Are you considering employment at the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center? The benefits listed below are a valuable part of your total compensation package!

Please note that for UGA classification purposes, Business Consultants/Area Directors are considered “faculty” and Program Coordinators/Administrative positions are considered “staff.”

All employees must participate in a retirement plan. UGA offers two retirement plans:

Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS)(Defined Benefits Package)

UGA contributes 16.81% and you contribute 6.0% (or more) of your pay towards TRS. You are vested after 10 years. Once vested, a set payout (lump sum or monthly benefit) is available once your retire, based on your salary and how long you have worked in the University System of Georgia (2% x years of service x average of 24 highest consecutive months salary). Find more information about TRS on the UGA Human Resources TRS information page.

Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)(Defined Contribution Plan)

In lieu of participating in the TRS plan, Business Consultants and exempt staff may choose the ORP, a portable defined contribution plan. ORP participants are vested immediately. UGA contributes 9.24% and you contribute 6% (or more) of your pay. You choose how to invest your retirement funds from choices provided by three companies. Your retirement income is based on the performance of the investment choices you made and is limited to the value of your account. The ORP option is an irrevocable choice you must make within the first 60 days of your employment (or contract) date. Find more information about ORP on the UGA Human Resources ORP information page.

Annual Leave

• UGA faculty classification (i.e. business consultants/area directors) accrue 14 hours annual and 8 hours sick leave each month (21 annual days and 12 sick days per year).
• UGA staff classification (i.e. program coordinators/administrative positions) accrue 8 hours sick leave each month. Annual leave is accrued each month based on years of service: 1-4 years 10 hours; 5-9 years 12 hours; 10 & up 14 hours.
• UGA also has a shared sick leave program in which employees may donate leave to other staff members who are experiencing serious personal illness.

Paid Holidays

• The University observes 12 official paid holidays each year. View UGA’s paid holiday calendar.

UGA SBDC employees may choose from four plans: Comprehensive Care, Consumer Choice HSA, BlueChoice HMO, and Kaiser Permanente HMO. All plans include no pre-existing condition restrictions. Each plan has four coverage levels: Employee only, employee + child, employee + spouse, or family.

Spending Accounts (FSA, HSA, LPFSA)

• The medical flexible spending accountallows you to contribute pre-tax, then request reimbursement for approved medical expenses. With the health flexible spending account, your entire yearly contribution amount is available to you immediately for eligible expenses.
• The dependent care flexible spending accountallows you to contribute pre-tax, then request reimbursement for approved dependent care expenses.
• The health savings account(HSA – for high deductible health plan participants only) allows you to contribute pre-tax, then request reimbursement for approved medical expenses (UGA will match up to ~$375 annually).
  • Individuals who have HSAs may be eligible to enroll in a limited purpose flexible spending account for vision and dental care expenses.

Dental Insurance

Dental coverage is available for individuals and their families. Employees can choose from the Base plan or the High plan.

Vision Insurance

The vision plan covers exams and helps pay the cost of frames, lenses, and contacts. If you choose to buy vision insurance, it will supplement any vision benefits included in your health plan, if your health plan includes wellness vision coverage.

Tuition Assistance Program

Participation in the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) shall be available to full-time, benefits-eligible employees who have successfully completed at least six months of employment in a benefits-eligible position as of the date of the TAP application deadline for the desired academic semester.

Full-time employees who meet the applicable admissions standards and have received appropriate prior authorization from their institution may enroll in up to nine academic semester credit hours for each of the three designated semester periods: fall, spring, and summer semesters. Some programs are not eligible for TAP waivers. For more information on UGA and USG TAP policies, see:

University of Georgia TAP Details

University System of Georgia TAP Details

Life Insurance

All benefit-eligible UGA faculty and staff members receive $25,000 in personal life insurance at no cost. You may purchase additional coverage for yourself, your spouse, and children.

Disability Insurance

• Long Term Disability (LTD): insurance provides you continuing income (under most circumstances, up to 60% of lost monthly income not to exceed $10,000) if you are unable to work for at least 90 days as a result of serious illness or injury. Premiums are paid after tax, so any benefits will not be subject to income taxes.
• Short Term Disability (STD): provides partial income replacement (up to a maximum of 60%) if you are absent due to non work-related illness or injury lasting up to 11 weeks.
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D): inexpensive coverage for accidents which cause injury or death. AD&D coverage is available in multiples of $10,000; from $10,000 to $500,000