If you
are eligible for UAMS retirement contributions (** see footnotes below), you
have two retirement plans to choose from: the UAORP and APERS. Each offers
different opportunities for your retirement planning. You should consider
factors such as your ability to make personal contributions, your future
employment plans, and your interest in participating in the management of your
investment funds.
University of Arkansas Optional Retirement Plan
The University of Arkansas Optional Retirement Plan (UAORP)
is a
403(b) and 457(b) “defined contribution plan.” That means
your benefits are based on contributions made to the plan by you and UAMS, plus
the growth or interest earnings of those contributions. The UAORP is the
default, primary plan for UAMS and employees at other University of Arkansas
campuses.
Once
you complete an application for either of the two UAORP fund sponsors –
TIAA-CREF and/or
Fidelity– UAMS automatically contributes an amount equal to 5% of your
salary. You are encouraged to contribute to your account as well. Your
contributions over 5% are matched by UAMS up to 10%. Because the UAORP is a
combo 403(b) and 457(b) plan, you can generally contribute up to two times the
applicable IRS limit on tax-deferred contributions.
**
Housestaff, Residents and other employees who are ineligible for retirement
benefits (including temporary employees, student employees, and employees who
work less than 20 hours a week) are eligible to make personal, unmatched,
pre-tax contributions to Tax Deferred Annuities.
Forms and information is available in Human Resources.
Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS)
Because UAMS is a state supported institution, you have the option to select the
Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS)
instead of the UAORP. This is a one-time, irrevocable choice you
can make only during your fist 30 days of employment. APERS is a “defined
benefit plan”. Retirement income is a specific, calculated amount based on
your years of State government service and salary during employment. UAMS
contributes to the plan as determined by State legislation. If you join APERS
on or after July 2005, you are required to contribute 5% from each paycheck.
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS)
** If you previously participated in the
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS) for 5 or more years, you may opt
to participate in that plan as an alternative to the UAORP. Contact Human
Resources at (501) 686-5650 for information.
Additional Retirement Information & Forms
Click
hereto view the Powerpoint presentation we use at New Employee
Orientation to describe our retirement plans.
Click
here
to “Learn the
10 Steps to a sound and secure retirement."
Summary of retirement plans, handed out at Orientation
Retirement Forms
Following are the benefit forms that
you can print, complete, and send to Human Resources. Not all
forms are listed here, as some are printed on multiple-copy paper
and are only available through our Employee Services office, located
in Room 1R/08 of the Barton Research Building. If you are unable
to visit Employee Services, please call (501) 686-5650 and ask for
the form to be mailed to you.
Once you complete your form, you can
drop it off at Employee Services. Or you can send it through
campus mail to Benefits, box # 564-1. Or you can fax it to UAMS
Benefits at (501) 603-1318. Or you can mail to:
Benefits, # 564-1
UAMS
Office of Human Resources
4301
W. Markham
Little Rock, AR 72205
Fill this out if you made pre-tax contributions to
another employer’s retirement plan before coming to UAMS (so we can
assist you in avoiding an excess deferral).
IRS pre-tax limits apply to your combined UAMS and
other employer plan contributions. Fill this out if you are also
employed by the VA and make pre-tax contributions to the Thrift Savings
Plan. By reporting this amount, we can assist you in avoiding an
excess deferral.
If you select Fidelity as your UAORP fund sponsor,
this is a required form. This is handed out at Orientation. All
employees use this form – those eligible for the match and those not.
Fill out the Tax Deferred Annuity application if
you want to contribute to the UAORP but are not eligible for the
match. This applies to temps, student employees, those working less
than 50% and Housestaff.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205
For the Office of Human Resources & Employee Services, Call 1-501-686-5650
To Make an Medical Appointment Call the Appointments Center at: 1-501-686-8000
For Patient Information/Rooms, Call 1-501-686-6416
For General Information and for Numbers Not Listed, Call 1-501-686-7000
For International Patient Appointments, Call 1-501-686-8071