An employee of a state institution of higher education to whom section 124.13 of the Revised Code is applicable, which is limited in any case to employees thereof in the classified service, who became an employee of such state institution in connection with the transfer thereto or to the state of ownership or control of the institution at which he was employed immediately prior to such transfer, is entitled to have his prior service with such institution counted as service with the state for purposes of computing the amount of his vacation leave under section 124.13 of the Revised Code and the anniversary date of his employment for purposes of section 124.13 of the Revised Code shall, unless deferred under such section, be the anniversary date of such prior service.