A proposal from the Faculty Senate Staff and Benefits Committee resulted, in 1996, in institution of the postretirement service program for tenured faculty. Under the program, a means of phasing into retirement was provided. The faculty member retired and retained the eligibility for retiree insurance, paid by UT. The retired faculty could teach 15 semester hours or work 800 noninstructional hours (or a combination) with guaranteed four years of part-time work after retirement. The board of trustees approved the program at its June 1996 meeting, and the program went into effect on August 1, 1996.