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Benefit Summary Plan for Full-Time Faculty, Tenured-Tenure Track

Health and Welfare Plans

Health/Dental Insurance

Rates listed below are effective July 1, 2008.  (Rates change annually on July 1.)  Monthly costs to employee:

Plan Name	Monthly Family Rate	Monthly Individual Rate
BCBS NE $1000 Deductible	$199.12	$75.14
BCBS NE Premier Value	$281.60	$106.27
BCBS NE Value Plus	$331.85	$125.22
BCBS Dental Blue 2 - High	$90.39	$26.50
BCBS Dental Blue PPO - Low	$74.58	$21.05

Flexible Benefit Plan (Flexcomp)

Eligible on the first of the month following date of hire.  This benefit allows you to reduce your compensation by elected amounts in return for certain non‑taxable benefits (e.g., health/dental insurance premiums, uncovered medical, dental or optical expenses, and dependent care expenses). 

Group Life Insurance/AD&D

Eligible for coverage on the first day of the month following date of hire.  Value is two (2) times your annual salary up to a maximum of $300,000.  WPI pays the entire premium.  Group term life insurance in excess of $50,000 must be included in gross income and must be reported on the W-2.

Group Long Term Disability

Eligible for coverage on the first of the month following date of hire.  If you are totally disabled for a continuous period of six (6) months or longer, this benefit will pay 60% of your covered monthly salary up to a limit of $10,000 per month (less any amount received from Social Security or Workers' Compensation).  WPI pays the entire premium.

Group Supplemental Life Insurance/Supplemental AD&D

Eligible for coverage on the first day of the month following date of hire.  The value of the supplemental life insurance can be up to five (5) times your annual salary or $500,000, whichever comes first.  The supplemental life insurance is also offered to spouses/domestic partners and dependent children.  Spouses/domestic partners are eligible for up to half of what an employee purchases for coverage and dependent children are eligible for up to $10,000 in coverage.

Long Term Care

Eligible for coverage on the first of the month following date of hire.  This is an individual, personalized benefit that is paid entirely by the employee.  For specific information on coverage and costs, a meeting with a representative is recommended.

Retirement Plans

Two retirement plan options are available, TIAA-CREF and Fidelity.  Participation can be with one plan or a combination of the two.  The choices are outlined below:

Regular Annuity (RA)

Eligible on the first of the month after completing one year of service.  Participation is mandatory.  The waiting period will be waived for anyone who has had one year of continuous service as a non‑student at any non‑profit educational organization or teaching hospital or who is already participating in TIAA-CREF or Fidelity immediately prior to the start of employment at WPI.  Employee must contribute a minimum of 5% of salary; WPI will contribute 6% of the first $10,800 of salary and 11% of salary in excess of $10,800.

Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA)

Eligible on the first of the month following date of hire.  The GSRA is an alternative tax-sheltered annuity for employees who want to set aside funds in addition to the amount being accumulated under the College's retirement plan.

 

Tuition Assistance

Employee:

• Any full‑time employee may take one course per term at the undergraduate level or two graduate courses per semester.  Class hours must not conflict with regular work requirements.
• Continuing Education courses are also available if the course is approved by Department Head, any direct cost of attendance is charged to employing department.
• Courses at other colleges must be reviewed by Human Resources and Department Head.  If approved, after successful completion employee will be reimbursed for 75% of tuition costs. 

Dependent Children

•  At WPI ‑ after one year of continuous service dependent children under age 27 are eligible for up to four academic years of full‑time undergraduate tuition assistance.
• Other Colleges ‑ after three years of continuous service dependent children under age 27, when enrolled at a fully accredited college or university may receive up to $5,200 per year ($2,600 per semester) per child (tuition and fees), to a maximum $62,400 benefit.

Spouse/Domestic Partner

Spouses or domestic partners of full‑time faculty may enroll in or audit courses at WPI at both the Graduate and Undergraduate levels, with full tuition remission after employee has completed one full year of service. Enrollment will be provided on a space available basis.  Enrollment in projects, independent study, competency exams and thesis work is permitted, however, full tuition paid by the employee is required.

