You can enroll online directly with Fidelity. Simply follow the instructions below.

1. Visit: NetBenefits.com and click the Enroll box.

2. Account Setup: Provide us with your personal information.

3. User Registration: Select a User Name and Password to access your account online and/or Log On.

The University has a required pre-tax employee contribution rate of 5%. You may increase or decrease your pre-tax contribution rate at any time but may not decrease your pre-tax contribution rate below the minimum required rate of 5%.

A Roth contribution to your retirement savings plan allows you to make after-tax contributions and take any associated earnings completely tax free at retirement - as long as the distribution is a qualified one. A qualified distribution, in this case, is one that is taken five tax years after the year of your first Roth contribution and also after you have reached age 59½, become disabled, or died.

Through automatic payroll contributions, you can contribute between 1% and 100% of your eligible pay as designated Roth contributions, up to the annual IRS dollar limits.

Unlike a Roth IRA, there are no income limits to be eligible for a Roth 403(b) option within an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Generally, a Roth contribution may be beneficial if you expect your tax rate in retirement will be higher than it had been during the years you contributed.

As long as you have reached or will reach age 50 by year end and are making the maximum plan or IRS contribution, you may make an additional catch-up contribution each pay period. Going forward, catch-up contribution limits will be subject to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) in $500 increments.

If you have 15 years or more of work experience and have contributed less than $5,000 a year, on average, to your retirement savings plan, you may be able to make additional lifetime catch-up contributions to your plan, allowing you to contribute up to a maximum of $3,000 per year, up to a maximum lifetime benefit of $15,000. Please note, in order to receive the maximum benefit from the age 50 and lifetime catch-up contributions, the lifetime catch-up limit for a calendar year ($3,000) must be used before the Age 50+ Catch-up is applied. Please consult your tax advisor for additional information.

The University will contribute an amount equal to 5% of your regular salary. The University will also match any contributions you make over 5% up to a maximum employer contribution of 10%. Contributions are subject to IRS limits.

When you are "vested" in your savings, it effectively means the money is yours to keep. You are always 100% vested in all contributions you make to your plan, as well as any earnings on them.

The University's contributions are 100% vested after 24 consecutive months of service in a benefits eligible position for employees hired on or after July 1, 2016. For employees hired before July 1, 2016, the University's contributions will be 100% vested after 12 consecutive months of service in a benefits eligible position.

If you have not already selected your beneficiaries, or if you have experienced a life-changing event such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or a death in the family, it’s time to consider your beneficiary designations. Fidelity’s Online Beneficiaries Service offers a straightforward, convenient process that takes just minutes. To make your elections, click on the “Profile” link, then select “Beneficiaries” and follow the online instructions.

You are generally allowed to withdraw money from your plan when you leave your employer, retire or become permanently disabled. Withdrawals may be subject to income taxes and, if they occur prior to you becoming age 59½, a 10% early withdrawal tax penalty may apply.

For more information, call the Fidelity Retirement Services Center at 1-800-343-0860.

Although your plan account is intended for the future, you may borrow from your account for any reason. Generally, Plan rules allow you to borrow up to 50% of your contributions only.

The minimum loan amount is $1,000, and a loan must not exceed $50,000. Any outstanding loan balances from the previous 12 months may reduce the amount you have available to borrow. You then pay the money back into your account, plus interest, through ACH deductions from your bank account.

You may have two loans outstanding at a time. The cost to initiate a loan is $25, and there is a quarterly maintenance fee of $3.25. The initiation and maintenance fees are deducted directly from your plan account.

Note: If you fail to repay your loan (based on the original terms of the loan), it will be considered in "default" and treated as a distribution, making it subject to income tax and possibly to a 10% early withdrawal tax penalty. Defaulted loans may also impact your eligibility to request additional loans.

If you have retirement savings in another employer's plan or in an IRA, consolidating accounts may help make it easier to manage your savings but there are several options. Be sure to consider all your available options and the applicable fees and features of each before moving your retirement assets.

Online, on the phone, or in person, you have access to your account the way you want it. Log in online to NetBenefits^® virtually 24/7 or call Fidelity at 1-800-343-0860 to speak with a representative or use the automated voice response system.

Fidelity financial professionals provide complimentary one-on-one consultations for participants in your plan. You can also contact Fidelity for a statement of your account by calling 1-800-343-0860 or visiting NetBenefits^®.

If you would like a copy of the complete plan document, please contact your local human resources.