Posted: Wednesday, April 1, 2026

The State University of New York (SUNY) provides employees with the opportunity to save for their retirement through the SUNY Voluntary 403(b) Savings Plan. Participation in the SUNY Voluntary Savings Plan is a great way to build your retirement savings through pre-tax or post-tax payroll deduction contributions.

Whether you want to enroll in the plan for the first time or you are already enrolled but wish to change the amount of your deferral, you can do so through the SUNY "Retirement At Work" online enrollment and management system. For more information, please contact the Employee Benefits Office at benefits@buffalostate.edu or (716) 878-3042 or visit the SUNY Benefits website.

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Eligibility
All employees of SUNY who receive compensation reportable on an IRS form W-2 are eligible to participate in the plan.

Please take a moment to review the plan materials before enrolling. Once you are enrolled, you can review and change the amount of your contributions as often as once per pay period, in accordance with campus payroll deadlines for submitting changes, through the SUNY "Retirement At Work" online enrollment and management system.

The exact date that your investment allocations will take effect may vary depending on payroll system deadlines and the policies of the investment provider you chose for plan contributions.

In addition to the SUNY 403(b) Plan, the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP) also provides a way for you to contribute to a retirement account on both a pre-tax (traditional) and post-tax (Roth) basis through payroll deduction.

Through the pre-tax options (traditional), your contributions plus earnings are not taxed until you withdraw the funds. Distributions are considered ordinary income for tax purposes.

Through the post-tax (Roth) option, your contributions are taxed at the time you make them. Earnings are income tax-free upon qualified distribution if you are 59-1/2 (for the 403(b) plan) or separated from service (for both 403(b) and 457 plans) and it has been at least five taxable years since the initial Roth deposit.

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How Much Can I Contribute?
For 2026, the standard contribution is up to $24,500 per year. 

Individuals age 50 or older in 2026 can contribute an additional $8,000* above the standard contribution, for a maximum of $32,500. 

Individuals age 60–63 (at the end of the calendar year), can contribute an additional $11,250* above the standard contribution, for a maximum of $35,750.

*2025 FICA earnings $150,000 and over, beginning in 2026 ALL catch-up contributions must be Roth (after-tax).

Each participant is limited to these maximum contribution amounts for all 403(b) and 457 plans, respectively. SUNY employees are able to maximize contributions to both the SUNY 403(b) Plan and the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (457) concurrently; however, if you also participate in a 403(b) or 457 plan with another employer, you are responsible for tracking and reporting the amount of all of your contributions to the plans so that the total amount of all your annual contributions to all plans in which you participate does not exceed the limit. Deferred Compensation (457) plans may also offer, for eligible participants, the Special Retirement Catch-up Provision for contributions within three years of your elected normal retirement age.

A special limit may apply to your contributions if you “control” (meaning you have more than a 50 percent ownership interest) in another business and you participate in its retirement plan. In determining the annual limit for all contributions described above, you must include all contributions made on your behalf under any defined contribution plans maintained by the other business that you control. You are required to inform the Benefits Office if this situation applies to you. Failure to do so can result in adverse tax consequences to you.

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What Are My Savings Options?
There are several plan options and investment providers to choose from through the SUNY 403(b) Plan. NYS Deferred Compensation Plan also offers its own investment options. Authorized investment providers offer a wide choice of investment options, including stock, bond, and guaranteed funds. Each provider offers individual counseling and assistance on investment information and can review the pre- and post-tax contribution options to best meet your retirement planning needs.

The following authorized plans and investment providers are available to you within the SUNY 403(b) Plan:

Corebridge Financial (formerly, AIG Retirement Services)
(800) 448-2542 or (888) 569-7055
https://www.corebridgefinancial.com/rs/suny/home

Fidelity Investments (403(b)(7) Mutual Funds)
(844) FOR-SUNY (844) 367-7869
www.netbenefits.com/SUNY

Teachers Insurance Annuity Associate (TIAA)
(800) 662-7945
www.tiaa.org/suny

Voya Financial
(800) 584-6001
https://suny.beready2retire.com/

NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (457)
(800) 422-8463
www.nysdcp.com

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What Do I Need to Do?
If you wish to enroll or change your enrollment in the NYS Deferred Compensation Plan (NYSDCP), you must contact NYSDCP directly.

If you are currently enrolled and wish to contribute the same biweekly amount in 2026, no action on your part is necessary unless you are currently contributing additional moneys under the “age 50” rule outlined above. Please check your pay stub to be sure your current biweekly contribution for 403(b) deductions with any investment providers with whom you are investing multiplied by the number of remaining pay periods in the year does not exceed the allowable limit. Please be mindful that if you made a change mid-year, you must make sure that your current biweekly amount will result in the correct annual amount you want deferred for 2026.

Please note that if you elect to contribute a flat dollar amount that exceeds the amount available in your net pay, a partial deduction will be made, equal to the amount of net pay available. This will result in a $0 net pay check.

