Retirement Plans

SPU provides two avenues in planning for retirement: the Defined Contribution Plan 401(a), where SPU contributes on your behalf based on your earnings, and the Employee Savings Plan 403(b), where you contribute up to the IRS maximum limit. Please visit their respective pages to learn more about the two plan options.

To ensure that any retirement plan contributions are entered timely, Transamerica should be contacted by the first of the month prior to the month in which you would like the contribution change to be effective. This allows the change to be made in the Transamerica system and for their reporting to reach SPU in time for the change to be made prior to the SPU payroll deadline of the tenth of the month prior.

Table of Contents:

Plan Changes effective 7.1.2023

July 1, 2023 Changes to the Defined Contribution Plan, 401a

NEW Provisions: Employer Contribution Rate, Eligibility, and Vesting Provisions –

Effective July 1, 2023

Effective July 1, 2023, the Plan is amended to provide the following:

Employer Contribution Rate: If you are an Active Participant in the Plan (as defined in the Plan and the SPD), you will receive (a) an Employer base contribution of 7% of eligible compensation plus (b) an additional contribution of 5.7% of eligible compensation in excess of 100% of the Social Security Wage Base (if applicable). This 7% Employer base contribution rate is a reduction from the current 9% contribution rate.
Eligibility: If you are employed by the University in an eligible employment category, you will become eligible to participate in the Plan immediately following the later of your date of hire or attainment of age 21. You will be enrolled in the Plan on the Enrollment Date (which is changing to the first day of each payroll period) that is administratively practicable on or after your completion of the eligibility requirements. This is an improvement from the current one Year of Service requirement and better aligns with the provisions of the retirement plans of other higher education organizations.
Vesting: If you complete at least one hour of service with the University on or after July 1, 2023, you will become 100% vested in your Employer Contributions. Future Employer Contributions made to the Plan will also be 100% vested. This means you will vest in Employer contributions immediately, instead of vesting gradually over a 2-to-6-year period. This is an improvement from the current provisions and better aligns with the provisions of the retirement plans of other higher education organizations.

For More Information

Please see the SPD for more information, including definitions of the capitalized defined terms used in this SMM.

If you would like another copy of the Summary Plan Description (SPD) or if you have questions about these changes, please contact Human Resources at 206-281-2809 or hr@spu.edu.

Past Provisions: Employer Contribution Rate, Eligibility, and Vesting Provisions – Prior to July 1, 2023

Prior to July 1, 2023, the Plan provided for the following:

Employer Contribution Rate: If you are an Active Participant (as defined in the Plan and the SPD), you are eligible for (a) an Employer base contribution of 9% of eligible compensation plus (b) an additional contribution of 5.7% of eligible compensation in excess of 100% of the Social Security Wage Base (if applicable).
Eligibility: If you are employed by Seattle Pacific University (the “University”) in an eligible employment category, you become eligible for the Plan upon the later of completing one Year of Service and reaching age 21. You are enrolled in the Plan on the quarterly Enrollment Date (July 1, October 1, January 1, or April 1) that coincides with or follows your completion of the eligibility requirements.
Vesting: You vest (earn ownership rights) in any Employer contributions over a 6-year vesting period. After you complete 2 Years of Service for vesting purposes, you are 20% vested in your Employer contributions. Then, for each additional Year of Service, you become another 20% vested, until you are 100% vested after 6 Years of Service.

Transamerica Contact Information