The Johns Hopkins University Support Staff Pension Support Staff Pension Plan is a single-employer pension plan based in Baltimore, Maryland. Established in 1970, the plan is a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan sponsored by The Johns Hopkins University for its employees who are bargaining unit members or classified as support staff. Participants also include individuals who were participants in The Johns Hopkins University Pension Plan, a contributory defined benefit pension plan sponsored by the University that was merged with the Plan effective July 1, 1997. The Johns Hopkins University Committee on Investments, which is a committee of the board of directors of the University, determines the appropriation of the Plan's investment offerings, monitors investment performance, and reports to the plan's board of trustees. Northern Trust Company serves as the trustee of the plan.