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  • Retirement Benefits
    • Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS)
    • State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS)
    • Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP)
    • Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA)
    • Post-Retirement Benefits
    • OSU Retirees Association (OSURA)
    • Returning Retirees
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OPERS

OPERS is the state retirement program for staff.

Staff contribute 10% of their salary each pay period to the retirement plan, which is deducted on a pre-tax basis. The university also contributes to the staff member's retirement plan based on 14% of his or her salary. Ohio Revised Code Section 3305.6(d) allows OPERS to withhold a portion of the employer’s contribution to offset any negative financial impact the OPERS Traditional Plan may experience by the offering of alternative retirement plan options. More information is available here.

• Benefit Summary - Retirement (.pdf)
• Benefit Administrator - Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS)
• Retirement Forums
• Retirement Program Choices Booklet for Staff (.pdf)
• Retirement Plan Comparison Charts [staff] (.pdf)
• Retirement Contribution and Distribution Rates (.pdf)

If you are unsure whether or not you are eligible for this benefit, go to Benefit Eligibility.

OPERS/ARP Distribution Rate Change Quick Facts

According to state law, OPERS may annually determine if the alternative retirement plans offered (OPERS Member-Directed Plan, OPERS Combined Plan, and the Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP)) have had a negative financial impact on the OPERS Traditional Plan. If a negative impact exists, then OPERS may require a percentage of the employer contributions be redirected to the OPERS Traditional Plan in order to compensate for the loss.

Staff members contributing to OPERS Member-Directed, Combined Plans, or the ARP have .77% of the employer contribution directed to this off-set effective January 2008.

• Ohio Revised Code Section 3305.6(d) allows OPERS to appropriate up to 6% of the employer contribution. The mitigating contribution can range from 0% to 6%. The mitigating rate will be determined by the OPERS Board each year.

The amount the university contributes to retirement plans is 14.00%.

• Beginning in January 2008, the university's contribution will be distributed as follows - 13.23% will go to ARP accounts and .77% will be redirected to OPERS.
• The .77% is directed to the OPERS Traditional Plan to help fund the plan. It does not go to individual accounts.
• No additional contribution will be added by the university to account for the mitigating rate. OPERS is able to prove a percentage of the employer contribution is needed and therefore, all universities must abide by that ruling.
• Faculty contribute 10% of their salary to the retirement plan. The university contributes 10.5% of the faculty member's salary to his or her retirement plan, and is required to contribute 3.5% of salary to STRS to finance unfunded liabilities.

For a history of retirement contribution rate changes, see hr.osu.edu/benefits/retirerates.pdf. (.pdf)

For some Frequently Asked Questions, see hr.osu.edu/benefits/arpchangefaq.pdf (.pdf)

More information on ARP benefits is available here.

More information on STRS benefits is available here