Pitt and TIAA are 2019 Eddy Award winners

Pitt wins 2019 Eddy Award; Pictured (left to right): Greg Scott (Senior Vice Chancellor, Business & Operations), John Kozar (Assistant Vice Chancellor, OHR), Nichole Dwyer (Communications Manager, OHR), and Cheryl Johnson (Vice Chancellor, OHR)

Pictured, left to right: Greg Scott (Senior Vice Chancellor, Business & Operations), John Kozar (Assistant Vice Chancellor, OHR), Nichole Dwyer (Communications Manager, OHR), and Cheryl Johnson (Vice Chancellor, OHR)

The Office of Human Resources is thrilled to announce that the University of Pittsburgh, in partnership with TIAA, are the first place winners of the 2019 Eddy Awards in the "Plan Transitions" category. Pitt was recognized for the implementation and communication efforts in the 2017-2018 updates to the University's Retirement Savings Plan. The "Plan Transitions" category honors select organizations for their investment education and communication materials for employees eligible to participate in a retirement plan and/or are impacted by plan changes.

In August of 2017, Pitt and TIAA launched a comprehensive communication strategy to introduce a streamlined investment menu, a new self-directed brokerage account option, and a new 457(b) Plan for the University’s Retirement Savings Plan. In addition, a new brand identity for the Retirement Savings Plan, “Write your own financial story: Prepare for the future you imagine” was created and included in this strategy. Notably, the judges for the Eddy Awards praised Pitt for the inclusion of employee stories to highlight financial lessons.

Since 1995, the Eddy Awards, sponsored by Pensions & Investments, have recognized best practices by plan sponsors and service providers that offer investment education to defined contribution plans. This year's winners were announced at Pensions & Investments' annual East Coast Defined Contribution Conference on March 10-12, 2019. Pitt joins 66 defined contribution communication campaigns that were honored for their efforts to motivate and educate participants.

We are proud that Pensions & Investments has recognized the University's distinguishable efforts and commitment to educate participants about key financial decisions and how the Retirement Savings Plan could help them address their personalized needs and goals.