A Summary of Employee Benefits for Applicants for Regular, Full-Time Non-exempt Positions
This is a brief description of the current fringe benefits offered by the University. Additional information is available in the Staff Handbook, in the plan documents for many of the benefit programs, and from the Director of Personnel Services. These benefit plans, programs, and employee contributions are subject to change at any time.
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Health Insurance
Health insurance is provided through BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. The University pays 60% of the premium and the employee pays 40%. The 2008-2009 biweekly fees for participants are: $73.73 for individual coverage; $146.76 for employee +1 coverage, and $214.92 for family coverage.
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Life Insurance
Term life insurance, equal to an employee's annual salary rounded to the next higher thousand and limited to $100,000 coverage, is provided by the University on the date of hire. Coverage is reduced to 65% of salary at age 65, and 50% of salary at age 70. The reduced amount will be adjusted to the next higher multiple of $500 if the figure is not already a multiple of $500. Life insurance coverage is reduced to $2,000 at retirement. Supplemental Life Insurance (equal to 1/2 times annual salary) and Dependent Life Insurance ($3,000 coverage) are also available. Employees pay the total amount of the premiums for supplemental and dependent insurance.
University Retirement Plan
Episcopal clergy generally participate in the Church Pension Plan. Other employees participate in the University of the South Retirement Plan. The University's Retirement Plan has two investment providers, TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments. Regular employees and term appointees for terms in excess of two years who work at least an equivalent of 1/2 time are eligible after one year of employment and age 26. The one year service requirement is waived if the employee worked an equivalent of at least 1/2 time at a four-year college or university for the twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of employment. The University contributes an amount equal to 2% of salary the first year the employee becomes eligible for the plan. This contribution increases by 2% each year until the contribution reaches 10%. There is no required staff member contribution, but staff members may voluntarily contribute through salary reduction.
Educational Benefits for Spouses and Children
The following educational benefits are available:
- 1. Tuition scholarships at The University of the South for faculty, staff and dependents.
- 2. Two tuition exchange programs with approximately 120 colleges and universities across the U.S.
- 3. The educational loan plan for post secondary study for dependents.
- 4. The High School Scholarship Plan which provides a grant to cover expenses for dependents studying at an independent, secondary school of the employee's choice. The amount of the grant is determined each year. A student may receive a 100% grant per year for grades 9-12, an 80% grant per year for grades 8-12, a 66.7% grant per year for grades 7-12 or a 57.1% grant for grades 6-12.
With the exception of part-time study at the University, there is a three year waiting period before dependents are eligible for these educational benefits.
Long-Term Disability Plan
The plan, offered through Sunlife Insurance, provides disability income after an illness or injury of a six-month duration. If an employee becomes totally disabled, the plan will pay the lesser of (a) $7,000 per month; or (b) 60% of the base salary less any amounts for which the employee may also be eligible under (i) any other employer-sponsored disability plan; (ii) Worker's compensation or Occupational Disease Laws; (iii) any state disability benefits law; (iv) Social Security (including any portion attributable to dependents) and (v) any disability or retirement benefits, if actually received, under the University's pension plan. Premiums are paid entirely by the University. Eligibility commences the first of the month following the employee's date of hire.
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Access to University Facilities
Faculty, staff, their spouses, and their dependents have access to university facilities. The SewaneeCard provides access to the Fowler Sport and Fitness Center and to home athletic events, and passes for spouses and dependents are available for a $5.00 fee. Membership in the Golf and Tennis Club is available to full-time employees whose term is at least one academic year and to their dependents. Employees pay a $75.00 annual membership fee. The facilities, services, and materials of the duPont Library are also available, and employees and their dependents have free access to the University's concert series.
Travel Insurance
Any employee traveling on University business is covered by a $100,000 life insurance policy.
Auto-Homeowners Insurance
Coverage for automobile and homeowner/rental insurance is available to employees through Merastar/Unitrin. Employees are individually rated depending on coverage selected. Coverage is available beginning the first of the month following date of hire. The employee pays the total premium through payroll deduction.
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Dental Insurance
Two types of dental insurance are available through payroll deductions. Employees are eligible to begin participation in the plan upon the first day of the month following employment. If election is not made within thirty days of employment, then employees must wait until the annual enrollment period, which is normally in November. Current monthly premiums for the CompDent Elite Schedule D Plan are $17.50 for individual coverage, $33.76 for individual +1, and $51.76 for family coverage. There will not be a premium increase in 2009. Current monthly premiums for the CompDent EP 500 Plan are 28.72 for individual coverage, $56.22 for individual +1 coverage and $102.58 for family coverage. The 2009 premiums for the EP 500 Plan will be $31.22 for individual coverage, $61.12 for individual +1 coverage and $111.52 for family coverage.
Housing
Rental housing units are available through the University Rental Housing Office. Employees may also lease property for an individual residence and receive a discount on the annual lease fee. Contact the Superintendent of Leases for further information.
Vacation, Holidays, Personal Leave, Sick Leave, and Short-term Disability Leave
Full-time regular non-exempt staff members earn ten work days of vacation with pay per year. After eight years of service, fifteen work days of vacation are earned; after fifteen years of service, twenty work days of vacation are earned. Non-exempt employees also accrue one day of sick leave for each month worked and 22 days of short-term disability leave for each year worked. They are also eligible for three days of personal leave and ten holidays each fiscal year. Vacation must be taken within twenty-four months of being earned. The maximum sick leave that may be accrued is forty days and the maximum short-term disability leave that may be accrued is 110 days.
Pay Schedule
Checks for the non-exempt payroll are issued every other Friday. Direct deposit is available and encouraged.
