All non-classified employees of the board of trustees who shall have twenty (20) years, not necessarily consecutive, of service credit, these credits having been earned in either the classified, non-classified, or unclassified service or any combination of these, shall be deemed to have acquired full status in their positions as the status is defined by § 36-4-59 with the base entry date prior to August 8, 1996; provided, that this provision shall not apply to faculty employed by the board nor shall it apply to non-classified employees who have acquired tenure as faculty.