Last updated: 23.02.2022

The University of Galway Retired Staff Policy/Polasaí OÉ Gaillimh do Chomhaltaí Foirne ar Scor is the key document which defines the relationship between retired staff and the University.

The Policy, as updated in September 2020, can be  found on the Human Resources  website (Retirement page).

It can also be downloaded here: NUIG Retired Staff Policy/Polasaí OÉG do Chomhaltaí Foirne ar Scor Sept. 2020.

In Section 5 ('Benefits and Courtesies for Retired Staff/Buntáistí agus Cúirtéisí do Chomhaltaí Foirne ar Scor'), the Policy lists the services and facilities available to retired staff.

NB. The pages/tabs below are being revised (February 2022) to reflect changes in policy.

Benefits & Courtesies: overview of services/facilities listed in the policy statement, with additional practical details

Service Request Form: how to apply for three services/facilities which must be renewed annually: parking permit, Library e-resources, entry in Campus Directory. Note that the parking permit system was changed in September 2016.

ID Card: how to obtain/renew your ID card—needed for access to some facilities, e.g. the Library and computer suites

Email: how to re-establish your nuigalway.ie email address—needed to receive emails from the University about conferrings, lectures etc. Please note that, as of 2020, if you wish to receive emails from the Retired Staff Association you must give consent for them to be sent. See the Announcements page of this site for details.

Payslips: how to access the online payslips which have replaced the paper ones since October 2015.

Benefits & Courtesies

Below are the services/facilities offered to retired staff by the University, listed in the the order in which they appear in the University of Galway Retired Staff Policy document, under the title 'Benefits and Courtesies'. To most we have added some practical details about how to avail of the particular service/facility.

Retired Staff ID card

When you retire you should return your Staff ID card to Human Resources and request a Retired Staff ID Card. You will need this for access to computer suites, the Library, the Staff Club (card only needed after 5pm—see below Staff Club) and the shared office space rooms 103, 104 and 110, Riverside Terrapin, Distillery Road (see below Office/Laboratory Space). It is also needed to avail of the Staff Discount Scheme. For details of how to obtain your card, see the ID Card tab on this page.

See also the Human Resources’ page on Staff ID Cards, which covers cards for different categories of staff, including retired staff.

Computer suites

These are fully accessible to retired staff. You will need a current ID card—see the ID Card tab on this page for how to obtain this.

For information on the location and opening hours of computer suites click here.

Library access and privileges
  • Library access and most library privileges are available to retired staff.
  • To enter the Library you need a current ID card.
  • For off-campus access to Library e-resources you must apply annually to the Management Services Office, outlining your contribution to the University—see below. You can download the form here: Retired Staff Service Request Form .

The following information on Library access is taken from the Management Services Office, 'Access to Services and Facilities by Retired Staff', 19.01.2015.

'Access to Library online resources

         — on campus 

When on campus, retired staff can access online information resources by clicking ‘Sign in for Full Access’ on the Library homepage. You will be asked for your User ID and password: Your User ID and Password is the same as your University email account/log-in details—i.e. your payroll number, preceded by zeros if necessary to bring the total number of digits to seven, plus the letter ‘s’ (0012345s), and your password.

— off campus        

Retired staff members who continue to be research-active on behalf of the University, and who make a significant contribution to the work of the University, may request a one-year authorisation to access online Library resources when off campus. Such access is granted on condition that the resulting publication(s) are published with a University of Galway affiliation. To request off-campus access to online Library resources, the relevant section in the Retired Staff Service Request Form should be completed and returned to the Management Services Office.'

Membership of Retired Staff Association and Staff Club

Retired staff are entitled to membership of the Retired Staff Association.

Retired staff are Honorary members of the Staff Club. For a full list of its activities, see the Staff Club website. The Staff Club Committee in 2015 includes two members of retired staff.

As an Honorary member you can

- participate in Staff Club activities
- access its facilities: after 5 pm you will need a current ID card—see the ID Card tab on this page.
- avail of the NUI Galway Staff Discount Scheme.

Information about Staff Club events is frequently emailed to members, including retired staff who are on the email list maintained by the University. To be on this list you need an nuigalway.ie address. If you no longer have yours you can re-establish it by contacting ISS — see the Email tab on this page.

Information Solutions & Services (ISS) account

This gives ‘access to such ISS facilities as may be determined by the University from time to time.’ If your NUIG email address has lapsed please see the Email tab on this page. You will also need an ISS account to use IRIS (see under Continuing Work/Research.

Note: Retired staff whose work frequently brings them to universities abroad may find it useful to avail of Eduroam (Educational Roaming) which allows roaming educational users to access wifi automatically in many universities.

