Benefits Bulletin February 2026

Welcome to the Benefits Bulletin!

Our goal with this monthly newsletter is to communicate benefit changes and keep you up-to-date and informed on approaching deadlines.

February's Featured Benefit

This month's featured benefit is...

Supplemental Retirement Accounts

With the beginning of each new year, we set personal goals for ourselves. This is a great time to set financial goals, including thinking about retirement in the future.   As a State of Virginia employee, you are provided a robust retirement plan through either the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) or the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) for faculty members, but will these accounts be enough to provide you with the necessary income upon retirement? Though advice varies, most experts recommend saving 10% of your salary in order to have between 70%-90% of your annual pre-retirement income, which includes your retirement accounts and Social Security. So, just as you may take preventative measures to ensure your personal health, it is also important to review your financial health. Are you setting aside the necessary funds now so that you may live comfortably in the future? At the university, employees may take advantage of both 457 deferred compensation plans and 403(b) supplemental retirement accounts. Below is a plan comparison of the two different plans:

Never Pass Up Free Money! The university also offers a Cash Match Plan, an employer-paid benefit for benefited, salaried faculty and staff who are making contributions to a 403(b) account or 457 deferred compensation plan. The employer match amount is 50% of the employee's contribution, up to a maximum of $20 per pay period. The minimum amount an employee must contribute to their 403(b) or 457 account to participate in the Cash Match plan is $10 per pay period. If you are contributing to both a 403(b) and 457 account, you are eligible for only one cash match. If you are enrolled in the VRS Hybrid Retirement plan, you are not eligible for the 403(b) or 457 employer cash match unless you are contributing the additional four percent voluntary contribution to the Hybrid plan.   What Do I Do Now? If you already contribute to a 403(b), complete a Salary Reduction Agreement to make changes to your semi-monthly deduction. To make changes or to establish a 457 account, visit the Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan to create an account, or call Investor Services at 1-877-327-5261, Option 1. If you have never established a supplemental retirement account, please contact benefits@jmu.edu or 540-568-3593, and a Benefits Specialist will walk you through the process.   Remember…take advantage of free employer money in order to secure your future!

Time and Attendance Records for Non-exempt Classified Employees

2025 - 2026 Time and Attendance Records for non-exempt classified employees were to be submitted electronically to benefits@jmu.edu no later than Friday, January 16.  For those who have yet to submit a Time and Attendance record, please do so as soon as possible. The 2025/26 and 2026/27 Time and Attendance Record templates are located on the Time and Attendance Reporting website at https://www.jmu.edu/humanresources/benefits/leave/time-attendance.shtml.

DMV Connect on Campus

DMV Connect is coming to campus on March 17

Human Resources is excited to announce that DMV Connect, a mobile customer service center through DMV, will be coming to campus on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., in the Wine-Price Building. DMV Connect is equipped to process all DMV transactions including:

  • Applying for or renewing your ID card (REAL ID)
  • Applying for or renewing your driver’s license
  • Applying for a Veteran ID card
  • Getting a copy of your driving record
  • Obtaining vehicle titles, license plates, decals, and transcripts
  • Ordering disabled parking placards or plates
  • Applying for certified copies of Virginia vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
  • Getting fishing and hunting licenses
  • Updating your mailing address, voter registration address, and organ donor status
  • Requesting a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to set up an online myDMV account
  • Purchasing an E-ZPass transponder
  • And much more!

Save yourself the inconvenience and the time it takes to go to DMV to complete your transactions; simply visit DMV Connect! Use the scheduling link to reserve your appointment!

VRS Member News

Be sure to read the latest issue of Member News from VRS. Included in this issue is information on building a financial wellness routine for the new year, growing Hybrid plan savings, and what to know about purchasing long-term care. Subscribe to Member News directly for the latest updates.

Need to Talk with an Expert?

Upcoming Benefits Training: Retirement 101 - Understanding Your VRS Retirement

Are you contemplating retirement? Have you set a retirement date? What do you do next? What benefits will you receive? What is the timing on paperwork? Come to Retirement 101 and learn the answers to all these questions and more! Learn about your retirement options through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), discuss the impact on benefits when you retire, and learn how myVRS and Human Resources can aid in retirement planning. Tuesday, February 24, 2026 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Register with course number HR1212 in MyMadison

Webinars

January's Duke2Duke Nominees

Duke2Duke is our peer recognition program giving faculty and staff members an opportunity to show gratitude towards their peers and acknowledge their positive behaviors and actions.

We would like to recognize all of the outstanding employees/departments who were nominated for a Duke2Duke in January!

  • Leigh Ayers
  • Daisy Breneman
  • Lindsay Clearwater
  • Jini Cook
  • Jennifer DeHoff
  • Jojo Griffith
  • Robert Hildebrand
  • Gilpatrick Hornsby
  • Kelly Jenkins
  • Carla Llana
  • Julie Love
  • Josh McNett
  • Cheryl Meade
  • Kim Moubray
  • Hannah Partee
  • Sara Price
  • Mike Prior
  • Dardi Ritchie
  • Carleigh Rittenhouse
  • Lindsey Shantz
  • Amanda Sherman
  • Kyra Shiflet
  • Eric Sours
  • Shelby Tinsley

Submit a Duke2Duke here!

THANK YOU FOR READING!

This bulletin has been brought to you by the JMU Benefits Team. If you have any questions or would like to reach out to us, please give us a call at 540-568-3593, visit us on the web at www.jmu.edu/humanresources/benefits, or email us at benefits@jmu.edu. Look for the Live Chat on our website and reach one of us instantly!

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