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Introduction

The Board of Higher Education is the Plan Administrator of the Optional Retirement Program (ORP). The ORP is an alternative to the State Employees’ Retirement System that provides flexible and portable pension benefits for faculty and senior administrators at the Commonwealth’s public institutions of higher education.

There are many similarities and differences between ORP and the State Employees' Retirement System that should be considered prior to enrollment. The ORP provides additional benefits to participants, including long-term disability and group term life insurance.

Related Links
Information for campus benefits administrators [For Institutions]
Massachusetts State Board of Retirement
Optional Retirement Program summary plan description (.PDF)