Making Changes:

To change the amount you are now contributing, please use the SUNY "Retirement At Work" online enrollment and management system. For assistance with this process or if you have questions, please contact the Benefits Office (benefits@buffalostate.edu). 

Resources:

Enroll: http://www.tiaa.org/public/pdf/SUNY_MVC_TDA_Guide_Enrollment_Guide.pdf

Change your contribution: http://www.tiaa.org/public/pdf/SUNY_MVC_Making_Account_Changes_Guide.pdf

Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

The annual Option Transfer Period—the time to choose the health insurance option you want for 2026, is December 1 through December 31, 2025. The New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) offers employees the choice of the Empire Plan or a NYSHIP-approved health maintenance organization (HMO) serving the area where they live or work.

The Health Insurance Choices 2026 booklet explains the available NYSHIP options if you are considering changing your health insurance option for 2026 or wish to review your current option. You can find the "Choices" booklet and other option transfer publications on the NYSHIP Online website. Login under “New York State Active Employees”, select your group and plan when prompted, then select Health Benefits and Option Transfer, and choose Rates and Health Plan Choices for the most up-to-date option transfer information.

There is also a 2026 Online NYSHIP Option Transfer Home Page with helpful information and tools.

A limited number of "Choices" booklets will also be available in the Benefits Office. Please call if you wish to receive a paper copy. Rate information will be sent directly to enrollees' homes. Information is also available on the Buffalo State University website.

Copies of the Summary of Benefits and Coverage for the individual health plans can be obtained by calling 877.769.7447, or by visiting the Employee Benefits Division Website to print or view a copy yourself. 

If you have coverage under another employer-sponsored health insurance program, you may be eligible to opt out of NYSHIP coverage in exchange for an incentive payment. If you are interested in participating in the Opt-Out Program for 2026, please contact the Employee Benefits Office. It is no longer necessary to re-enroll in the Opt-Out Program each year. No action is required for current Opt-Out enrollees who are still eligible and wish to remain in the program for 2026.

Except under limited circumstances, you cannot change options outside the annual Option Transfer Period, which ends on December 31, 2025.

Other changes permitted during the Option Transfer Period without a qualifying event:

• Change from family to individual coverage
• Voluntarily cancel your coverage
• Change your tax-election option (pre-tax to after-tax or after-tax to pre-tax)

To change your health insurance option during the Option Transfer Period, please return the completed and signed Health Insurance Transaction Form (PDF, 78 KB) to the Employee Benefits Office (Cleveland Hall 403) by end of business (5 pm) Wednesday, December 31. All paperwork must be dated between December 1 and December 31, the Option Transfer Period. You may also change your option online using MyNYSHIP.  All changes will be effective January 1, 2026.

No action is required if you wish to keep your current health insurance option.

If you have questions, please contact the Benefits Office, email: benefits@buffalostate.edu or by phone: 716-878-482.

Posted: Monday, December 1, 2025

The enrollment period for the 2026 Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) is now open and runs through Monday, December 8, 2025. PEP allows eligible CSEA, UUP, PEF, PBANYS, NYSCOPBA, and M/C employees to exchange previously accrued vacation or personal leave for a credit toward their biweekly New York State health insurance premium costs. Sick leave credits cannot be exchanged under this program.

Employees who participated in PEP for 2025 must file a new election form to enroll in the 2026 program. Details and enrollment forms can be found on the Human Resource Management website under Announcements.

To participate, eligible employees must file an election form with the Human Resource Management Office either in person at Cleveland Hall 403 or by email to benefits@buffalostate.edu, by close of business (5 p.m.) on Monday, December 8. 

For more information, please see the links below:

• General Program Overview
• CSEA/PEF/PBANYS/NYSCOPBA: Enrollment Form I Summary
• UUP/MC Enrollment Form with Summary

Posted: Monday, November 3, 2025

As per the Ethics Commission Reform Act of 2022, all New York State employees (including student employees) are required to complete ethics training every year. Please follow the directions below to enroll in and complete the 35-minute mandatory On-Demand (a.k.a. "Refresher") Ethics Training by November 30, 2025. To receive course credit you will be asked to enter, in the designated form fields, two code words that will appear at different times during the training. After you complete the course, you will receive an attendance confirmation email from ethics@public.govdelivery.com. Human Resources will be copied on this email; there's no need to forward it to HRM.

To enroll, go to: https://public.ethics.ny.gov/SETI/OndemandEthicsTraining

• Click blue "Start" button at the bottom of page
  • Agency: SUNY College at Buffalo
  • Employee ID: Your N number (see top left corner of your pay statement)
  • Name: Use your legal name
  • Business Email: Buffalo State email

Please refer to the Human Resource Management website for more details.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Erika Grande in Human Resource Management.

Posted: Friday, October 24, 2025

With local primary and general elections being held this year, now is a good time to review the state ethics rules regarding political activities.

