Voluntary Separation Program

Eligible employees are invited to participate in the Voluntary Separation and Phased Retirement program, where UTA will provide incentives to retire this Spring 2026
Expression of Interest Form

Goal Statement

As UTA continues to navigate funding reductions, we are committed to honoring the service of our faculty and staff while ensuring we can meet our academic, financial, and strategic priorities. To support this effort, UTA is introducing a Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) that provides flexible options for those who may be considering retirement or other career transitions.

Application Due Date

February 23, 2026
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Interested in VSP?

1. Attend an Info Session and fill out the Expression of Interest Form

Register for an Info Session Expression of Interest Form

2. Submit your VSP Election Forms.

  • Deadline: 5:00 PM on February 23, 2026
  • Proof of retirement eligibility must be included with your submission.

3. Retirement documentation requirements:

  • TRS participants:
    • Submit your TRS Annual Statement with the VSP Election Form.
    • Apply for retirement through TRS by February 23, 2026.
    • Submit your TRS-32 Retirement Application Acknowledgment to VSP@uta.edu.
  • ORP participants:
    • Work with your ORP vendor to ensure your retirement account and payment elections are in order.


Register Now for an Information Session

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VOLUNTARY SEPARATION PROGRAM

Voluntary Resignation, effective May 31, 2026

Upon verification and acceptance into the program, you are eligible to receive:

  • Incentive Payout equal to 9 or 12 month base salary, exclusive of any stipends, lump sum payable in August 2026.
  • Vacation Payout for accrued, unused vacation time up to the maximum allowable hours as determined by service tenure, lump sum payable in July 2026, where applicable.
  • Tenured Faculty may be eligible for participation in the university’s phased retirement program.
  • Staff may participate in phased retirement by invitation only.

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PHASED RETIREMENT 

Voluntary Resignation, effective May 31, 2026, with a black out period of June 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026. Following this blackout period Faculty may return at between 25 and 50% FTE for for no more than two academic years, and invited staff may return at either 25% or 50% FTE for no more than one year.

Upon acceptance into the program, you are eligible to receive the following benefits instead of those listed under VSP Benefits:

  • Incentive Payout equal to 9 or 12 month base salary, exclusive of any stipends. 50% payable in July 2026, and the other 50% payable upon completion of the terms in the Phased Retirement Agreement.

Additional information can be found below.

Program Eligibility

Staff Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, you:

  • Must meet age and service requirement, as defined by TRS or ORP to receive annual annuity payments.
  • Must meet age and service requirement, as defined by The University of Texas System, Retired Employee Group Medical Insurance Program.
  • Must be full time (1.0) or 0.5 or greater FTE.
  • Must be eligible by January 12, 2026, or become eligible by May 31, 2026.

You are ineligible for this program if you:

  • Employees who are in a position that is 100% grant funded.
  • Employees who have submitted resignation documentation prior to January 12, 2026.
  • Employees who have submitted retirement documentation prior to January 12, 2026, including:
    • Those who have submitted a written retirement or phased retirement request, to their manager/department or TCE People Services department.
    • Those who have formally initiated the retirement filing process with TRS or ORP.
    • Those with a retirement eForm or Clearance Form in submitted, pending approval, or approved status.
  • Athletic Coaches.
  • Retiree rehires (i.e. cannot be a current retiree).
  • Employees in a separation notice period or on corrective action.
  • Temporary and casual employees.

Faculty Eligibility

Applies to APT, Tenure-track and Tenured. Tenured faculty may also be eligible for Phased Retirement.

To be eligible for this program, you:

  • Must meet age and service requirement, as defined by TRS or ORP to receive annual annuity payments.
  • Must meet age and service requirement, as defined by The University of Texas System, Retired Employee Group Medical Insurance Program.
  • Must be full time (1.0) or 0.5 or greater FTE.
  • Must be eligible by January 12, 2026, or become eligible by May 31, 2026.

You are ineligible for this program if you:

  • Employees who are in a position that is 100% grant funded.
  • Employees who have submitted resignation documentation prior to January 12, 2026.
  • Employees who have submitted retirement documentation prior to January 12, 2026, including:
    • Those who have submitted a written retirement or phased retirement request, to their manager/department or TCE People Services department.
    • Those who have formally initiated the retirement filing process with TRS or ORP.
    • Those with a retirement eForm or Clearance Form in submitted, pending approval, or approved status.
  • Retiree rehires (i.e. cannot be a current retiree).
  • Employees in a separation notice period or on corrective action.
  • Temporary, adjunct and casual employees.

Faculty
Faculty members electing and approved to participate in Phased Retirement will have a black out period, during which they cannot perform any work for UTA from June 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026. On September 1, 2026 they will return as an Adjunct Professor without tenure at 50% FTE or less, with a 9 or 12 month salary based on the employee’s academic rate immediately preceding the Phased Retirement Period multiplied by the percentage time of appointment.

Phased Retirement will be approved in units of one academic year, and will not exceed two academic years. 

Staff (Invitation Only)
Staff members may only elect Phased Retirement at the invitation of their VP or Dean. Those staff members who are invited and elect to participate in Phased Retirement will have a black out period, during which they cannot perform any work for UTA from June 1, 2026 to August 31, 2026. On September 1, 2026 they will return to a staff role at 25% or 50% FTE with an annual salary based on the employee’s current annual salary multiplied by the percentage time of appointment.

Phased Retirement will be approved with an end date of no later than August 1, 2027.

Staff member may not frontload or backload work during the Phased Retirement Period by working full time in one semester and not working in the other
semester.

Merit Increases During Phased Retirement
Employees participating in a phased retirement arrangement remain eligible for merit-based salary increases during the phased period. Any adjustments will follow standard University salary policies and are subject to the available budget.

Faculty
Faculty will be barred from working at UTA for one full year. Any employment with UTA after that date would be at the University’s discretion and must follow all applicable laws and retirement plan requirements (ORP or TRS). Future employment at UTA, following the one-year separation date, will be at the Dean and Provost’s discretion and will be limited to part-time faculty positions at the part-time faculty compensation rate, as adjuncts, to teach not more than 2 classes per semester.

Staff Invited to Participate in Phased Retirement
Staff will be barred from working at UTA for two full years following the end of their Phased Retirement Period. Any employment with UTA after that date would be at UTA’s discretion and must follow all applicable laws and retirement plan requirements (ORP or TRS). 


Faculty
Faculty will be barred from working at UTA for one full year following the end of their Phased Retirement Period. Any employment with UTA after that date would be at UTA’s discretion and must follow all applicable laws and retirement plan requirements (ORP or TRS).

Future employment at UTA, following the one-year separation date, will be at the Dean and Provost’s discretion and will be limited to part-time faculty positions at the part-time faculty compensation rate, as adjuncts, to teach not more than 2 classes per semester.

Staff
Staff will be barred from working at UTA for two full years. Any employment with UTA after that date would be at UTA’s discretion and must follow all applicable laws and retirement plan requirements (ORP or TRS)

Retirement Vendors and Resources

Retire at UTA

UTSystem’s Getting Ready to Retire
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Still Have Questions?

Explore our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact a team member.

Email VSP VSP FAQ

Timeline

  1. January 14 - 16 Informaton Sessions
  2. January 21 - February 23 Applications are due!
  3. February 24 - March 4 Revocation Period
  4. March 5 - May 30 Transition Period
  5. May 29 Last Work Day
  6. May 31 Termination Day
  7. June 1 Final Paycheck Monthly
  8. June 5 Final Paycheck Semi-Monthly
  9. July Vacation Payout
  10. August Incentive Payout
  11. September 1 Phased Retirement Starts