Staff to Faculty Conversions

Staff employees who convert to a faculty position will have benefit choices to make relating to their retirement plan and sick leave plan. These choices will be specific to which type of faculty position the employee is converting to (regular, restricted, calendar year, academic year).

• Employees who would like to discuss their options with a representative from the Department of Human Resources before accepting a faculty position will need to know if the position is 12-month (calendar year) or 9-month (academic year), and how the appointment is defined (administrative/professional, teaching and research or research). The employee will also need to know if it is a regular or restricted position.
• Converting employees can remain in the Virginia Retirement System or move to an Optional Retirement Plan. Those who choose to remain in the Virginia Retirement System can elect to remain in the sick leave plan they are currently covered under, or convert to the Faculty Sick Leave Plan that relates to the position they will be converting to.
• Employees who convert to the Optional Retirement Plan must convert their sick leave plan that relates to the faculty position they will convert to.
• Pay out of annual or sick leave will depend on the type of faculty position the employee is currently enrolled in and the type of faculty position they will convert to.
• Staff employees who convert to a faculty position will start to earn annual leave at the rate associated with their years of service and their new faculty position.

For specific information on staff to faculty conversions, contact:

• Leave questions: Claudia Cornwell, 540-231-1237
• Retirement questions: Ann Cronley, 540-231-7777
  

Information for specific departments is available.