Retirment Celebration Guidelines
- Josh Olson
Retirement is defined as meeting the age requirements necessary for taking retirement benefits and choosing to end employment at Bethel.
To celebrate an upcoming retirement and to use department &/or university funds to recognize a staff or faculty employee who is retiring from Bethel University, the retiree may choose one of two options: a luncheon with their immediate team/department members or participation in a group retirement open house.
Guidelines:
Team luncheons may occur on or off campus.
Group Retirement Open Houses will occur on campus.
Up to two group Open Houses will be held in the spring.
The number of open houses will depend on the number of retirees each year.
Faculty or staff who retire in the fall, are welcome to participate in the spring Open House.
Employees who are benefits-eligible qualify for a Bethel-funded retirement party and gift. To use institutional funds for an employee who is not benefits-eligible requires approval from a member of the cabinet.
A department budget may be used to fund a retirement luncheon for the immediate team or contribute to the group open house. See chart below for guidance on spending.
Up to $200 may be used from a department budget to purchase a tangible gift such as a book or watch. Gifts cannot be cash, checks, or gift cards.
To use institutional funds over and above the guidelines requires a cabinet member’s approval. Otherwise, any expenses over and above the guidelines must be financed personally.
Process:
The employee and their supervisor or department chair should discuss and decide what type of event is desired: either the immediate department/office luncheon or participation in the group retirement Open House.
Option One: If the retiring employee selects the department/office lunch, the supervisor will schedule and implement the luncheon.
Option Two: If the retiring employee selects the group retirement Open House, the supervisor will need to reach out to the Director of Culture and Wellbeing in OPC to begin the planning process. Please contact OPC by March 1 each year in order to have an accurate count for planning purposes.
Option One: Team/Dept Luncheon Max $ allocated from department budget for team/office luncheon | Option Two: Group Open House Each department will be asked to contribute the following from their budget to assist with the cost of the group event* | Gift guidelines: Max $ allocated from department budget for retirement gift |
$250/retiree | $250/retiree | $200/retiree |
| *OPC will be substantially subsidizing the cost of these events |
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(last revised November 2024 | effective February 1, 2025)