Employers
Welcome, Employers!
Here you will find resources for administering the VRS Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education (ORPHE).
Qualified employees of Virginia’s public colleges and universities have the option to participate in the VRS ORPHE, rather than VRS Plan 1, VRS Plan 2 or the VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan. For those employees who choose the ORPHE plan, they will also choose an investment provider.
Employees have 60 days from their hire date to elect ORPHE; otherwise, they will become members of the other applicable VRS plan.
Open Enrollment
In late September each year, VRS asks employers to notify participants in the Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education (ORPHE) of the open enrollment period that occurs annually in October.
During open enrollment, participants have a choice of two providers for directing ongoing contributions to the plan: DCP (currently record kept by MissionSquare Retirement, transitioning to Voya on January 1, 2025) and TIAA. Any changes in providers become effective on the first pay date in January of the following year.
Participants who wish to change providers can compare their options and make a selection in myVRS. When open enrollment concludes, employers are responsible for acknowledging employees’ provider changes in myVRS Navigator.
Email Templates
myVRS Navigator
Employers are responsible for acknowledging participants’ provider elections in myVRS Navigator. You should ensure payroll records accurately reflect each participant's election and contributions are remitted to the correct provider.
Provider Contacts for Employers
Employer Support Contact | Employer Support Team | - |
---|---|---|
1-VRS-DC-PLAN1(1-877-327-5261), select option 3 1-800-669-7471 TDD |
1-888-842-7782 | |
Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 777 N. Capitol Street NE Suite 600 Washington, DC 20002 |
Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 8500 Andrew Carnegie Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28262 |