enrollment. (An individual who previously was appointed to an eligible position, who was
offered an opportunity to enroll in the ORP, but who declined such enrollment may not be
afforded a renewed opportunity to elect participation in the ORP.)
Persons appointed to eligible administrative positions after the effective date of this
memorandum shall be offered opportunities for ORP enrollment in the customary manner, e.g.,
election or declination of ORP participation within 30 days of their appointment.
Senior Officers Electing To Remain in TSERS
Senior officers who elect to remain enrolled in the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement
System (TSERS) continue to contribute to TSERS and retain all benefit entitlements provided
under the provisions of this program. An election to remain in TSERS is a lifetime
irrevocable election. An election to decline an offer to enroll in the ORP should be duly
recorded and retained in the senior officer’s personnel file.
Senior Officers Electing to Enroll in the ORP
Senior officers who elect to enroll in the ORP have the following options available:
A senior officer may elect to leave his or her contributions in the Retirement System and
retain all TSERS benefit entitlements towards age and service requirements and eligibility for the
Disability Income Plan of North Carolina. (This means that a senior officer who has at least five
years of TSERS service as a contributing member is entitled to a retirement benefit once he or
she meets the early or service retirement age/creditable service criteria.)
The Survivor’s
Alternate Benefit and Death Benefit are in effect only for 180 days following the last day the
employee is paid as a TSERS contributing member. (Refer to pages 6 and 7 in the “Your
Retirement Benefits” handbook for more information about the Survivor’s Alternate Benefit and
the Board of Governors (November 14, 1986); associate and assistant vice chancellors, associate and assistant deans,
and specific other officers of the University having significant administrative responsibilities and duties as may be
