Benefits Shared Services

UNCSA is partnering with the UNC System Office’s University Supporting Services, LLC (USS) to provide a comprehensive Benefits Shared Services model for benefit-eligible employees. This partnership is designed to enhance service delivery, streamline processes, and provide consistent, systemwide support for employee benefits. We will join Winston-Salem State, UNC-Asheville, Elizabeth City State, NC Central, NC A&T and Fayetteville State.

Benefits Shared Services will officially launch on Feb. 1, 2026. Until that time, UNCSA Human Resources will continue supporting existing processes while preparing for the transition.

On this page

What employees can expect

Beginning Feb. 2, employees will no longer contact UNCSA Human Resources for their benefit needs. Instead, they will contact the Benefit Shared Services Center at 919-445-1352 or email benefits@northcarolina.edu to access a centralized team for benefits counseling, retirement processing, onboarding, leave-related benefits, educational assistance and other services. UNCSA Human Resources will continue to partner with Benefits Shared Services on areas that require campus-specific action.

Throughout January, employees will receive updates and guidance to support a smooth transition.

Services provided by Benefits Shared Services

The Shared Services Benefits team will support UNCSA employees in the following areas:

Benefit communications & employee support

• Distribution of required annual and ad hoc benefit notices
• Management and updates to benefits-related website content
• General benefits counseling
• Support for employees and families following the death of an employee or dependent

Onboarding & benefits administration

• Benefits onboarding and virtual benefits orientation for newly hired employees
• New employee benefits emails and follow-up reminders

Payroll & reporting

• Process supplemental Retirement Plans (i.e., 403B, 401K, 457B)
• Leave Without Pay (LWOP) and short-term disability payment processing

Retirement & phased retirement

• Counseling and processing for ORP and TSERS
• Collaboration with Faculty Affairs on phased retirement

Disability & leave-related benefits

• Disability Income Plan (DIP) application review and processing
• Supplemental disability claims
• Management of special leave benefits, including:
  • Family Medical Leave
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Military Leave
  • Personal Leave Without Pay
  • Professional Leave
  • Faculty Serious Illness Leave
  • Educational Leave

Affordable Care Act

• Notification of eligibility

Annual enrollment & employee engagement

• Open Enrollment communications and reminders, webinars and ad hoc trainings
• Virtual information sessions (on-site labs available upon request)
• Open Enrollment documentation management and verification

Educational assistance

• Tuition waiver processing for eligible UNCSA employees
• Academic Assistance Program (AAP) reimbursement

Services that will remain with UNCSA HR

Some processes will continue to be administered by UNCSA Human Resources:

Workers’ compensation administration

• Injury/incident claim processing
• Coordination with supervisors, safety staff, and Nurse Case Managers

Leave administration

• Leave reporting
• Voluntary Shared Leave (VSL) requests and updates
• Voluntary Shared Leave (VSL) process

Transition timeline (January 2026)

To prepare employees for the Shared Services launch:

• Thursday, Jan. 15, at 11 a.m. (virtually) during the Staff Council Meeting.   
• Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 12:45 p.m. (in-person) during the Faculty Council Meeting. 
• Wednesday, Jan. 21, various times (in-person).    
  • 9–9:45 a.m. Library Auditorium, reserved for Facilities 
  • 10–10:45 a.m. Library Auditorium, open to anyone
  • 11–11:45 a.m. Library Auditorium, open to anyone
  • 2–3 p.m. Library Auditorium, open to anyone
• Thursday, Jan. 22, at 11 a.m. (virtually) during a Campus Session. See the link below and add it to your calendar.

Click here for the UNC System Office NEW Benefits Service Center Presentation

• Feb. 2: Official launch of Benefits Shared Services; website messaging updates to reflect active services.

Additional information

Employees are encouraged to review campus emails and visit this webpage regularly for updates.