Retirement and Leave Options

Retirement and Leave Options

As faculty consider retirement, Indiana University offers several pathways to support a successful transition. Depending on your age, years of service, career goals, and eligibility, you may choose to retire immediately, participate in phased retirement, pursue emeritus status, or continue limited engagement with the university after retirement.

Because retirement planning often involves questions about benefits, Medicare, retirement contributions, leave eligibility, and future university involvement, faculty are encouraged to begin conversations with their department chair, dean's office, school HR representative, and IU Human Resources well in advance of their anticipated retirement date.

IU Retiree Status

What Is IU Retiree Status?

IU Retiree Status is a university designation that provides eligible retirees with access to certain retirement-related benefits and programs.

Eligibility is based on a combination of age and years of Indiana University service. For example, eligibility begins at combinations such as:

• Age 55 with 30 years of service; or
• Age 64 with 12 years of service.

Additional combinations may also qualify.

Because eligibility requirements occasionally change, faculty should work with their school HR representative and IU Human Resources to confirm eligibility before establishing a retirement date.

Benefits of IU Retiree Status

Faculty who qualify for IU Retiree Status may be eligible for benefits such as:

• Access to IU-sponsored retiree health insurance options;
• Retiree life insurance coverage;
• Continued eligibility for the IU Tuition Benefit;
• Certain university retiree programs and services; and
• Continued access to selected university systems and resources. Please see this Knowledge Base document.

Available benefits are subject to change. Faculty should consult current IU Human Resources guidance for the most up-to-date information.

Emeritus Status Is Separate

IU Retiree Status and emeritus status are separate designations.

A faculty member may:

• Qualify for IU Retiree Status without receiving emeritus status;
• Receive emeritus status without qualifying for IU Retiree Status; or
• Receive both distinctions.

Faculty Phased Retirement Program

The Faculty Phased Retirement Program allows eligible faculty members to transition gradually from full-time employment to retirement while continuing to contribute to the university.

Rather than moving directly from full-time employment to retirement, faculty may reduce their workload for a defined period (12-36 months) while maintaining an ongoing appointment.

The program helps support:

• Faculty career transitions;
• Departmental succession planning;
• Mentoring of junior colleagues;
• Graduate student supervision; and
• Completion of ongoing projects and responsibilities.

View more details on the Phased Retirement Process.

Retirement After a Sabbatical or Other Leave

Faculty should be aware of several important interactions between retirement and leave programs.

Sabbatical Return Requirement

Faculty who receive a sabbatical are required to return to full-time service for at least:

• One academic year for 10-month faculty; or
• Eight months for 12-month faculty

following completion of the sabbatical.

Phased Retirement and Sabbaticals

Faculty participating in phased retirement are not eligible for sabbatical leave.

Faculty may, however, remain eligible for certain externally funded prestigious leaves, subject to university approval. Such leaves do not extend the retirement date established in the phased retirement agreement.

Medical Leave During Phased Retirement

Faculty participating in phased retirement are eligible for medical leave; however, unit HR staff should consult the Office of Academic Affairs. Special processing may be required.

Resignation

Faculty who leave Indiana University but do not qualify for IU Retiree Status are considered to be resigning rather than retiring.

This distinction is important because many university benefits and programs associated with retirement are available only to individuals who qualify for IU Retiree Status.

Emeritus Status and Resignation

A faculty member may still be awarded emeritus status even if they do not qualify for IU Retiree Status and resign from the university.

Retirement Contributions

Faculty who resign before completing three years of service generally forfeit university retirement contributions that have not yet vested.

Faculty should consult IU Human Resources regarding vesting rules and retirement-plan implications.

Notice of Resignation

Faculty are encouraged to provide as much advance notice as possible to assist departments with teaching schedules, advising responsibilities, and transition planning.

Once a formal resignation has been submitted and accepted, it is generally considered final even when the effective separation date occurs in the future.

Choosing a Retirement Date

Ten-Month Faculty

Ten-month faculty typically retire effective:

• June 1 (following a final work date of May 31); or
• January 1 (following a final work date of December 31).

Requests for different retirement dates must be approved by the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.

Twelve-Month Faculty

Twelve-month faculty may generally select any retirement date.

For benefits transitions, many faculty choose to retire at the end of a month, which may simplify the transition from employee benefits to retiree benefits.

Planning Ahead

Faculty considering retirement are encouraged to:

• Inform their department chair or dean as early as possible;
• Meet with school HR representatives;
• Schedule pre-retirement counseling with IU Human Resources;
• Confirm eligibility for IU Retiree Status; and
• Review Medicare, Social Security, retirement savings, and health insurance options before establishing a retirement timeline.

Reviewed and revised: 9/2026.