University Staff HR Plan
Highlights Include:
Leave & Benefits
- University Staff Leave combines three types of leave (annual, sick, and family/personal) into one flexible leave type to use as you wish
- Features faster accruals than the state’s
- All leave is awarded up front at the beginning of the leave year
- Offers a yearly cash-out (at 50%) for unused leave over the “carry-forward” limit
- Exempt staff who switch are eligible to change retirement to the ORP
- Exempt staff have greater flexibility when tracking leave (four hours or more instead of 15 minute increments)
- University Staff earning less than $42,000 get a Supplemental Benefit Credit of $450 to offset their payroll deductions
- Part-timers get a subsidy toward health care costs
Compensation
- Compensation is based on market-relevant salary ranges
- Easier to reward employees than in the Classified system
- University Staff are eligible for increases based on performance
- University Staff who gain new skills and use them on the job can receive bonuses, raises, and promotions
- There are no caps on increases when University Staff are promoted or change jobs
Career Development
- Career paths outline different options for career progression at the University
- Promotions through career paths are available only to University Staff
Performance
- New rating scale and tools provide better ways to recognize outstanding performance
What Did We Keep?
The Plan offers state-of-the-art human resources policies and programs for a vibrant, engaged workforce. At the same time, the plan preserves those policies and core values that have made us a stable employer. For example:
- Employees in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) keep the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP) and its short term disability benefit
- Standards of Conduct and the right to pursue grievance procedures remain the same for University Staff as for Classified
- Other leave types remain the same, as do holidays awarded by the president of the University
- Your full term of both Classified and University Staff service will be considered for leave accrual, probationary periods, transfers to other state agencies, layoffs, seniority, and service awards