New Members

Higher Education — New Full-time Members

Timetable for Making a Decision

New Full-time Faculty Member Who is Working at an Ohio Public Institution of Higher Education for the First Time
As a newly hired full-time faculty member, you have 120 days from your first day of paid service to select between participating in STRS Ohio’s retirement plans or an alternative retirement plan (ARP). If you choose STRS Ohio, you will have an additional 60 days (180 days from your first day of paid service) to select an STRS Ohio retirement plan option.

New members who choose the STRS Ohio Defined Contribution Plan or the STRS Ohio Combined Plan have another opportunity to evaluate their decision before completing their fifth year of membership. You can choose to remain in the same plan or transfer to another STRS Ohio plan. All new members hired between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, will receive reselection materials and will be asked to make a final decision by June 30, 2012.

At that time, you must actively elect to remain in the Defined Contribution or Combined Plan; otherwise, you will automatically be moved to the Defined Benefit Plan, with an account and service credit created as if you had been in the Defined Benefit Plan from your first date of membership. The Defined Contribution or Combined Plan account — and any accompanying gains or losses — will be absorbed by the Defined Benefit Plan.

Informing STRS Ohio About Your Plan Choice
First, complete the Retirement Plan Election Form available from your employer. You should use this form to choose between participating in STRS Ohio or an ARP. Return the completed form to your employer.

If you choose to enroll in STRS Ohio, you will also need to complete the STRS Ohio Retirement Plan Selection Form for New Members included in your plan selection packet. Return this completed form to STRS Ohio in the postage-paid envelope provided.

If You Don’t Make a Selection
The deadline to complete and return the Retirement Plan Election Form to your employer is 120 days from your first day of paid service. If you do not respond by then, you will participate in STRS Ohio.

You will then have an additional 60 days (180 days from your first day of paid service) to complete and return the STRS Ohio Retirement Plan Selection Form for New Members. If you do not respond by this deadline, you will be placed in STRS Ohio’s Defined Benefit Plan.

If you choose or are placed in the Defined Benefit Plan, you will remain in it for all STRS Ohio-covered employment.

ARP
If you choose an ARP within the 120-day election period, your decision is final and remains in effect as long as you are continuously employed at your current college or university. Faculty who do not complete the Retirement Plan Election Form for any of the ARPs will become STRS Ohio members.