Human Resources

Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP): Faculty hired Jan. 1, 1999 and later, who participate in VRS are automatically enrolled in VSDP unless they opt out, in writing, within their first 60 days of employment.

Please note:

• Faculty hired before Jan. 1, 1999 had an opportunity to enroll in the VSDP during the initial election period and subsequent election period in 2002. Faculty who participate in the VRS may have elected to participate in the VSDP
• Faculty hired Jan. 1, 1999 and later, may choose the VSDP if they participate in the VRS
• Part time faculty and faculty who participate in the VCU Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) are not eligible to participate in the VSDP

This leave provides employees with:

• Sick leave and personal and family leave
• Short-term disability income replacement (subject to approval):
• Faculty need to meet a 1 year waiting period before non-work-related disabilities are covered
• For faculty with less than 5 years of continuous VSDP coverage, income replacement is at 60 percent
• For faculty with 5 or more years of continuous VSDP coverage, income replacement is at 100 percent, 80 percent and 60 percent, respectively, based on years of service, for up to 25 weeks beginning with the 8^th calendar day of disability
• Long-term disability income replacement (subject to approval) at 60 percent of salary beginning at the end of short-term disability and lasting to the end of the disability or until eligibility is met for unreduced VRS retirement

To use this benefit, the faculty member must complete the following steps:

• Notify manager about the need for short-term disability
• Request the short-term disability DocuSign form from their HR Professional/HR Associate
• Request FMLA DocuSign forms from their HR Professional/HR Associate
• Contact the third party administrator to submit a claim. The administrator is determined by the length of state service. Below is how to determine your third party administrator. If you:
• Have more than 1 continuous year, or if covered by VSDP with less than 1 year of VSDP participation but it is a work related injury, contact VSDP’s short-term disability third party administrator: The Reed Group 1-877-928-7021
• Are not covered by VSDP due to less than 1 year of state service, or are in VCU’s Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), contact the university’s short-term disability third party administrator: The Standard 1-800-378-2395.
• Submit leave through VCU RealTime to cover the short-term disability waiting period. The first 5 working days are charged to the employee’s university leave. If the claim is not approved within the 5 day time period, the employee may continue on university leave until the claim is approved. If the claim is approved retroactively, the employee’s leave balance is credited for any days charged over the minimum 5 days required.

Faculty who enrolled in the VSDP during the initial enrollment period may have converted their existing sick leave balances to disability credits. They may use these credits to replace periods of less than 100 percent income while on short-term disability. VSDP claims that begin within 5 years of eligibility for unreduced VRS retirement, may continue for up to 5 years.

Sick Leave - Faculty may use sick leave for their own short-term illness or toward the waiting period for short-term disability benefits. Faculty may use up to 33 percent of their sick leave for a family illness covered by FMLA with the exception of 9 and 10 month faculty who require written approval from the Dean and VP of their school. Faculty accrue sick leave based on length of service. Sick leave accruals are credited at the beginning of the leave calendar year, and balances do not carry forward to the next year, and are not paid upon separation.

Following are sick leave accrual rates for full-time and part-time faculty:

 *If hired July 10^th or later, half of the annual amount is credited upon hire.

Personal and Family Leave - Faculty may use personal and family leave for absences due to family or personal illness, death of a family member or for other personal needs. Faculty accrue leave based on length of service, leave accruals are credited at the beginning of the leave calendar year, balances do not carry forward to the next year, and are not paid upon separation from employment.

Following are the personal and family leave accrual rates for faculty:

                        *If hired July 10^th or later, half of the annual amount is credited upon hire.

Pre-Disciplinary Leave: This leave is used to place faculty on leave during the due process or investigatory period. The faculty member’s annual or sick leave balances are not charged. 

Study-Research Leave: Tenured faculty are eligible to apply for this leave. Reference the Study-Research Leave Policy for additional details.

To use this benefit, the faculty member must complete the following steps:

• Notify manager about the need for study-research leave
• Request the study-research DocuSign form from their HR Professional/HR Associate