Note: This is the first of a planned series of RFSA Newsletters which will be issued occasionally as needed to communicate information of interest to our membership. These newsletters will be archived on our web site, http://www.txstate.edu/rfsa/

Honors and Benefits for Retired Faculty and Staff

A revised version of UPPS No. 04.04.53, Honors and Benefits for Retired Faculty and Staff, was approved by the President's Cabinet on 4/16/07. Although not yet formally promulgated, the revised policy makes significant changes from the previous issue.

Following is a summary the of changes from prior policy:

Parking: Fully retired faculty and staff will continue to be eligible for complimentary restricted parking decals; faculty on modified or phased retirement will now pay the same fee as full-time faculty.

Athletic Tickets: Retirees who have received free season athletic tickets in the past will continue to receive them. If such tickets are not claimed in any year, this privilege will be lost.

Retirees may buy general admission football tickets at the same price as full-time faculty and staff.

Retirees will receive complimentary general admission tickets to all athletic events other than football by presenting their University ID cards at the gate.

Retirees may buy reserved season tickets for all sports events at the same price as full-time faculty and staff.

Recreation Center: Retirees are no longer eligible for free membership at the Student Recreation Center; they may buy memberships at the same rate as full-time faculty.

There are a number of new provisions in the policy, suggested by RFSA, designed to improve communication between retirees and the University and to build mutually beneficial relationships. These are all optional, of course, to the individual retiree.

Communication: Inclusion of interested retirees on university, school/college, and departmental email distribution lists.

Participation: Eligibility to serve on thesis, dissertation, departmental, school, and university committees and an invitation to march at graduation.

Education: Free informal auditing of classes when space is available with permission of instructor and department.

Identification: Listing of retiree names in the Catalog, Faculty/Staff Directory, and www.txstate.edu via the People Search.

For the history of the evolution of this new policy over the last nine months and the full text of the new policy see http://www.txstate.edu/rfsa/perks.html.

Other Perks

Other perquisites which could save retirees some money are featured on the Staff Council’s web site at http://www.staffcouncil.txstate.edu/services/perks.html. This page provides lists of discounts which are available to holders of University ID cards by vendors in this area arranged in the following categories: Automotive, Entertainment, Facilities, Finance, Floral, Fitness & Health, Recreation, Residential, Restaurants, Retail, Services, Technology, Theme Parks, and Travel.

About RFSA

The Retired Faculty and Staff Association is a new organization at Texas State dedicated to advancing the interests of retired faculty and staff and to improving communication between retirees and the University. As of May 17 we had ninety-five members. We are currently governed by an Organizing Committee of about fifteen people but have begun the process of drafting a permanent constitution. Vice-President Becky Prince, and her University Advancement staff are providing us with invaluable support.
 
Retired faculty, retired staff, and surviving spouses of retired faculty and staff are eligible to join RFSA. All that is required at present to become a member is to send us a membership form which may be downloaded from http://www.txstate.edu/rfsa/membership.html. Retirees who do not use the computer may request a membership form by calling (512)392-4175.

Please share this Newsletter with friends who you think might be interested in our organization.