Faculty and Contract Staff Handbook
(8) Employment Policies and Benefits
(8A) EMPLOYMENT OF FACULTY, CONTRACT STAFF, AND CLASSIFIED STAFF
(8B) NON-DISCRIMINATION AND DIVERSITY POLICY
(8C) POLICY STATEMENT ON HARASSMENT
(8D) EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
(8E) INSURANCE AND OTHER BENEFITS
For a summary of recent changes to this chapter, see Chapter 9A: Summary of Recent Revisions to This Handbook.
Contents of this page:
Other Benefits (Retirement/Pension Plan and Social Security; TIAA-CREF Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA); Unemployment Compensation; Worker’s Compensation Insurance; University Risk Insurance)
Financial Services (Automobile Insurance; Homeowners and Tenants Insurance; Check Cashing; Credit Union; Payroll Check Procedure)
Cultural and Athletic Benefits (Theater and Cultural Events; Elizabeth Huth Coates Library; Use of Recreational Facilities; Bookstore Benefits)
I. TRINITY UNIVERSITY FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN (TFBP)
All full-time employees and employees who work at least 30 hours a week are eligible to participate in the Trinity University Flexible Benefit Plan (TFBP).
TFBP includes 6 benefit categories:
1. Health care insurance
2. Dental care insurance
3. Long-term disability insurance
4. Life insurance
5. Dependent care assistance
6. Medical spending account
Trinity University contributes a set amount for each employee toward the cost of these benefits. It is anticipated that this amount will increase by about the same percent as the average salary increases each year. Part-time employees working 30 hours a week or more will receive the same percent of the amount as their work time relates to a 40-hour week. Any unused University contribution is forfeited. Part-time faculty and temporary contract employees are not eligible for benefits.
TFBP allows University employees, who so elect, to pay their portion of the listed fringe benefits with pre-tax dollars.
Employees hired after June 1st will receive a proportionate share of the set amount based upon the number of pay periods remaining in the fiscal year.
Any full-time employee who retires at the age of 55 or later, and who has also served the University for a number of years such that his or her age plus the number of years of service equals at least 75, may be entitled to continue to participate in the group health insurance plan until their 65th birthday. For more specific information regarding coverage for retirees and eligible spouses, please refer to the current plan document.
Further information and election forms are available in the Office of Human Resources.
II. OTHER BENEFITS
A. Retirement/Pension Plan and Social Security
The University’s TIAA-CREF and Fidelity Investments Retirement Plans are a “defined contribution” plan in which the University contributes 10 percent of the faculty or contract staff member’s taxable base salary and the employee contributes at least 3 percent of his or her taxable base salary. The retirement plan is funded through individual TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity Investments annuity contracts for each participant. Contributions applied to these annuity contracts are fully funded and provide full and immediate vesting of the retirement and survivor benefits, including those purchased by University contributions. The accrued benefit at any time for a participant is the current value of the annuity accumulation, including all contributions, less expense charges, plus investment results. These plans meet the requirements for income tax deferral under section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code as well as meet or exceed the minimum requirements established by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) for vesting, funding, and benefit accrual.
Full-time faculty members, administrative officers, and contract staff are required to participate after two years of employment and attaining age 21. Eligibility for new employees is based on their having served two full years in any higher education institution without a break in service immediately prior to being employed at Trinity University.
1. Year of Service
For purposes of participation requirements, the term “year of service” shall mean a twelve-month period starting with the eligible employee’s date of employment (or anniversary date of such employment) during which the eligible employee has completed 1,000 or more hours of service.
2. Hours of Service
a. Each hour for which an employee is paid, or entitled to payment, for the performance of duties for the employer during the applicable computation period;
b. Each hour for which an employee is paid, or entitled to payment, by the employer on account of a period of time during which no duties are performed because of vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity (including disability), layoff, jury duty, military duty, or leave of absence; and
c. Each hour for which back pay is awarded or agreed to by the employer, provided that such hour has not previously been credited under 2a or 2b above.
The University participates in the Social Security system as authorized by federal law.
B. TIAA-CREF Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA)
The faculty or contract staff member may arrange with the University to divert a portion of before-tax salary over and above amounts being accumulated under Trinity University’s basic retirement plan, to purchase retirement annuity benefits in accordance with tax-deferral provisions in section 403(b) and 415 of the Internal Revenue Code and related Treasury Department regulations. To invest in a tax-deferred (or tax-sheltered) annuity with TIAA SRA, the employee and the University enter into a written agreement under which the faculty or contract staff member authorizes a reduction in salary in order to release funds for the University to pay premiums on an annuity contract that is fully vested in the employee. Within the limits prescribed by law, such premiums are not taxed currently; rather, they and their earnings will be taxed when received as benefits. A description of the SRA is contained in the booklet Supplemental Retirement Annuities available in the Office of Human Resources.
C. Unemployment Compensation
Trinity University, as required by federal law, contributes to a program of unemployment compensation. This assures that employees terminated without cause have financial protection according to federal standards. No deduction or contribution from employees’ salaries is involved.
D. Worker’s Compensation Insurance
Refer to the section on Worker’s Compensation under “Employee Injuries and Accidents” in the handbook Fiscal Affairs Policies and Procedures.
