Professional members of the academic, administrative and teaching staffs shall include all faculty positions, current professional positions listed as unclassified positions pursuant to Title 11, Civil Service, of the Revised Statutes and all professional positions currently listed as classified positions pursuant to Title 11 of the Revised Statutes, which are not presently included within any bargaining unit. All these positions shall be removed from the provisions of Title 11 of the Revised Statutes; however, any employee currently having classified status in a title shall have the option of retaining all the rights and privileges of a classified employee in that title for so long as the employee maintains uninterrupted service in, or is on an approved leave of absence from, that title.
N.J.S. § 18A:64-21.2