Volunteering for Political Campaigns

State employees may volunteer for political campaigns as long as they follow the state ethics laws. Under Civil Service Law § 107, state offices may not be used for soliciting or collecting any political contributions. State officers and employees, and prospective employees, may not be questioned or asked about their political affiliation, whether they made any political contributions, or how they voted. No person can use their official state position to coerce, intimidate, or influence other state officers or employees for any political purpose, action, or contribution, or to interfere with any election.

The following political activities would violate the Code of Ethics in POL § 74:

·    Circulating a candidate’s nominating or designating petition within your office;

·    Printing or copying campaign materials using a work printer/copier;

·    Using your work computer (laptop or office) to produce campaign literature of any kind, including in support of or in opposition to a candidate or a ballot question; or

·    Using state internet connections or accounts to forward e-mail messages received from an electoral campaign, or someone supporting or opposing a candidate or ballot initiative, or to send campaign emails.

Volunteering to be a poll worker as a state employee

Are you planning to serve as a poll worker this election season? You may be able to! However, remember that a state officer or employee is not permitted to engage in any outside employment or professional activity that is in substantial conflict with their job.

·    If you are not a designated policymaker, then your agency’s rules and procedures will apply to your outside activities.

·    If you are a policymaker, then your agency’s rules and procedures, as well as COELIG’s regulations, will apply to your outside activities.

If you are unsure, check with your agency’s Ethics Officer, Jamie Warnes, AVP of Human Resource Management (warnesje@buffalostate.edu), before signing up.

Learn more about outside activities on the Commission's website or the Buffalo State University Ethics website.

Posted in The Daily on October 23, 2025

Annual performance evaluations for all professional and civil service employees are required by Buffalo State, SUNY, and state civil service policy as well as all collective bargaining unit agreements.

Interim President Durand has communicated to the campus community that she considers performance programs and evaluations to be a primary responsibility of all supervisors, and it is her expectation that these be done each year for all employees. We rely on supervisors to provide honest and constructive feedback to staff members to assist them in addressing any performance issues and to provide positive commentary where appropriate to motivate and encourage excellent performance. Supervisors should be aware that fulfilling this important responsibility will be considered in decisions to award discretionary increases, promotions, and other personnel actions.

The evaluation cycle for professional employees with permanent appointment and for Management Confidential employees is July 1–June 30 of each year, which aligns with the cycle for annual reports. The evaluation cycle for classified employees with permanent appointment is April 1–March 31 of each year. Human Resource Management tracks and records completed performance evaluations for all employees. If you need a copy of the performance documents on file, please reach out to your Vice President’s office.

Employees with probationary or term appointments should be evaluated on cycles beginning with the date of appointment. Human Resource Management will remind supervisors when evaluations or recommendations related to probationary and term appointments are required.

Evaluations should be based on a current performance program that clarifies job expectations and goals for the following year. Job descriptions should be reviewed each year and updated as appropriate. Please ensure that this information is current for your professional and civil service employees.

Managing employee performance with job descriptions, performance programs, and evaluations is an ongoing process of communication between a supervisor and an employee and provides an opportunity to address issues in a timely fashion and to more effectively foster employee development. By clarifying job expectations, responsibilities, and providing specific feedback, you enhance your staff's ability to be successful in their work and meet expected outcomes and goals.

Information and forms on the performance evaluation process is available on the Human Resource Management website.

On the BizLibrary home page you will find a playlist titled “For Supervisors: Performance Evaluation & Setting Goals”. These short videos provide guidance pertaining to performance management/evaluations and creating SMART goals.

As a reminder, The Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs shared information relating to the individual faculty and librarian report and the respective due date.

If you have questions or need assistance with employee evaluations, please contact Human Resource Management at hr@buffalostate.edu.

Thank you for your cooperation in this important process.

Posted in The Daily on June 3, 2025

Any employees who have been inactive on the State payroll for more than two pay periods will have their direct deposit deactivated by the Office of the State Comptroller. Employees returning who had direct deposit in previously semesters and whose information has not changed must request reactivation by submitting the Direct Deposit Reactivation Request Form via e-mail to the Payroll Office.

Buffalo State University participates in the New York State Direct Deposit Program. Through this program, employees may choose to have their net salary partially or entirely deposited directly, via electronic funds transfer, with any financial institution that can receive transactions through the automated clearinghouse system. To enroll, please bring completed original Direct Deposit Form to the Payroll Office in Cleveland Hall 408.

Please share this message with your returning students as well.

Posted in The Daily 8/31/2023

Human Resource Management is pleased to announce a Phased Retirement Program for eligible academic and professional employees. The program provides an opportunity for a phased approach to retirement, allowing employees to transition into retirement gradually, with a reduction in workload or obligation and commensurate reduction in pay. The program is voluntary and optional.

Program details, including eligibility requirements, the application, and the intent to resign for retirement template letter, are available on the Human Resource Management website.

Eligible employees should discuss the program with their chair or head of their department. Participation in the program is subject to review and approval of the President.

Please contact Human Resource Management with questions.

Posted in The Daily on 2/2/2023