Summary Plan Description

The University of Dallas Employee Retirement Plan is administered by the Teachers Insurance Annuity Association (TIAA), one of the nation's largest private retirement companies. Founded to serve the retirement needs of higher education faculty and staff, TIAA offers a wide range of investment options designed to realize growth of capital and minimize risk.

Employees may begin making individual salary deferral contributions in the first month of employment by following this step-by-step guide to establish an online account and enroll in the plan at tiaa.org/udallas.  During enrollment, you may elect to contribute to the TIAA 403(b) account where contributions are made on a pre-tax  basis and/or the TIAA 403(b) Roth account where deductions are made on an after-tax basis.  Both accounts are eligible for University matching contributions.   You may change your investment choices or salary deferral contribution at any time by logging into tiaa.org/udallas.  

Employees are 100% vested (which means entitled to all of the amounts) in his/her accounts attributable to the following contributions:

• elective deferrals including Roth deferrals and catch-up contributions
• rollover contributions

Regular employees who have worked 20 hours or more per week for 12 continuous months are eligible to receive the University matching contribution.  Employees who are scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week may qualify for matching contributions if they have worked more than 1,000 hours in 12 continuous months.  See the Summary Plan Description for more details.

The University’s matching contribution begins after one year of employment. However, newly hired employees may be eligible to receive the University match prior to the one year waiting period upon submission and review of the Prior University Work Experience Certification Form.

Once eligible, the University will match the employee's contribution up to a 4% maximum match, with an annual $6,000 matching contribution cap.

Employee/University Matching Contribution

There is a 3-year cliff vesting University matching schedule that applies to employees hired on or after July 1, 2024.  Employees hired prior to July 1, 2024, remain subject to the 100% vesting schedule.

Vesting Schedule
Matching Contributions

Employees may contribute more than 4% of their salary, up to the IRS maximum.  

Employees who are age 50 and over may also make catch-up contributions.  Employees must make catch-up contributions on a Roth basis if prior-year wages exceeded $150,000.

Contributions and earnings must remain in the account until the employee is no longer employed by the University of Dallas or are age 59 1/2.    

TIAA Contact Information:

Terminating Your Employment