If you move from a Faculty, Academic Staff or Limited appointment to a University Staff position, some of your benefits will change and leave earned will change.

Review the 2025 Benefits Summary - University Staff pdf for details about benefits and leave available to University Staff.

University Staff:

  • Accumulate leave benefits on a calendar year basis (transitioning to a fiscal year basis starting in 2025) and leave earned is different. Review Leave Benefits – University Staff for a summary.
  • Credited WRS contributions and service on a calendar year basis.

Review the Forms & Resources web page for all plan applications, forms, and brochures.

The following plans are not affected by your appointment change and will continue automatically:

  • State Group Health Insurance
  • Uniform, Preventive and/or Supplemental Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • State Group Life Insurance
  • Individual & Family Life Insurance
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
  • Accident Insurance
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Health Savings Account
  • UW 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Program (SRP)
  • Wisconsin Deferred Compensation (WDC) 457 Program
The plans listed below are affected by your change in appointment:

If you are currently enrolled, you must complete an application within 30 days of your appointment change to continue coverage. You must select an elimination period. Your premiums are based on your eligible earnings and elimination period elected. 

If you are not currently enrolled you may have an opportunity to enroll at a later date through a deferred enrollment or you may enroll through evidence of insurability (approval not guaranteed). See the Income Continuation Insurance web page for details.

If you move from a Faculty, Academic Staff or Limited appointment to a University Staff position the amount of vacation and sick leave earned is different.

Review the Leave Benefits - University Staff for a summary of leave benefits earned for University Staff.

WRS contributions and creditable service for University Staff employees are reported on a calendar-year basis, as opposed to a fiscal-year basis. 

To receive one year of WRS creditable service, University Staff employees must work 1,904 hours in a calendar year.  

WRS contributions are based on a percentage of your eligible earnings. If your eligible earnings change, the amount of your WRS contribution will also change.

Beneficiary Designations

Remember to review and update your beneficiary designations when you have a life event to make sure that your benefits are paid according to your wishes. Benefit plans that have beneficiary designations include life insurance plans, retirement plans and the health savings account.

For more information review the Beneficiary Information web page.

Every effort has been made to ensure this information is current and correct. Information on this page does not guarantee enrollment, benefits and/or the ability to make changes to your benefits.

Updated: 01/16/2025