NKU Retirement Process

To assist you in your transition into retirement, Human Resources has prepared a guide through the process with suggested time frames for each item.

Once you've made the decision to retire, you'll need to choose a retirement date. If you're a KPPA participant, it is highly recommended (not mandatory) that you retire at the end of a month. Faculty members usually select the end of a semester.

You should work directly with your retirement vendor (KPPA or TIAA) in order to determine a retirement date and complete any forms required for processing. Human Resources will validate and sign off on any authorizations needed from either KPPA or TIAA regarding your retirement once you have provided formal notification.

Here's the time frame you should follow:

• Make your supervisor or chair aware of your decision as soon as possible.

• Provide your supervisor/chair with a formal resignation letter one pay period in advance.

• Give Human Resources 30 days notice to plan the following: 

                 Exit Interview

                 Benefit plan participation transition

• Request a new "retiree" All-Card be issued during the last week before separation by visiting the All-Card office in the Student Union. 

• Exchange your current parking permit for "retiree permit" during the last week before separation.

• Remit any keys issued to you from NKU to Key Control located in the Maintenance Building during last week before separation.

Your department needs to complete a Personnel Action Request (PAR) and submit it to Human Resources. This form should be completed as soon as the employee submits formal notification.

Your access to view information through Employee Self Service (ESS) in the SAP portal will end on your last day of employment. You should print (or download) any information from SAP regarding your pay or benefits prior to your last day of active employment.

If you are age 65, you will need to notify Medicare of your status change.

In order to be recognized as an NKU retiree, you must meet the definition of retiree for classification at time of retirement. NKU's definitions are listed below.

Staff member retirement:

• Any age with a minimum of 30 years of service to the university
  

• An employee whose age plus years of service credit equals 70 with a minimum of 15 years of service to the university
  

• Any employee in a position classified as "hazardous" for retirement system participation may retire with a minimum of 20 years of service credit
  

• Any age provided that the employee applies for and is granted disability retirement benefit from the university-sponsored disability plan or full disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.

Employees are encouraged to contact the Benefits Office/Human Resources at least three months prior to the expected retirement date to learn about the benefits and procedures necessary for a successful transition into retirement.

Faculty member retirement:

• Tenure, tenure-track, and renewable faculty members must be at least 45  years old with at least 10 years of continuous full-time service or have been at one-time a participant in either the Retirement Incentive Program (RIP) or the Phased Retirement Program (PRP) and have been designated through a retiree action by the official Board of Regents.

As an NKU retiree, you will be eligible for the following:

• Continued use of NKU email address
• Retiree All Card for use at NKU sponsored events
• Retiree Parking Pass (at no cost)
• Discounted Campus Rec Membership
• NKU retirement gift