This FAQ page contains general information for faculty who are considering retiring from Lehigh. See also the Resigning or Retiring from Lehigh page. 

How do I begin the retirement process? 

While it is not required, as a first step, we recommend that you consult with the Deputy Provost for Faculty Affairs (DPFA). The DPFA can discuss your plans for retirement, answer any questions that you have, and discuss next steps. We also encourage you to contact Human Resources to discuss benefits. You are, of course, also free to discuss your retirement with your Chair, Dean, and anyone else you’d like.

What does the process look like after that?

After you meet with the DPFA (assuming you choose to do so), and when you are ready to officially start the retirement process, send an email to the DPFA, cc’ing the Faculty Affairs Specialist, your Department Chair, and your Dean. Your email should indicate your planned retirement date, your planned exit leave semester (if any), and any other terms you wish to request or discuss.

If you are requesting an exit leave, you may include your request and justification in this email, or send it separately to the DPFA. (See “Am I eligible to request an exit leave?” below.)

Your Chair will reply-all with their recommendation (or any concerns they wish to raise), and your Dean will then do the same. Where necessary, the Provost's office will then draft an individualized retirement agreement, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel and Human Resources. The Provost’s office will send you an unofficial copy of that agreement for your review. You may review the agreement with professional advisors, such as an attorney or financial advisor, if you choose.

Your retirement agreement will spell out the terms of your retirement at the university level. Any arrangements that you have made with your department or college will not be reflected in that agreement. You are welcome to request those arrangements in writing from your Chair or Dean, however.

Can I retire on any date?

Lehigh’s preferred end dates for faculty employment are June 30 or December 31. If those dates are used, the faculty member’s last paycheck will be on their end date, and the faculty member will receive salary and benefits through that date. If you wish to end your employment on a different date, please contact the Deputy Provost for Faculty Affairs to discuss the timing of your departure and how it affects your salary and benefits. 

How far in advance should I start the process?

In general, we ask that you start the process at least one year in advance. This will give your department and college adequate time to prepare for your retirement.

What will my retirement agreement look like? Can I review it?

Each retirement agreement reflects the terms of that individual faculty member’s retirement. Your retirement agreement will lay out the details specific to your retirement, including the timing of your retirement, and will otherwise clearly set forth the terms of your retirement, including important legal rights and obligations. The retirement agreement will also provide some general information about retiree benefits, purchase of equipment, etc. You will have time to review the agreement once the details have been confirmed, as discussed above.

What determines whether a faculty member retires “emeritus/emerita?”

A tenured faculty member who is a benefits-eligible retiree (as defined by Human Resources) retires as professor emeritus/a, per R&P 2.2.12. A faculty member who holds a faculty chair at the time they retire becomes emeritus/a in that professorship, per R&P 2.2.10.

Am I eligible to request an exit leave?

Tenured or tenure-track faculty members may request an exit leave if their last academic leave supported by university funds occurred more than 6 regular semesters (fall and spring) prior to their proposed exit leave semester. You may wish to take this into account when determining the timing of your retirement.

Exit leaves are not guaranteed. If approved, an exit leave comes immediately before your retirement date. For example, if your retirement date is December 31, then your exit leave would be during the Fall semester.

Like all university-paid leaves, the purpose of an exit leave is to provide a period of relief from specific faculty duties while providing a benefit to the university. Exit leaves are not automatically approved. When requesting an exit leave, you must describe your plans for what you will do during your leave and how this will provide significant benefit to the university. Typical activities during exit leaves include wrapping up and publishing the results of research projects, finalizing significant service activities as requested by the department or college, and improving  teaching materials at the request of the department so that they can be used by other instructors. Note that faculty members on exit leaves are required to participate in RPT reviews (e.g., voting on tenure cases, etc.) and may be requested to engage in other activities from time to time.

What benefits am I eligible for after retirement?

Please consult the Human Resources website for benefits-eligible retirees, and contact HR if you have additional questions. You may also wish to consult with your financial advisor.

Note that the university cannot guarantee that benefits for retirees will always be the same as they are on the date that you sign your agreement. If the university makes changes to those benefits, the changes will apply to you. 

What other privileges do I keep after I retire? 