E. University Risk Insurance
The University maintains insurance policies that cover certain employees for liability in the performance of their duties. Some of these policies include general liability insurance, excess liability insurance, educator’s legal liability insurance, automobile liability insurance, special event accidental insurance, and exhibition insurance. For further information, refer to the Risk Management chapter of the handbook Fiscal Affairs Policies and Procedures.
III. FINANCIAL SERVICES
A. Automobile Insurance
Trinity University participates in an automobile insurance plan that may provide reduced rates for most faculty and contract staff. The plan is placed on an individual basis and is paid for by the employee through payroll deduction. Information about this coverage may be obtained from the Office of Human Resources.
B. Homeowners and Tenants Insurance
Trinity University participates in a Homeowners and Tenants Insurance Plan that may provide reduced rates for most faculty and contract staff. The plan is placed on an individual basis and is paid for by the employee through payroll deduction. Information about this coverage may be obtained by contacting the Office of Human Resources.
C. Check Cashing
Checks may be cashed in the Business Office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except during semester registrations).
Personal checks cannot exceed $50.00 and are limited to one per day. Payroll checks cannot exceed $175.00.
Valid, current identification card is required.
Two-party checks require the approval of the Director of Student Accounts.
A $25.00 charge will be assessed for any returned check.
Check cashing privileges will be denied permanently after three insufficient fund checks.
Upon employee termination, check cashing privileges will be denied.
D. Credit Union
All faculty and contract staff are eligible for membership services including loans, savings, and share draft accounts through payroll deduction with San Antonio Teachers Credit Union. Information is available from the Payroll Office or the San Antonio Teachers Credit Union.
E. Payroll Check Procedure
Direct deposit of payroll checks is available upon request to the Payroll Office.
Faculty and contract staff salary checks are distributed by the Office of Human Resources on the 25th day of each month.
Faculty members and contract staff who are employed on a 12-month contract will receive 12 equal monthly installments. Faculty on 9-month contracts receive 9 equal monthly installments beginning September 25 and continuing through May 25. An option available to faculty on 9-month contracts permits the faculty member to receive the 9-months salary in 12 equal monthly installments beginning September 25 and continuing through August 25.
Faculty teaching during the Summer Session are paid on June 30.
Faculty receiving faculty development funds in the summer are paid on June 30 and July 31.
Whenever a designated pay day (the 25th day of the month, or another pay day as specified above) falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, pay checks will be available on the preceding working day.
IV. CULTURAL AND ATHLETIC BENEFITS
A. Theater and Cultural Events
Faculty and staff and their families may purchase season tickets for various cultural events on campus. Season tickets provide a savings for such events. Faculty and staff may also purchase single tickets to these events at a reduced price (typically $1.00 off the regular price).
B. Elizabeth Huth Coates Library
Faculty and staff may check out books by presenting their Trinity University identification cards. Members of the immediate families of full-time faculty and staff may check out books after securing a library card. Inquiries should be directed to the administrative office of Coates Library.
C. Use of Recreational Facilities
Recreational facilities are available for use by Trinity University Trustees, faculty, staff, and their families, and students by presentation of a Trinity University identification card. Information concerning regulations governing use of facilities may be obtained from the Office of Athletics in the William H. Bell Athletic Center at (210) 999-8222.
D. Bookstore Benefits
Faculty and staff members receive a 10% discount except for textbooks, computer software, sale merchandise, and some special orders. Please see Chapter 7E: Bookstore Policies and Procedures for additional information.
V. SPECIAL BENEFITS FOR RETIRED FACULTY AND STAFF
Full-time faculty and staff who retire from Trinity University are eligible for the following benefits:
Discount for most bookstore purchases.
Discount for tickets to athletic play-offs and theater and cultural events.
Check cashing privileges.
Use of University recreational facilities.
Dining privileges.
University Club membership privileges as determined by the University Club Committee.
Invitations to University social functions such as faculty parties.
Tuition remission of 100% for one undergraduate or graduate course each semester. Graduate tuition remission is a taxable benefit.
Tuition remission scholarships for dependent children pursuing undergraduate degrees fall under the same policies governing children of full-time active members of the faculty. If the retired faculty or staff member is deceased, this benefit is subject to the same policies governing tuition remission for children of deceased faculty or staff members who have served the University for ten years or more and died while serving the University.
Access to Tuition Exchange Program for dependent children.
Any full-time employee who retires at the age of 55 or later, and who has also served the University for a number of years such that his or her age plus the number of years of service equals at least 75, may be entitled to continue to participate in the group health insurance plan until their 65th birthday. For more specific information regarding coverage for retirees and eligible spouses, please refer to the current plan document.
In addition to the special benefits listed above, full-time faculty members who retire from Trinity University are also eligible for the following benefits:
Use of mailing address at Trinity University.
Administration of grants by the University.
Laboratory privileges if engaged in sponsored research under University administration.
Departmental secretarial assistance for professional purposes as approved by the departmental Chair.
Use of departmental stationery and postage for professional purposes as approved by the departmental Chair.
Participation in convocations and academic processions.
University publications and announcements.
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This page was last modified on 07/06/07. For further information, please call (210) 999-8201, or write to
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