Coin being placed in piggy pank

Retirement Options

Full-time Faculty and Staff are eligible to participate in one of two mandatory retirement plans (Technical Service employees are a part of the Staff employee population for benefit eligibility purposes, unless specifically indicated otherwise):

Retirement Plans

State Employees Retirement System (SERS)

  • General Phone Number           (800) 633-5461
  • Local Office - State College   1019 Ghaner Road, Suite 203
                                                   Port Matilda, PA 16870

Penn State Alternate Retirement Plan (Administered by TIAA)

  • General Phone Number          (800) 842-2252
  • Schedule with a TIAA financial consultant (including State College office) (800) 732-8353
  • Local Office – State College  (814) 278-5000
                                                   328 Innovation Boulevard
                                                   Suite 301
                                                   State College, PA 16803

Full-time Faculty and Staff: Have 31 days from the effective date of your appointment to choose your retirement plan.  If you do not make your decision within that time period, state regulations require that you automatically be enrolled in SERS. Once you are enrolled in a retirement plan, the enrollment is irrevocable. However, you may enroll in a TIAA supplemental retirement plan at any time. NOTE: If you are currently a member of SERS, it may be mandatory for you to participate in that plan.

Part-time Faculty and Staff: Part-time Faculty and Staff must participate in a mandatory retirement plan once they become eligible by working 750 hours in a given calendar year. Part-time employees who meet the hourly requirement will receive a Workday Inbox notification regarding their eligibility. All elections must be received within 31 days of notification of eligibility or you will automatically be enrolled in SERS, based on state regulations.  Once you are enrolled in a retirement plan, the enrollment is irrevocable. Additionally, if you are enrolled in the TIAA retirement plan, and return as a part-time employee at a later date, you must re-qualify for a retirement plan by working 750 hours in a given calendar year. However, you may enroll in a TIAA supplemental retirement plan at any time. NOTE: If you are currently a member of SERS or PSERS, it may be mandatory for you to participate in those plans immediately upon your hire.

Postdoctoral Appointments: Are not eligible to participate in the mandatory retirement plan, but may enroll in a TIAA supplemental retirement plan at any time. 

IRS regulations required employers to restate their Plan Documents in 2020. To aid participants in understanding the features and rules associated with the various Penn State Retirement Plans, the following Summary Plan Descriptions have been created: