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Faculty Retirement

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Your retirement represents so many things to you and to Stanford University. We want your retirement experience to be a positive one, but you are an important component of your retirement process. We need your help to make it work. Set forth below are resources and your personal retirement project plan. Starting the process early will ensure that your retirement savings plans and health care insurance transition into retirement with you smoothly.

Eligibility for Retirement

Retirement Overview

Retirement Savings Plans

Workshops & Guidance

FRIP (Faculty Retirement Incentive Program) Information

Privileges & Benefits for Emeriti Faculty

Living Well in Retirement

Senior Housing Options


Before you decide to retire

Faculty members who become official university retirees receive the emeritus or emerita title authorized by the Board of Trustees and become senior members of the Academic Council with privileges of the floor and of service on committees, but without the right to vote or hold office.

The department is responsible for determining the extent of the individual's participation in departmental affairs, which will vary from department to department. By its nature, however, an emeritus recall appointment does not permit the same status within departments as does a regular faculty appointment. For example, retired faculty, whether recalled or not, are not asked to vote on appointments, reappointments or promotions. If it is in the department's interest to have them participate in such a decision, it should be in an advisory role. (See Section 2.6.7 of the Faculty Handbook.)

Emeriti faculty members recalled to active duty are eligible to act as principal investigators on sponsored projects. The project must not exceed the duration of the recall period. Emeriti faculty members should consult their dean or chair prior to making a commitment to act as a principal investigator. (See Section 2.6.7 of the Faculty Handbook.)

Allocation of office or laboratory space and/or secretarial services varies by department and school. Questions should be addressed to the department chair or dean.

Retirement benefits may include participation in a University health plan (you share the cost of coverage with the University), use of the libraries, and access to other facilities and services of the University. Eligible emeriti may also use the Tuition Grant Plan for any eligible children. Learn about retirement benefits by going to http://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu.

  • Download the Faculty Retirement Planning Guide (or contact the Benefits office directly at (650)736-2985). 
  • Check on your eligibility to participate in the Faculty Retirement Incentive Plan by contacting Cristen Shinbashi in the Provost's Office (by email or 650-724-4864).

Emeriti faculty members may retain a campus home, retain Faculty Club membership, and receive free campus parking privileges.

You may be reimbursed up to $1,000 for financial planning expenses. Inquiries regarding reimbursement should be directed to Cristen Shinbashi in the Provost's Office.

Discuss retirement with your Department Chair or Dean (for Schools without Departments)

Remember that if a leave is taken prior to retirement, a faculty member must return from leave and serve at Stanford for a period of time equal to the length of the leave, before retiring.

Consider the impact of being recalled to service immediately after retirement on your retirement plan distribution payments (See below.)


When you decide to retire

At least four months prior to your retirement date

Contact Stanford Benefits

  • Call 650-736-2985 and request a retirement calculation.

This calculation determines if you are eligible for medical and dental benefits in retirement and what portion of the coverage cost you will share with the University.

Stanford Benefits will perform your calculation and you will be notified by the Stanford Benefits service center of the outcome. The calculation takes about four to eight weeks.

Notify your Department Chair or Dean

  • Complete the Notice of Intent to Retire document.
  • Your Notice of Intent to Retire should indicate whether or not you intend to participate in the Faculty Retirement Incentive Program (FRIP).
  • Your Chair and/or Dean will sign the Notice of Intent to Retire and forward it to the Provost's Office.
  • The Provost's Office will prepare an acknowledgement letter for you about your retirement and forward copies to your School and to Stanford Benefits.

3-4 months prior to your retirement date

If you are eligible to participate in FRIP, the Provost's staff will prepare a FRIP Agreement & Release. These documents will be sent to you at your home address.

You must review the FRIP agreement, sign it, and return the signed agreement to the Provost's Office. The Provost will sign it and return a fully executed copy to you.

Your recall period will begin the day after your retirement. If you are age 63-67 on the date of retirement, your FRIP benefit is equal to two times your final year's base salary and your recall period will be two years. If you are age 68-71, your FRIP benefit is equal to one times your final year's base salary and your recall period will be one year. Your salary during the recall period will be paid 50% by the FRIP benefit and 50% by the recall salary. Upon completion of the recall period, you will receive the remaining FRIP benefit as a lump sum completion bonus.

The Provost's staff will contact you to notify you of the date that your check will be available for you to pick up at the Payroll customer service window, which is located at the Cashier's Office, Tresidder Memorial Union, 2nd floor (electronic payment or direct deposit not available).

One month prior to your retirement date

Selecting Benefits Coverage

Attend a Health Care Planning in Retirement workshop or view the workshop online. See http://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu for the workshop schedule or to view the online presentation.

The service center will see your retiree calculation in their systems and take your elections over the phone.

Your elections will be recorded and put on hold until your retirement information flows through Stanford HR systems on your last day of work.

Your retiree benefits will be in place on the first day of the month following your last day of work.

If you are over age 65 and enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan, be sure to complete the necessary documentation. Contact Benefits by the 15th of the month prior to when you expect your Retiree Health coverage to begin for more information. If you are 65 or older, you must contact Social Security to activate your Medicare Part A & B for the first of the month following your termination which is the date your retiree medical begins. For additional information and the phone number for Social Security, please go to http://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu

Look for your new medical plan ID card in the mail.

Talk to your accountant or a financial counselor about your TDA, SCRP and/or SRAP funds. See also the Retirement section at http://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu for more information.


If you are recalled to university service

An emeritus faculty member may be recalled to active university service on a part-time or full-time appointment for a period up to one year, subject to renewal. If you are participating in the current Faculty Retirement Incentive Program (FRIP), and are eligible for the two-year recall appointment, there is no renewal necessary for the second year.

If you are recalled to a benefits-eligible position and work at least 20 hours a week, you will be asked to enroll in active benefits again.

Your Stanford health care benefits are primary, even if you are enrolled in Medicare.

If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan during retirement and are later recalled into a Stanford benefits-eligible position, contact Stanford Benefits as soon as possible to disenroll during this period of employment.

In some cases, you may be restricted from receiving a distribution or payments from the TDA or SCRP if you are immediately recalled to service.

You may start a distribution from TDA and SCRP upon a bona fide separation from service, that is, a termination of Stanford employment with no understanding that you will be rehired. If, at the time you retire, you have agreed with your school that you will be recalled to service, you may not receive a distribution from these plans. If you have reached age 59½, however, you may take a distribution from TDA at any time. If you have questions regarding a distribution, call  the Benefits office at 650-736-2985.

If you have not agreed to be recalled to service and there is no understanding that you will be rehired, you may receive a distribution from these plans no earlier than one month (two pay periods) from the time you terminate employment. This waiting period is to ensure the distribution amount is accurate and that you are no longer receiving a paycheck from Stanford.

If after you have been recalled you are considering changing your percentage of FTE service, please check with Benefits regarding the impact on your benefits eligibility.