XIV.A. General Information
The University’s Office of Human Resources is available to provide specific information to your benefits questions. General benefits information is also available here.
XIV.B. Retirement Plans
Full-time faculty/professional staff and part-time staff members who have term appointments or are designated management/confidential are eligible to elect one of the three retirement programs:
- New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS)
- New York State Employees’ Retirement System (ERS)
- The Optional Retirement Program (ORP) established by law, under which the State University Board of Trustees has designated the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) as the insurers. Contracts are issued to and become the property of the electing employee. Payments are made in accordance with the contracts, and the State is not liable for the payment of benefits provided under such contracts.
In addition, there are four Alternate Funding Vehicles approved under the ORP to which you may direct and or transfer your retirement accumulations during your employment. These are TIAA, Fidelity, Valic and VOYA.
If you are a full-time employee, you must elect to participate in one of these programs within 30 days of the effective date of your appointment. If you do not make a timely decision, you will then be required to join TRS.
Part-time employees are not required to join a retirement system and may join at any time. However, a part-time employee who has elected a retirement program may not later cancel that enrollment.
Once you become a participant in one of these programs, either through election or by failure to make a timely election, you will not be able to change from one to another during employment by the University. However, if you become eligible for the ORP at a later date, you will be permitted to change to the ORP at that time.
XIV.C. Long Term Disability Insurance
Full-time faculty/professional staff, and part-time faculty/professional staff who are eligible for health insurance, are eligible to participate in the University’s Long Term Disability Insurance Plan. There is a one-year waiting period unless the new employee had prior coverage at their previous employer and that coverage ended no more than three months prior to the start of their covered employment with the University.
Benefits begin after six months of continuous total disability. Total disability means the employee is completely unable to perform the material and substantial duties of any occupation for which they are suited by education, training and experience.
XIV.D. Worker’s Compensation
Members of the faculty and professional staff are covered under the provisions of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Law and are eligible to receive compensation for medical care, disability, or death from injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of their duties, regardless of fault in cause of the injury.
A staff member who is injured in the performance of duties should notify their supervisor immediately. An accident report must be filed with Human Resources and Employee Health and Safety offices. Employees who have serious cases should call the Accident Reporting System 888-800-0029 to facilitate their claims.
XIV.E. Life, Accident, Sickness Insurance
Certain kinds of insurance at special rates are available for professional staff members who join an employee organization. In some instances, premiums may be deducted from salary.
XIV.F. Health Insurance
Four health insurance plans are available to all eligible employees, after an initial 42 day waiting period for members of UUP and an initial 56 day waiting period for employees who are Management/Confidential (M/C). To avoid processing delays, application for health insurance should be completed promptly.
XIV.F.1. The Empire Plan
The Empire Plan provides coverage for hospitalization through Empire Blue Cross & Blue Shield and combined medical/surgical and major medical coverage through United HealthCare. This plan pays benefits through participating providers, and requires a small co-payment. Major medical coverage available through non-participating providers is subject to an annual deductible.
XIV.F.2. HMO Blue, MVP, and CDPHP
Each of these is a Health Maintenance Organization offering, through a network of HMO providers, paid hospitalization and preventive/medical/surgical services, subject to a small co-payment. Care is provided through a network of HMO providers.
XIV.G. Vision and Dental Insurance
These are provided by the UUP Benefit Trust Fund for faculty and professional staff. New York State provides Management/Confidential employees these benefits.
Detailed information about insurance plans is available from Human Resources and from the State of New York Department of Civil Service - Employee Benefits Online.
XIV.H. Death Benefits
Generally, the retirement system selected determines death benefits. However, New York State Law provides a survivor’s benefit regardless of which system is chosen.
XIV.I. Sick Leave
Sick leave credits may be used for any mental or physical impairment of health, including such an impairment proximately resulting from pregnancy, which disables an employee from the full and proper performance of duty. Employees who are on leave without pay and faculty who are on sabbatical leave do not accrue and cannot charge against sick leave.
Please follow this link for additional information on accrual rates for faculty, UUP Professional, and MC.
XIV.J. Vacation Leave
Professional employees hired before July 1, 1982 who serve on a full-time basis accrue vacation leave credits at a rate of 1- 3/4 days per month or major fraction thereof during the period of their professional obligation. Professional employees hired after July 1, 1982 should consult Human Resources regarding vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave credits based on their compensation and should contact the Human Resources for assistance in determining their rate of accrual.
Professional employees represented by UUP may not accumulate vacation leave in excess of 40 days. Professional employees who are on leave without pay are not eligible to accrue or to charge vacation leave credits. For further information on sick leave and vacation leave, refer to Article 23 of the Agreement between the State of New York and UUP.
Please follow this link for additional information on accrual rates for faculty, UUP Professional, and MC.
XIV.K. Tuition Assistance
Professional employees and faculty members are eligible for tuition assistance. Limitations in budgetary allocations require that we define our local policy along those guidelines that establish the most equitable distribution of support within those limitations. Thus, overall reductions in the amount of assistance approved may be required both to honor requests in the most judicious manner and to operate within the budget. Refer to Management Procedure 609.
XIV.L. Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a voluntary, confidential assessment and referral service for employees and their family members who identify work-related and personal problems as adversely affecting quality of life and peace of mind. EAP coordinators provide access to appropriate professional and community resources, assisting in the resolution of problems/concerns. The EAP Office is located in IN B5 and can be reached by phone at 607-777-6655.
XIV.M. Tax-Deferred Annuities
Faculty and professional staff members may have a portion of their salaries withheld prior to taxation and invested in an annuity. Such amounts and the interest and dividends credited to them are not subject to income tax until they are received in the form of benefits, generally when the participant is retired and in a lower tax bracket.
XIV.N. New York State Employees’ Federal Credit Union
Membership in the New York State Employees’ Federal Credit Union is available to all faculty and professional staff members. Deposits may be made to members’ accounts by payroll deductions. Direct deposit is secure, and funds are guaranteed to be deposited by 9 a.m. on payday. Faculty and professional staff have the option to direct deposit in up to eight different accounts, provided they are either a checking or savings account in the depositor’s name. All accounts must be recognized by the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH) to be eligible for direct deposit.
Faculty and professional staff interested in direct deposit may follow this link to the NYS direct deposit authorization form.
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