Thinking about retirement? The university offers a retirement specialist to meet with employees and answer your questions. If you are considering retirement, please read through the links on the right side of this page. These documents contain important information that will help you prepare for your appointment with a retirement specialist.
For all Zoom Meetings: Within 24 hours after scheduling your appointment, you will receive a link to a Zoom meeting with an OU Retirement Specialist. Wednesday meetings are only available for the Norman campus via Zoom.
If you do not see a time that fits your schedule, please email hrretirement@ou.edu to schedule an appointment. (HRRetirement@OUHSC.edu for OU HSC)
If you are considering retiring in the next two years, please join us for an informative retirement seminar where our retirement teams will walk you through:
To enroll, please visit the training calendar and look for "Your OU Retirement."
You are eligible to retire with benefits from OU if you meet one of the following conditions:
Employees who terminate before satisfying the eligibility requirements for university retirement do not receive the retiree benefits package. However, the university does honor all prior OU benefits-eligible service when determining retirement eligibility. Eligibility for retirement from Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System does not guarantee eligibility for OU retirement. Qualifications for OU retirement must also be met in order to receive the retiree benefits package. Your most recent benefits-eligible service date is used in determining your eligibility for a university health medical subsidy percentage.
All benefits-eligible university employees, with a continuous appointment, who work 20 hours or more per week for six months or longer, can accumulate university service years toward OU retirement eligibility.
Employees who have been long-term or career university employees are rewarded for years of OU service. “University Service” consists of all benefits-eligible University of Oklahoma experience. This does not include temporary time. Employees who were hired prior to January 1, 2002, may receive one year of OU service credited for every four years of verified employment experience in other qualified institutions of higher education. Up to a maximum of five years may be credited.
OU does not provide service credit for accumulated short-term disability hours.
OTRS members who joined prior to July 1, 1992, can retire with full benefits from Teachers’ Retirement System by reaching one of the following:
► Age 62 with at least 5 years of OTRS service credit.
► When age plus years of OTRS service credit equal 80 or more (Rule of 80).
OTRS members who joined on or after July 1, 1992, can retire with full benefits from Teachers’ Retirement System by reaching one of the following:
► Age 62 with at least 5 years of OTRS service credit.
► When age plus years of OTRS service credit equal 90 or more (Rule of 90).
OTRS members who joined on or after November 1, 2011, can retire with full benefits from Teachers’ Retirement System by reaching one of the following:
► Age 65 with at least 5 years of OTRS service credit or age 65 with at least 7 years of service if hired on or after 11/1/2017.
► When age plus years of OTRS service credit equal 90 or more (New Rule of 90), with a minimum age of 60.
Before you retire, change your address with the university by logging in to Employee Self-Service and change your name by contacting employee records. HR will automatically share your information with the retirement companies.
After you retire, contact Human Resources to change your name or address. Then, follow the directions below to make changes with the retirement companies directly.
Name and addresses can now be updated directly in the OTRS portal.
Name and address changes must be completed by the university.
Log in to the TIAA-CREF website or call (800) 842-2733. Address changes can be made over the phone. When you call TIAA-CREF about a name change, they will send you the required forms. Return the completed forms and required documentation to TIAA-CREF.
To change your name, visit the Social Security Change Name website. Applications must include legal documentation of name change.
To change your address, go to the My Profile tab on your my Social Security account or contact the Social Security Administration directly.
In the Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans and the 401(a) defined contribution plans (both the OU Contributory Retirement Plan and the OU Retirement Plan), you can change the investment funds and the amounts you have invested in each fund by logging in to Fidelity NetBenefits.
To make changes to investments with TIAA-CREF, log in to the TIAA-CREF website (www.tiaa-cref.org) or call 1-800-842-2733.
The university wants you to have a wonderful retirement, filled with activities you love. That’s why OU provides resources and information to help you plan for the retirement of your dreams.
OU provides insurance for pre- and post-65 retirees. If you are benefits eligible and under 65, you can enroll in the same insurance plan that is available to all working OU employees. Post-65 retirees are also eligible for OU’s retiree insurance.
Visit the Retiree Benefits webpage.
You may have more than one income source when you retire. In addition to social security and your OU Defined Contribution Plan, you may also have investment accounts, Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System, or some other type of income stream.
It’s important to ensure that your savings will last throughout your retirement. One way to gain information is to meet with a representative from Fidelity Investments. The University of Oklahoma provides one-on-one meetings with a Fidelity financial advisor free of charge. When you meet with a Fidelity advisor, be sure to bring all your financial information so your advisor can get a full picture of your finances; this will help them make the best recommendation for you.
It’s very important to make sure the university has all the most current information on you.
Here are some details you want to be sure are accurate:
OU offers many perks to employees who retire from the university:
Learn more about retirement perks.
Learn more about the university’s Return to Work Policy for retirees.
All Campuses
Take control of your retirement by speaking with a representative at Fidelity.
Norman Campus
Meet with your Norman HR Retirement Representative.
OU Health Campus
Meet with your OUHC HR Retirement Representative.
TIAA Enrollees
If you had previous investment accounts with TIAA, you can schedule an appointment to meet with a TIAA representative at a nearby TIAA location. Book an appointment or call them at 1-800-842-2252.
