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Retirement Plans

All Classified Staff and Appointed Personnel (with the exception of non-pharmacy clinical assistants, graduate assistants, students, and FICA-exempt employees) who are employed at least 50% time for at least 20 weeks in a fiscal year are required to participate in a retirement program.

Classified Staff

• Required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• To enroll, complete ASRS enrollment forms in benefits packet. Return completed forms to Human Resources.

Appointed Personnel (faculty, administrators, and academic and service professionals):

• Required to participate in either the Arizona State Retirement System or an Optional Retirement Plan (ORP).
• ORP-eligible employees have 30 days from the date they first become eligible for the ORP to make an irrevocable retirement plan election. If a retirement plan election is not made within the 30-day election period, retirement plan participation will default to the ASRS.
• To compare the ASRS and ORP plans, go to Retirement Plans Comparison (PDF).
• To enroll, go to Retirement Plan Enrollment.

Public Safety Personnel & Federal Employees:

• Eligible public safety personnel should contact their department regarding the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System.
• Eligible federal employees should contact their department regarding retirement plan options.