Thank you for your service to UT Dallas and the State of Texas.
Please plan to give your department appropriate notice before you end or suspend your time with the University and help them through the transition (e.g.: reassign responsibilities and projects, turn in your keys, return library books, pay any library or parking fines, return any University charge cards, and cancel your network access). In addition —
Starting your Checkout Procedure ensures that your final paycheck clears when you are not a benefits-eligible employee.
To help ensure a smooth transition, review the applicable checklists below and contact HR if you have any questions.
If you are thinking about or have decided to retire, please review the Pre-Retirement Checklist under the Retirees section to help guide you through the process.
Inform your department and HR of your decision to end your employment with UT Dallas. Written notice is recommended approximately two weeks prior to your expected last day of employment. This will begin the Checkout Procedure and the process of returning University property and closing University accounts (department charge cards, keys, computers and devices, network access, etc.).
Your UT Dallas employee benefits insurance coverage terminates at the end of the month in which you terminate your employment or become ineligible for insurance. However, you and your qualified beneficiaries can continue your insurance coverage under COBRA, keeping the same benefits and options that were in place at the time your employment ended — with all of the same deductibles, exclusions, limitations, and other provisions of your plan. COBRA Rates are available online and you can expect to receive your COBRA offer letter via standard mail within two weeks after ending your employment. You have 60 days from the date your coverage ends to enroll in COBRA. If you decide to enroll in COBRA coverage, it will be effective the first of the month following your coverage end date at UTD. For further questions regarding COBRA, you can contact the UT System COBRA Office at (844) 579-8683, Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 12:pm and 1:00pm - 4:00pm. You can also email them directly at [email protected].
For inquires regarding your paid time off balances, please contact [email protected]. If applicable, a vacation payout will be paid to you on a separate check (if any). If you currently have direct deposit, then your vacation payout will be deposited to your account. Vacation payout is typically issued a week or two after you receive your final salary pay. Questions regarding the status of your payout may be directed to [email protected].
You also have the option to defer all, or a portion, of unused vacation pay to a Deferred Compensation (DCP) account under the UTSaver DCP Vacation Deferral option. If interested, please complete the Annual Leave Deferral Purchase/Change Agreement form. You must have a DCP 457(b) account established with an approved provider before the 10th of the month, prior to your departure. Please notify your Benefits Administrator in order to successfully defer unused time off pay. You must inform the Benefits Office, before the earlier of your last day of employment, or the last working day of the month of employment before your vacation payout is issued
If you set up a UTSaver DCP-457(b) account before ending your time with the University, you can deposit all or part of your unused annual leave pay into this account by contacting your Benefits Representative.
You will not receive a payout for Sick Leave balances.
When you terminate your employment, you have the option to request a refund, rollover, or leave your funds intact with TRS. Requests for a refund or rollover will only include your employee contributions. This will also apply for vested TRS member. Based on the legislature in place today, if you terminate your employment and are vested with TRS, you would still be eligible for an annuity once you file for retirement, if you leave your TRS funds in your account.
To withdraw your TRS funds, you need to submit a Teacher Retirement System Application For Refund 
directly to TRS. Your Benefits Representative can notarize this form for you. You also have the option to request a rollover to an approved IRA. If you decide to request a refund or rollover of your TRS funds,whether vested or not, it can affect your eligibility for retirement. Either of those options will terminate your TRS membership, and as a result, you forfeit your retirement annuity and lose your service credits with TRS. You can learn more about this process by watching the TRS Request a Refund member educational video.
Refunded amounts are subject to mandatory federal income tax withholding unless you elect a rollover to another eligible retirement plan such as an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The mandatory federal income tax withholding is 20% of any portion of the refund amount consisting of pre-tax funds that is not rolled over. A 10% early withdrawal penalty assessed by the IRS may also apply for members who terminate Texas public education employment before age 55; for TRS members who are qualified public safety employees, this penalty may apply if termination occurs before age 50.
To request a refund or roll-over option, you will need to complete the form in front of a notary, then send the form directly to TRS. If you elect to roll your funds, TRS will send you additional paperwork to begin the rollover process. If you elect to receive a refund, you will receive a refund within 6 to 8 weeks from your last paycheck. For more information visit the TRS website at http://www.trs.state.tx.us/.
See the TRS Benefits Handbook for more details.
An employee may terminate participation in ORP only upon death, retirement (including disability retirement), or termination of employment with all Texas public institutions of higher education.
Ownership Rights to Employer Contributions - A vested ORP participant shall have ownership rights to the employer contributions in his or her ORP accounts, meaning that, upon termination of employment with all ORP employers or reaching age 70-1/2, he or she may access both the employee and employer contributions (and any net earnings) in his or her ORP accounts.
Vesting Termination Form will be sent to your ORP provider at termination from employment. Please contact your ORP provider to begin the distribution of funds.
