Simplifying your retirement contributions in Workday

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USC is making retirement planning easier! Beginning today through Dec. 12, faculty and staff in USC’s Basic Matched Plan will see their matched up-to-5% contribution and the flat dollar supplemental contribution appear as a single percentage contribution tile in Workday. This process update simplifies and makes it easier for you to determine your match contribution amount, is at no cost to you or the university, does not affect USC’s matching of up to 5% of your contribution, and better aligns USC with industry standards for retirement planning. There are no changes for 401(k) Plan participants, whose contribution set-up differs.

Action required between Dec. 1-12, 2025:

Update your matched and supplemental contributions to a single percentage. Instructions will appear in your Workday inbox on Dec. 1.

  1. Refer to the step-by-step guide (single sign-on with @usc.edu email address required to access).
  2. If no election is made, only your current match percentage (as of Nov. 15) will be applied in January 2026.
  3. Changes between Dec. 13-31  need to be made by USC Retirement Administration directly and not in Workday. Please email the USC retirement department at rpadmin@usc.edu to make changes.
  4. From Jan. 1, 2026, you will update your contributions using a single percentage tile only.

Resources and tools:

  • Use this Calculator to calculate your optimal retirement contributions. Refer to the 403(b) Calculator Guide for steps on how to use the calculator. Note: This a 401(k) Match Calculator but it can also be used to calculate your 403(b) contributions, given that both are retirement programs.
  • The IRS maximum contributions for 2026 are here. If you need assistance calculating your IRS maximum allowable contribution, please schedule a meeting with Retirement Administration using this booking link.

Reminders:

  1. USC matches up to 5% of contributions; excess contributions are not matched.
  2. You can update your retirement contributions at any time.

If you have questions, please email Retirement Administration at rpadmin@usc.edu.