Alternate Retirement Program (ARP)

Participation in the Alternate Retirement Program (ARP) is open to eligible unclassified employees of a constituent unit of the State system of higher education and the central office staff of the Department of Higher Education. If you choose to participate in the ARP, you must elect to do so on the first day of employment.

An eligible employee who is a full-time, represented faculty member of the University of Connecticut or the University of Connecticut Health Center will be automatically enrolled in the ARP unless they make a written election to enroll in the State Employees Retirement System or Teachers Retirement System on the first day of employment. Non-union University of Connecticut or University of Connecticut Health Center faculty members will be automatically enrolled in the State Employees Retirement System Tier IV retirement plan.

An eligible employee whose pension rights are governed by State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition Agreement V (SEBAC V) must make a written election to participate in the ARP (in lieu of participation in the State Employees Retirement System) on the first day of employment.

An adjunct faculty member is permitted to waive retirement plan participation entirely. This election is irrevocable and will mean that such faculty member cannot participate in a State of Connecticut retirement plan in any subsequent part-time employment with the regional community-technical college system, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, or any other constituent unit as defined by section 10a-1 of the general statutes. Any election to waive must be made on the first day of employment.