Lehigh’s current policy is that benefits-eligible retirees retain the following privileges, subject to all applicable university policies:

  • Library: You will retain access to Lehigh libraries, including borrowing privileges for print books. Most electronic resources are not available to retirees.
  • Computing: Some computing privileges remain as-is for retirees, others change, and others end. ITS privileges for retirees are listed here. 
  • Lehigh Pass: Your Lehigh Pass will remain valid after your retirement, as outlined in these guidelines. However, by default, all building access will be revoked upon retirement. If you require continued building access, your department must send an email to IDEAL to request it.
  • Physical Keys: All keys issued by Lehigh University must be returned to the IDEAL office at 42 University Drive on or before your end date. You can do this in person during business hours or by using the after-hours key drop box. If you need to keep access to any physical keys, please have your department email IDEAL to request this.
  • Gym: You will continue to have access to Taylor Gym, as described here. 
  • Parking: You may purchase a parking permit after retirement, as described here. 

Note that the university cannot guarantee that privileges for retirees will always be the same as they are on the date that you sign your agreement. The university reserves the right to modify or eliminate such privileges at the university’s discretion. If the university makes changes to those privileges, the changes will apply to you. 

How can I retain full library and computing privileges?

Your department can request a sponsored account for you, which costs $150 per year. Sponsored accounts carry the same access as faculty/staff accounts. More information is on this page.

Will I have office space?

Office space is not guaranteed and depends on availability in your department and college. If you are provided a space, there is no guarantee that you will continue to have access to office space as needs change.

Can I continue to conduct research on campus at Lehigh?

Continuing to conduct research on campus may be possible on a case-by-case basis. If and when you engage in research as a retiree, you remain subject to all University policies applicable to the activity. If you wish to discuss continuing your research after retirement, you should contact your Department Chair and Dean’s office.

Can I act as a principal investigator on sponsored research grants or awards?

Retirees cannot serve as PI or Co-PI on a new proposal for a sponsored research award. However, retirees with active grants may, in some cases, be hired as a Research Scientist/Engineer/Scholar and serve as a PI or Co-PI under that role. These roles are staff positions and must be paid commensurate with effort. They are typically paid entirely from grant funds, rather than by the college or university. 

For more information about PI eligibility, see the Vice Provost for Research website. If you wish to discuss being hired into a research staff position after retirement, discuss this with your Department Chair and Dean’s office.

Can I continue to supervise my graduate student who is completing their PhD?

Per R&P 3.23.3, the chair of a doctoral committee must be a voting Lehigh faculty member. (Retirees are not voting members.) Therefore, you cannot chair a student’s committee after you retire.

However, you may be able to co-chair the committee: “In cases of transition, when a voting faculty member is chairing the committee at the time of their retirement, that faculty member may, with the approval of the college dean, continue as committee co-chair after retirement, serving with a newly appointed co-chair.” (R&P 3.23.3)

Can I supervise an undergraduate student’s research or internship?

No. To supervise undergraduate research or internships, you must be the instructor of record, and only active faculty members can be instructor of record. However, you can be a co-advisor or supervisor with another faculty member acting as instructor of record. 

Can I purchase a computer that was bought for me while working at Lehigh University?

If you choose to maintain possession of University purchased computer equipment, you will be responsible for removing all confidential Lehigh University information (data in Classes I, II, and III) as defined by the University’s Classification of Data Policy, including FERPA-protected student information, from the equipment. You must also request that ITS estimate the value of the equipment by contacting the Assistant Director for ITS Client Services. If the equipment is valued at an amount higher than $1,000, you will be expected to reimburse the university the difference between the valuation amount and $1,000. Any valuation amount of $1,000 or less will be considered income to you and the tax liability associated therewith will be deducted from your last University-issued paycheck.

Can I continue to use my discretionary account?

No. Only Lehigh employees can have access to or control over university funds. Any discretionary funds must be used while still an employee of the university.

Can I ever be employed by Lehigh again?

Although your retirement means that you have relinquished your tenure at Lehigh (per R&P 2.1.12), there are occasions when a retired faculty member might return to work for the university in a different capacity, such as teaching a class as an adjunct or serving in a staff research position. If you are interested in pursuing such a position, you should discuss it with your Department Chair and/or Dean.

We also recommend working with your financial advisor to determine whether any additional income will affect your Social Security benefits.