Email account

Retired staff may retain their university email address ‘under specified terms and conditions’. If yours has lapsed you can re-establish it by contacting ISS. For details see the Email tab on this page.

University Clubs and Societies

Retired staff are eligible to join University clubs and societies and participate in their events.

For a list of clubs see the Clubs website and for a list of Societies see the Societies website.

Publications online

Some of University of Galway's regular publications about the University are posted to retired staff.
The following are available online. For links see the Publications website.

Ollscéala, a quarterly staff newsletter
Cois Coiribe, an annual magazine for NUI Galway Alumni and Friends
President’s Report, contains highlights from the University over the previous year (in Irish and English)
University of Galway at a glance, a brochure containing some key facts and figures about the University
Dlíscéala, an annual magazine produced by the School of Law

Note: Research Matters, formerly published by the Research Office, has not appeared since 2014.

University Sports Centre, Kingfisher Club

Retired staff are entitled to membership of the Sports Centre at the staff rate. See the Kingfisher Club website.

Notification of events

The University maintains an email list of Retired Staff. 'All staff issuing notices in the University will be advised of the availability of the list in order that retired staff may be appropriately copied on relevant emails.' The University only sends email to universityofgalway.ie addresses. See the Email tab on this page.

Fee Concession scheme

Retired staff who were appointed prior to 1st October 1992 are entitled to the Fee Concession Scheme. The scheme also applies to their spouses and children.

A link to information about this scheme can be found under  Procedures and Policies Procedures and Policies  on the  Financial Accounting pages of the university website. See QA309 Staff/Pensioners Fee Concessions.

See also Further Education Policy (FEP) Scheme.

Title of Emeritus Professor or Emeritus Lecturer

This may be conferred at or after retirement by Údarás na hOllscoile on the recommendation of Academic Council, provided  the retired person ‘does not hold another office of a similar character’.

These titles do not entitle the bearer ‘to perform any administrative or executive function as a member of the Academic Council’, although they ‘shall be permitted to perform such administrative function’ as the President may occasionally request, subject to approval from Údarás na hOllscoile.

Office / laboratory space

There is no entitlement to office or laboratory space. However the policy document states that ‘Other policies may apply in circumstances where retired staff continue to make an active and significant contribution to the University’ and that ‘The University may at its discretion provide retired staff with limited office facilities.’

Currently (2015) shared office space is available in Rooms 103, 104 and 110 Riverside Terrapin, Distillery Road. This replaces the Retired Staff Facility formerly available in Áras na Coiribe. Information about the new facility and who to contact to arrange access can be found on the Buildings Office website: http://www.nuigalway.ie/buildings/retired-staff/ It remains a hot desk facility with internet access.

Parking permit

This is not an automatic right. However, the Retired Staff Policy states that ‘Other policies may apply in circumstances where retired staff continue to make an active and significant contribution to the University.’

Currently application for a permit must be made to the Management Services Office, justifying it on grounds of contribution the University’s work. You can download the appropriate form here: Retired Staff Service Request Form. See also the Service Request tab on this page.

Note that the parking permit system was changed in September 2016. For details of how to pay online see Parking Permits information.

Acting in the name of the University

This requires ‘the express written permission of the President.’ However, the NUI Galway Retired Staff Policy states that ‘Other policies may apply in circumstances where retired staff continue to make an active and significant contribution to the University.’

Stationery

Use of university headed stationery requires ‘the express written permission of the President.’ However, the Retired Staff Policy states that ‘Other policies may apply in circumstances where retired staff continue to make an active and significant contribution to the University.’

Management of a University budget

This is not permitted. However, the Retired Staff Policy states that ‘Other policies may apply in circumstances where retired staff continue to make an active and significant contribution to the University.’

Service Requests

Three of the services/facilities listed in the Retired Staff Policy must be requested each year and are only available to retired staff who 'continue to make an active and significant contribution to the work of the University'. They are listed below. To apply for them you must fill out a form and have it signed by either the Dean of your College (academic/research staff) or the relevant UMT member (support staff). On this form you are asked to outline the contribution you are currently making to the University. You may request one or more of the three services and not necessarily all. The form should be returned to the Management Services Office.

Download the Retired Staff Service Request Form. Note that in September 2016 the parking permit system was changed. For details and online payment see Parking Permit Information.

The details below are taken verbatim from the Management Services Office, 'Access to University Services by Retired Staff', 19.01.2015.

'Car parking permits (update)

Retired staff members who continue to make an active and significant contribution to the work of the University may request an annually-renewable parking permit on a concessionary basis. If you wish to request a car parking permit, please complete the relevant section of the Retired Staff Service Request Form.

