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Benefits

A variety of benefits are available to permanent employees who contribute to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program ORP).

  • University contribution for employee coverage
  • Optional employee-paid spouse and dependent coverage
  • CVS Caremark
  • Unreduced retirement benefit with 30 years of service, age 60 with 25 years of service, age 65 with 5 years of service
  • Reduced retirement benefits at age 50 with at least 20 years of service, age 60 with a least 5 years of service
  • Death benefit after one year of membership service is equivalent to one year of salary, not less than $25,000, or more than $50,000
  • - SHRA staff, SAAO's and EHRA Faculty may choose to contribute to the Optional Retirement Program(ORP) instead of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement Fund

The University of North Carolina Optional Retirement Program (ORP) is an option or alternative to the North Carolina Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) for faculty and staff. Under the ORP, you control your investment choices, distribution methods, and retirement goals, whereas the State controls the investments under TSERS.

The University has authorized TIAA to offer investment products under the ORP. For more information about the authorized companies or their products, including investment options, services and fees, you should review the information on this website, as well as contact a company representative.

Saving outside of your pension in one of the NC supplemental plans is an important step in being "retirement ready" - meaning you can replace at least 80% of your pre-retirement income.   The NC 401(k) and NC 457 Plans and the NC 403(b) Program offer you a wide variety of tools designed to help you create a more secure retirement. Make the most of your Plan benefits.

For more information, please visit .

Deborah Rapetski
828.230.3655
deborah.rapetski@empower.com

  • Earning from 94 to 206 hours per year, based on service; pro rata basis for part-time employees
  • May be used for vacation, religious observance, adverse weather, other
  • Vacation leave in excess of 240 hours, on December 31 of each year, is converted to sick leave
  • 11 paid University holidays (announced annually)
  • Holiday premium pay and equal time off for certain University holiday work
  • Holiday Schedule
  • 96 hours earned each year; pro rata basis for part-time employees
  • Unlimited accumulation
  • May be used for the employee's illness or medical appointment, or for the illness or death of a relative as defined in policy
  • One month of retirement service credit allowed for each 20 days or portion of unused sick leave
  • Disability Income Plan of North Carolina
  • Short-term benefits after one year of membership service
  • Long-term benefits after five years of membership service
  • Membership open to employees and their family members
  • Checking and savings accounts; bank cards; loans
  • Payroll deduction for savings and repayment of loans

Full-time faculty and staff members who are eligible for membership in the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System or Optional Retirement Program are eligible to enroll in three (3) courses per academic year during Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters, subject to approval by the employee's supervisor and Human Resources.

Tuition Assistance

  • Recognizes aggregate State service of ten years or more for staff employees
  • Annual, lump-sum payment of 1.5 to 4.5 percent of annual salary, based on service
  • Available to eligible permanent, probationary, and temporary employees after 1 year service
  • Up to 12 weeks of leave available for birth and care of a newborn, care for an adopted child, care of a child, spouse, or parent with a serious health condition, or a personal serious health condition
  • Continuation of health insurance during leave period
  • Long-term and short-term available.
  • Additional pay when regularly scheduled to work during the covered hours for eligible employees
  • Accident Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Dependent Care Spending Account
  • Financial Planning
  • Health Care Spending Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Short-term & Long-term Disability: 
  • Vision
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Allows for up to four weeks (160) hours of paid parental leave for the birth parent for recuperation during the disability period for a newborn child; and
  • Allows for an additional four weeks (160) hours for both the birth and non-birth parent to care for and bond with an eligible child.
  • Covered employees utilizing approved leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care (or other legal) placement of a child that occurs on or after January 1, 2020 will be eligible for Paid Parental Leave.
  • To qualify, an employee must be full-time or part-time (half-time or more) in a permanent, probationary, or time-limited (benefits-eligible) position; have been continuously employed by the State of North Carolina for the immediate 12 months; and have been in pay status for at least 1,040 hours in the previous 12 month period.
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Faculty who are covered under University Policy #89 (Serious Illness and Disability Leave for Faculty) are not covered under the new Paid Parental Leave policy.

In recognition of the state's diverse needs for volunteers to support schools, communities, citizens, and non-profit organizations the UNCW Community Service Leave is designed to recognize the commitment of state employees to engage in volunteer service, paid time up to 24 hours per year may be granted for:

  • Involvement in a child's school
  • Tutoring and mentoring in schools (36 hours per year)
  • Volunteer activity in the schools or a community service organization
  • Volunteering in a state public university, community college system or state agency provided that it is outside of the employee's normal duties

Provides up to eight hours per year to eligible employees for a day of personal observance. This day of personal observance includes (but is not limited to) days of cultural or religious importance. The day used for Personal Observance Leave does not have to be a day from the employee’s own religious or cultural background. 

Provides up to forty (40) hours of paid leave for bereavement following the death of an immediate family member. “Immediate family” follows the definition used in the sick leave policy, which includes, spouse, parent, child, grandparent or grandchild, siblings, and other dependents within the household.

  • Employees have up to 180 days from date of the death to use this leave, and the leave can be used all at one time or used on nonconsecutive days.
  • There is no limit on the number of times the leave program can be used; it is 40 hours per each incident of death of any immediate family member.

Provides an additional eight (8) hours of paid leave for travel time to and from a funeral or other memorial event for the death of a colleague at the university.

  • To qualify for bereavement leave following the loss of an immediate family member, the employee should request leave from their supervisor and provide documentation supporting the request. Acceptable documentation should include, but is not limited to, a death certificate, obituary, and funeral or memorial event information. If documentation is not available at the time of the request, the documentation must be provided as soon as it is available.
  • The program allows use of this leave retroactively to September 27, 2024.

Each new permanent staff employee attends an Employee Orientation Program which covers all benefit plans in detail. Enrollment requirements and procedures are provided at orientation. If you have questions, please contact:

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES & PAYROLL
302 HFR Administration Building
Cullowhee, NC 28723
828.227.7218

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER