Temporary Pause on Retirement Plan Changes (May 8 – 26) & New Retirement@Work Platform
Dear Ohio University Employees,
Starting May 8 and through May 26, 2026 there will be a temporary pause on 403(b), 457(b) and ARP retirement plan enrollment and contribution changes. This pause, or quiet period, is required to allow Ohio University to launch a new retirement plan management system.
What this pause means for you
During the quiet period (May 8–May 26, 2026), you will not be able to:
- Enroll in the ARP, 403(b), or 457(b) plans
- Change your contribution amounts
You will still be able to:
- Access your retirement accounts
- Request fund transfers
- Update beneficiary information
- Review investment performance
If you need to enroll or change your contribution amount before the quiet period begins, please submit your request using the current process. All requests must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (EST) on May 7, 2026.
If you have questions about the quiet period, please contact the Benefits Office at benefits@ohio.edu.
What’s coming May 27, 2026
Beginning May 27, 2026, Ohio University will launch Retirement@Work®, a new online retirement plan portal designed to make managing your retirement planning easier.
If you participate in the Alternate Retirement Plan (ARP), 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity Plan, or 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, Retirement@Work will allow you to view and manage your plans in one place across the following providers:
- Corebridge Financial
- Equitable
- TIAA
- Voya Financial
In addition, new Roth 403(b) and Roth 457(b) options will be available starting May 27, 2026.
What you’ll be able to do in Retirement@Work®
For the ARP
- Change provider
- Research the investments in the plans
- View your account balances across all plans and investment providers
- Access investment tools and calculators
For the 403(b0/457(b) plans
- Enroll or change providers
- Change or stop your contribution amount
- View your account balances across all plans and investment providers
- Access investment tools and calculators
Visit the HR web site to learn more about the 403(B) and 457(b) plans.
New Plan Features
- Roth contributions: Beginning May 27, 2026, you may choose to make after tax Roth contributions to the 403(b) and 457(b) plans. Qualified Roth withdrawals are tax free, provided certain requirements are met.
- Self directed automatic contribution increases: You can choose when your contributions increase, the percentage increase, and when increases begin and end—helping you build savings over time.
What is not changing
- Your current 403(b) and/or 457(b) retirement contribution amounts (unless you choose to change them)
- Your existing investment selections
- Your beneficiary designations
- ARP contribution formulas and schedules
- Access to your provider websites (Equitable, Corebridge, TIAA, Voya)
Key dates to remember
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | Last day to enroll in the plan(s) or change contributions before the quiet period |
| May 8 – May 26, 2026 | Quiet period – no enrollment or contribution changes can be made |
| May 27, 2026 | Retirement@Work® and new Roth 403(b) and Roth 457(b) go live |
What you need to do now
If you are currently participating in the ARP, 403(b), or 457(b), no action is required at this time. You will receive additional instructions once Retirement@Work becomes available.
Questions
Contact the Benefits Office at benefits@ohio.edu or 740 593 1636.
This was emailed to employees on 4/29/2026.