If your request is successful, you will be required to access the online permit system on the Buildings Office website and to pay for your permit using a credit card. This represents a change from the procedure heretofore and results from the automation of the parking system and the cessation of cash payment transactions.

Access to Library online resources off-campus  

Retired staff members who continue to be research-active on behalf of the University, and who make a significant contribution to the work of the University, may request a one-year authorisation to access online Library resources when off campus.  Such access is granted on condition that the resulting publication(s) are published with an NUI Galway affiliation. To request off-campus access to online Library resources, the relevant section in the Retired Staff Service Request Form should be completed and returned to the Management Services Office.

Campus Directory Entries for Retired Staff

Where retired staff continue to make an active and significant contribution to the work of the University, and where they are based on campus in the course of such work, they may be included in the Campus Directory, as instructed to the Management Services Office by their Head of School or Head of Unit, and in accordance with the normal directory amendment procedures.

To request the inclusion of your campus contact details in the Campus Directory, please complete the relevant section of the Retired Staff Service Request Form and return it to the Management Services Office.'

Retired Staff ID Card

This is required for access to a number of services, including the Library, computer suites, the Staff Club (after 5 pm) and the shared office space for retired staff in Room 103, Áras na Coiribe (see Office/Laboratory space on the Benefits & Services tab).

The information below is taken from the Management Services Office, 'Access to Services and Facilities by Retired Staff', 19.01.2015:

University of Galway retired staff are entitled to a Retired Staff Card. (...) If you wish to obtain a Retired Staff Card, please call to the HR Office with a passport photo and your card will be issued immediately. Or alternatively, email a jpeg passport photo to hr@universityofgalway.ie and it will be posted to you.

Email

The RSA will send you email to any address you send the Committee. However, you need an @nuigalway.ie email address to receive notifications from the University about a wide range of events.

The information below is taken from Management Services Office, 'Access to Services for Retired Staff', 19.01.2015.

'Email address

All NUI Galway retired staff have a Campus Account, which provides you with access to Email, PC Suites, NUIG WiFi, Library systems, Blackbord, IRIS, etc.

Your @universityofgalway.ie email address is also available to you. When this email address is activated, it is added to the Retired Staff Email Distribution List. The University uses this distribution list to inform retired staff of upcoming University events, such as conferrings, honorary conferrings, exhibitions, concerts, etc.

To access your email account, when you are off-campus, use the Staff eMail facility (OWA), listed under IT Services on the Staff web page.

Your User name is your Staff ID number. It is derived from your staff/payroll number. The format is 7 digits followed by s. If your staff/payroll number is less than 7 digits, zeros should be added at the beginning of the number, e.g. Staff/Payroll number = 12345, Staff login Username = 0012345s.

Your password is the same as that last used by you as an active staff member. You can have your password renewed by calling in person to the Library and IT Service Desk (in the Library foyer). Staff at the service desk will require verification of identity.

Your User name and Password are also your log-in details for other University services.

Email notifications of events

Notifications of student and staff deaths are emailed to retired staff, as a matter of routine, as is the weekly calendar of events, An Dialann.

In addition, the President’s Office and the Arts Office now copy retired staff on email notifications of events (such as conferring ceremonies, honorary conferrings, the President’s Address to All Staff, exhibitions, concerts, and other such events).

If you wish to receive such notifications, please ensure that you are on the Retired Staff Email Distribution List by activating your University email address (see details above).'

Online payslips

Last updated: 13.02.2024.

As of October 2015 printed payslips were no longer sent to retired staff. In Summer 2015 the Management Services Office posted documentation to retired staff explaining how to access certain services, including payslips online. Current instructions are available on the Payroll Office's website.

Retired members who might have difficulty accessing or viewing their payslips online may request the Payroll Office to continue to send them paper payslips.

Retired staff who did not retain a Campus account and universityofgalway.ie address should contact the Payroll Office to resolve any difficulties of access.

Retired staff who have a Campus Account and nuigalway.ie email address  should be able to access their payslips online by following the steps outlined by the Payroll Office. Below is a summary of the necessary steps.

  • Retired staff must login to Core Portal online at https://ess.nuigalway.ie using their Campus Account credentials (i.e. username and password that you use for your NUIG email account). If you have any issues with your Campus Account credentials you are invited to contact the ISS Service Desk .
    Note: you must begin by accessing the Online Payslips (Employee Self Service) website above. Simply inputting https://ess.nuigalway.ie in the address line of your browser does not usually work.
  • When you have entered the Core portal you can click on ‘Display Pay Summary’ to see your pay details. You will be asked to confirm your password and should input your Campus Account password.
  • Options include viewing your payslip in Irish and viewing your pay history.