Higher Ed Open Enrollment Starts October 1

September 2025
Low stairs, a stone porch with large stone columns with windows beyond them and a brick walkway with lawn are framed by low-hanging tree branches with autumn leaves at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Illustrative only.

It’s time to notify participants in the Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education (ORPHE) of the open-enrollment period that takes place October 1-31.

Active ORPHE participants have a choice of two providers: DCP (VRS investment options record-kept by Voya Financial) and TIAA.

Participants who wish to change investment providers can compare and select their provider in myVRS. Provider changes become effective on the first pay date in January.

Encourage employees who are considering changing providers to use the ORPHE Provider Options chart to review each provider’s fees, services and plan features.

Acknowledge Provider Changes

The Employers page on the ORPHE website includes instructions in the myVRS Navigator section for acknowledging provider changes.

Make sure your payroll records accurately reflect provider changes and remittance of contributions to the correct provider beginning with the first pay date in January.

Attend the Annual ORPHE Employer Webinar

Get an overview of ORPHE resources, open enrollment materials and other plan administration updates. Attend the Annual ORP for Higher Education Employer Update webinar, 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 17. (Slides will be posted to the ORPHE website afterwards.)