Retirement plans for eligible Classified Staff are available through the Public Employees Retirement Systems (PERS) program operated by the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). There are two plans available: PERS Plan 2 or PERS Plan 3.  

PERS Plan 2 is a pension plan in which you and your employer both contribute. The main reasons customers choose Plan 2 are simplicity and low risk. Plan 2 customers qualify for a pension after 5 years of service.

Plan 3 has two parts – a pension and an investment. You contribute to the investment. Your employer funds the pension. The main reasons customers choose Plan 3 are control and growth potential.

Please review the resources available on the DRS Plan Choice website to aid in your decision. The  website allows you to see plan details side-by-side.  

• Employees have 90 days from their start date to make a selection, and PERS plan enrollments are final. Retirement elections cannot be changed while you are employed at Seattle Colleges, and PERS elections may follow you through your career at other Washington State employers.
• Employees who do not submit their DRS election form by the due date will be automatically enrolled into the DRS PERS Plan 2. 

Retirement plans for eligible professional staff are the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) Plan 3 or the State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP).  

Administered by TIAA, the State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP) is a tax-deferred defined contribution 401(a) plan that helps you save for retirement. Eligible employees can start participating in the SBRP on their first day of employment in an eligible appointment.

Your employer helps you save even more for retirement by providing 100 percent matching funds to your contributions. Both the employer and employee contributions are immediately vested, and the plan is 100 percent portable if you move between participating employers or leave the community and technical college system.

• Employees have 30 days from their start date to make a selection, and plan enrollment into is final. Retirement elections cannot be changed while you are employed at Western and PERS elections may follow you through your career at other Washington State employers.
• Employees who do not submit their retirement election form by the due date will be automatically enrolled into the SBRP plan. 

Retirement plans for eligible faculty members are the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) Teachers Retirement System (TRS) Plan 3 or the State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP). (TRS Plan 3 has the same characteristics as PERS Plan 3.)

• Employees have 30 days from their start date to make a selection, and plan enrollment into is final. Retirement elections cannot be changed while you are employed at Western and TRS elections may follow you through your career as a faculty member at other Washington State employers.
• Employees who do not submit their retirement election form by the due date will be automatically enrolled into the SBRP plan.