18.1 Eligibility

(Amended 7/1/73; 7/1/74; 1/1/86; 7/02; 10/04; 2/07; 10/15; 7/17; 8/18; 7/19/23)

Effective July 19, 2023, this policy has been revised. For individual changes, see the redlined version.

  1. Life Insurance. Mandatory for full-time regular faculty/staff members and part-time regular faculty/staff members working at least 50 percent time. Excludes students, interns, externs, fellows, post-docs, and temporary or visiting staff members. (Amended President 7/1/74; 1/1/86)
  2. Disability Insurance. Mandatory for full-time regular faculty/staff members and part-time regular faculty/staff members working at least 50 percent time. Excludes students, interns, externs, fellows, post-docs, and temporary or visiting staff members. (Amended President 7/1/73; 1/1/86)
  3. Health and Dental Insurance (Voluntary). Available to full- and part-time regular faculty/staff members working at least 50 percent time, with the exception of students, interns, and externs.
  4. Retirement Programs. All University faculty/staff members with the exception of students, fellows, house staff, adjunct faculty,* or appointments of less than six months must participate in one of the following retirement programs:
    1. Iowa Public Employees Retirement System. Available to either full- or part-time, regular or temporary faculty/staff members who are a US citizen or lawful permanent resident, with the exception of students, fellows, house staff, adjunct faculty,* and faculty/staff members hired on a temporary basis for less than six months.
    2. University Funded Retirement Program (TIAA or an approved substitute annuity). Available to either full- or part-time, regular or temporary faculty/staff members, with the exception of students, fellows, house, staff, adjunct faculty* and faculty/staff members hired on a temporary basis for less than six months.
  5. Retirement Compensation Limit. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 401(a)(17) and IRS guidance issued under that Code section provide annual limits on the amount of compensation that may be considered under a tax-qualified plan for purposes of determining contributions made to the plan. Neither individual nor University contributions will be permitted on compensation in excess of the IRS annual compensation limit. Individuals hired before January 1, 1996, are governed by the Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 compensation limits. Annual IRS limits are maintained on the University Benefits Retirement Plan webpage.
  6. Social Security. Mandatory for all full- and part-time regular and temporary faculty/staff members, excluding students and certain non-resident aliens.

* Exceptions may occur when other employment is held in conjunction with these types of appointments.