<p>Okay so my dad was a part-time instructor at a university for a few years after he earned his PhD, but he now works for a company unaffiliated with that school.
Would that count as "retired from university" even though he is still employed, although not by the university?</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>No, he’s not retired from the university. If you are unsure of the university’s definition of retirement, contact the university.</p>
<p>I am pretty sure it wouldn’t. Retired likely means “worked until retirement age” or “worked until eligible to retire with pension from the university”. It doesn’t mean a few years there as a post-doc. That makes him a former university employee, but not one retired from the university.</p>