Telephone Enrollment in Mississippi Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)


From a July 2, 1999 letter from Steven T. Gold, Senior Institutional Consultant, TIAA-CREF, to Pamela Maynard,
Human Resource Generalist, The University of Mississippi TIAA-CREF will allow University of Mississippi employees
to enroll in the Mississippi Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) over the telephone. This enhanced service is currently
operating at two other institutions nationwide, and it has been well received. The ability to complete an application
over the telephone is permitted since the Mississippi ORP is based on a Group Retirement Annuity and requires
no participant signature. The telephone enrollment number is:

(888) 842-5350
Representatives will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST.

The Department of Human Resources will receive a copy of the completed application within a few days after the
participant enrolls over the telephone. If the participant has not received a prospectus prior to enrolling over the
telephone, the participant will either obtain an ORP kit in the Department of Human Resources or request a kit
from TIAA-CREF. The participant will complete all other required forms such as the ORP Election/Vendor Selection
form and return them to the appropriate individual in Human Resources. These forms cannot be completed over the
telephone since they require the employee's signature.