403(b). If you voluntarily contribute over 5%, the University will match your contributions up to 10% (within IRS limits).
There are two types of contributions you can make to your 403(b):
- Pre-tax: Contributions are made from your salary before state and federal taxes are taken out. You pay taxes on the money you withdraw at and after retirement. The required contribution is pre-tax.
- After-tax (Roth): Contributions are made from your salary after state and federal taxes are taken out. Since you’ve already paid taxes on these contributions, you won’t pay them when you withdraw the money at or after retirement.
Note: You can only participate in the 457(b) Plan after you have reached the 403(b) Plan contribution limits before the end of each calendar year. To make a 457(b) contribution, contact your campus Human Resources.
In 2022, you can contribute up to the IRS annual limit of $20,500 to your 403(b). If you will be age 50 or older in 2022, you can contribute an additional $6,500 in catch-up contributions in 2022. If you reach the 2022 403(b) contribution limits, you can contribute up to $20,500 (or up to $27,000, if you’re 50 years old or older) to the 457(b) in 2022.
Understand How Contributions Work
The Retirement Buckets visual walks you through your account options, how much you can contribute to each account, and the difference between required and voluntary contributions.
Understand How Contributions Work
The Retirement Buckets visual walks you through your account options, how much you can contribute to each account, and the difference between required and voluntary contributions.
Understand How Contributions Work
The Retirement Buckets visual walks you through your account options, how much you can contribute to each account, and the difference between required and voluntary contributions.
You are vested automatically in your own contributions. This means you can take them with you if you leave the University for any reason.
You become vested in the University contributions if you:
- Complete 24 consecutive months of employment in a benefits eligible position; OR
- Die; OR
- Reach age 65; OR
- Become disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the University's long-term disability insurance provider.
If you are not vested when you leave University employment and return to the University after 30 or more days, your vesting period starts over. If you are vested when you leave University employment and then return as an employee at the same or another University of Arkansas campus, you will still be vested. Once you are vested in the University retirement plan, you are always vested.
After you have chosen the retirement plan vendor to use (TIAA or Fidelity), you must set-up your retirement plan account directly with the vendor.
You can participate with one retirement plan vendor at a time. Retirement income planning tools are available on the TIAA and Fidelity websites if you need assistance.
Changes to Your 403(b)
Contact your campus Human Resources for the form required to:
- Start, stop, increase or decrease your voluntary 403(b) contribution
- Choose between pre-tax and/or after-tax (Roth) contributions
- Switch between TIAA and Fidelity.
Note: When enrolling for the first time, you must complete an application with TIAA or Fidelity.
Changes to your 403(b) will be effective in the month you make them, as long as they are made before the applicable payroll processing date. You can also make a change at a designated future date.
Changes to Your 457(b)
Changes to your 457(b) will be effective the first day of the month following the date Human Resources receives your completed form. Contact your campus Human Resources for a copy of the form.
Changing Your Beneficiaries
When you set up your retirement plan, you must elect a beneficiary—someone who will receive the money in your account if you die. It’s important that you review your beneficiaries at least annually to ensure the correct person will receive your benefit. To elect or change your beneficiary:
You must set-up and/or update your beneficiaries on the 403(b) plan and the 457(b) plan if you participate in both plans.
Changes to Your 403(b)
Login to Workday to:
- Start, stop, increase, or decrease your voluntary 403(b) contribution
- Choose between pre-tax and/or after-tax (Roth) contributions
- Switch between TIAA and Fidelity. Note: Only one retirement plan vendor can be selected each pay period. You can switch vendors as often as you choose.
Note: When enrolling for the first time, you must complete an application with TIAA or Fidelity.
Changes to your 403(b) will be effective in the month you make them, as long as they are made before the applicable payroll processing date.
Changes to your 457(b) will be effective the first day of the following month, since these changes must be made prospectively. You will be notified by your retirement plan vendor that you must complete a new application when your first 457(b) contribution is made (if you have not already completed this step).
To change your elections, follow the steps outlined in the Manage Benefits Job Aid.
Contact TIAA or Fidelity to schedule a free retirement planning session. Learn how to maximize your retirement savings, options for saving outside of your University 403(b) and 457(b), and steps you can take to prepare for retirement. All online sessions and webinars are posted to Documents. Check with your campus Human Resources to find the dates of any upcoming events on your campus.
Defined Benefit Plans
The University no longer participates in the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) or the Arkansas Teachers Retirement System (ARTRS). If you were employed by the University and were a participant in either plan before the University stopped participating, you were allowed to continue participating.
If you transfer from one University of Arkansas campus to another and were participating in APERS at your prior campus, you can elect to participate in APERS at your new campus. Note: A transfer is defined as a break in service of 30 days or less. You cannot remain in ARTRS if you transfer campuses.
Retirement Options for APERS, ARTRS and Non-Benefits-Eligible Employees
If you are a non-benefits-eligible University employee or enrolled with APERS or ARTRS, you can voluntarily participate in the 403(b) Retirement Plan. The University will not contribute to your account. Contributions can be pre-tax or after-tax. You can participate through TIAA or Fidelity.
Contact your campus Human Resources for a form to elect contributions or make changes to your account(s). When enrolling for the first time, you must complete an application with TIAA or Fidelity.

Important Documents
- Retirement Plan Summary Plan Description
- Getting Started with Retirement Planning
- Tax Deferred Contributions to Other Employer Form
- 2022 Universal Availability For Retirement Plan Participation Notice
- 2022 Retirement Buckets Illustration
- Retirement Salary Deferral Form: Matched
- Retirement Salary Deferral Form: Unmatched
- Retirement Distribution Request (Less Than 32 Days) Form
- 2022 Retirement Buckets Illustration: UAMS
- 2022 IRS Retirement Plan Contribution Limits
- TIAA Quarterly Economic And Market Update April 13
- TIAA Educational Events Q2 2022
- TIAA Webinars May 2022
- Regístrese Ya Para Los Seminarios Web De TIAA
- TIAA Webinars June 2022
- TIAA Responsible Investing Webinar June 14
- TIAA Cyber Hero Webinar June 16
- TIAA Webinars June 2022