Tuition Exchange Program Policy                                                     

The Tuition Exchange (TE) Program is a national scholarship exchange program encompassing approximately 500 participating colleges and universities.  The TE program is available to dependent children of any faculty or staff member who has completed three years of continuous full-time employment at WPI as of August 31^st of the year the employee’s dependent child would matriculate at a TE school.

Colleges and universities participating in this program have agreed to grant tuition scholarships for participants from other member institutions.  A member institution may import as many students as it wishes but may not export more than it imports over a predefined period of time.

All applicants must seek admission directly of the TE partner institution, which determines its own admission process and procedures. 

Eligibility for the Tuition Exchange program continues for dependent children should the employee retire, die, become totally disabled during service, or undertake a leave (i.e., FMLA, maternity/adoption, or military).

 

Additional Benefits

Auto/Homeowners Payroll Deduction

The insurance payroll deduction program is available to employees and their family members living in the immediate household through Sullivan, Garrity & Donnelly and the Hanover Insurance Company. Automobile, property (home, condominium, rental), boat, and umbrella policies are offered.  Premium discounts for auto insurance are 6% off the regulated Massachusetts rates. Hanover's already competitive rates for property insurance are reduced by an additional 10%.  If an employee purchases both auto and property policies, an additional discount can be applied to the property premium. Final prices depend on the unique circumstances of each employee’s current policy.  Please call Human Resources for more information.

Child Care

WPI in conjunction with the First Baptist Church has established a relationship with First Friends, an early care and educational center for infants, toddlers and preschool children.  First Friends provides a supportive, nurturing, stimulating program that responds to the developmental needs of each child. 

First Friends is conveniently located within walking distance of the WPI campus in the First Baptist Church at the corner of Salisbury Street and Park Avenue.  For information on rates and availability, please contact the Executive Director of First Friends at 508-791-4884.

Direct Deposit

Effective October 1, 2000, all employees are required to utilize Direct Deposit services.  Employees’ salaries are deposited directly into the bank or credit union of their choice such that funds are available as of each pay date.

Domestic Partner Benefits

This benefit allows same sex and opposite sex domestic partners of employees, as well as dependent children of domestic partners, to participate as follows:

• Health Insurance coverage under any plan offered by WPI to employees to the extent allowed by WPI health providers.
• Tuition Assistance is available only to the dependent children of WPI employees as defined by IRS standards.
• Bereavement, FMLA, and Maternity or Adoption Leaves treat the domestic partner as the equivalent of a spouse.

Employee Assistance Program

The EAP is provided to WPI by The Wellness Corporation, a locally owned and operated company specializing in Employee Assistance Programs.  Headquartered in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, The Wellness Corporation serves local and national needs with equal ease.  At no cost to the employee, the EAP can assist WPI employees and their families in obtaining confidential assessment, counseling, referral and follow-up services for problems covering a wide range of issues including emotional problems, marital and relationship concerns, family problems, parenting issues, stress, work problems, domestic violence, eating disorders, alcohol and drug use, communication problems, depression and suicidal thoughts, budget and debt problems, and legal concerns.

Consultations/assessments are available at no cost to you and your family members.  To access the services of the WPI Employee Assistance Program through The Wellness Corporation, call the nationally toll free number (800) 868-6025 or locally (508) 842-2780.

Fitness Center

The WPI Fitness Center located in the lower level of the Alumni Gym is available to members of the WPI Community.  The Fitness Center’s hours are posted for the academic year, the summer, and the term breaks in October, March and December, respectively.

Membership to Worcester Art Museum

The Worcester Art Museum’s Institutional Membership Program provides WPI staff, faculty & students FREE admission to the Museum during regular hours.

Parking

Parking in any of the WPI lots is available to all employees at no cost with a WPI parking decal.  All vehicles must be registered with the Campus Police Department located on the lower level of Founder's Hall.

Payday

Faculty are paid once a month, with Direct Deposit pay stubs distributed to each department on the last working day of the month.

Travel Accident Insurance

Employees who travel for the purpose of their job will be covered under the university’s travel accident insurance.  The amount of coverage is dependent upon the position held within the university.

 

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Last modified: June 26, 2008 15:19:13