COMPTROLLERPersonnel/PayrollEmployee Benefits
These benefits are provided to all regular, full-time employees, as defined in Section 3.4.1, and are subject to change. 7.1 Employer-Paid Insurance7.1.1 Health Insurance The University makes insurance available through the BlueCross BlueShield Health Insurance Plan. The University pays the employee’s health coverage equal to the premium amount established for the BlueCross BlueShield High Plan. If the employee chooses a less expensive plan, the difference between the cost of theBlueCross BlueShield High Plan and the less expensive plan may be used toward dependent, dental, and/or vision coverage offered under the group plan or received as additional taxable compensation. Health insurance coverage is effective the first day of the month after employment begins. If the first day of employment is on the first day of the month, coverage is effective on the first day of the following month. New employees and dependents MAY BE subject to a six-month, pre-existing condition exclusion. The University will pay the June and July health insurance premiums for regular faculty members employed on a ten month basis whose appointments have been renewed for the following academic year. Employees who provide evidence of other health insurance coverage and sign a Waiver of Participation To inquire about specific insurance questions or provisions, please contact the Employment and Benefits Office. 7.1.2 Life Insurance Life insurance coverage is effective the first day of the month following the date of employment. If the first day of employment is on the first day of the month, coverage is effective immediately. Life coverage is two times the annual base salary rounded to the next $1000, with maximum coverage of $400,000, subject to limits set within the policy. Coverage is reduced after the employee's 65th, 70th, and 75th birthdays. If an employee becomes disabled, his or her life insurance coverage will continue by a waiver of premium with a physician’s statement certifying the employee’s disability, if such disability occurs before the employee reaches age 60. 7.1.3 Long-Term Disability Insurance Coverage is effective on the first day of the month following six months of employment. Benefits are integrated with workers' compensation insurance, Social Security, and Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System disability benefits so as not to exceed sixty percent of the employee’s monthly income. The maximum monthly benefit is $5,000, and the minimum monthly benefit is $50. There is a one hundred and eighty calendar day elimination period before benefits begin. Employees applying for long-term disability should begin the application process when they have been on disability approximately three and one-half months to ensure timely receipt of benefits. 7.1.4 Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage for accidental death and dismemberment is included as an additional benefit within the University-paid life insurance policy. Coverage is two times the annual base salary rounded to the next $1000, with maximum coverage of $400,000, subject to limits set within the policy. Coverage is reduced after the employee's 65th, 70th, and 75th birthdays. Employer paid insurance premiums described in Section 7.1 will continue to be paid by the University until the employee’s accrued leave has been exhausted if the employee is not on active service due to sickness or injury. However, the payment of insurance premiums by the University will cease after the employee exhausts his or her accrued leave. 7.2 Optional InsuranceThe University offers optional insurance benefits at the employee’s expense. A 10-month contract employee may elect to maintain optional coverage during summer months by authorizing a withholding from his or her salary in order to “prepay” the summer month premiums. Available Optional Insurance:
It is the responsibility of the employee to notify the Employment and Benefits Office when a dependent is no longer eligible for insurance coverage under the University's plan. Failure to do so may result in the member being held responsible for any inappropriate payment of claims. Contact the Employment and Benefits Office for additional information. 7.3 Continued Insurance Coverage Under COBRA GuidelinesUnder certain conditions, health insurance coverage may be extended beyond the time eligibility normally ceases at the employee’s or covered individual’s expense. Qualifying Events for the insurance to continue are specified in the contract of insurance but include termination of employment (except for gross misconduct) or change from full-time to part-time employment. Qualifying Events for a dependent spouse to continue coverage include the death of the employee, termination of the employee, change from full-time to part-time employment, divorce, legal separation, or the employee becoming eligible for Medicare. If an otherwise eligible child becomes ineligible due to any of these reasons, or due to age requirements or student status, that child is also eligible to continue coverage. For further information, please contact the Employment and Benefits Office. 7.4 Retirement7.4.1 Social Security (FICA) Social Security is a federal program that provides for retirement, disability, survivor, and Medicare benefits. The University deducts contributions and matches these with the employer’s contributions for each employee. Employees paid under the Federal Work-Study program who meet enrollment criteria as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and certain non-resident aliens are exempt from paying FICA tax. Contribution rates are determined by the Social Security Administration and are subject to change. 7.4.2 Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System (OTRS) Membership in the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System is mandatory for regular, full-time employees. Employees who begin employment at age 55 or older may opt out of OTRS and direct equivalent contributions to the University's defined contribution plan. For more information, contact the Employment and Benefits Office. Contributions are based on a percentage of total compensation. The University pays all of the required employee contribution, which is currently seven percent of wages, as defined by OTRS. Benefit amounts are determined in accordance with current OTRS guidelines. Employees may contact OTRS to inquire about contributions made and expected benefits upon retirement. 7.4.3 Defined Contribution Plan The University provides a defined contribution retirement plan for all regular, full-time employees. This plan is administered by the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF). The University’s contribution is four percent of the employee’s current annual base salary. The University’s contribution for employees who transitioned to Rogers State University from its predecessor institution, Rogers University, and whose annual base salary was $30,000 or greater as of December 31, 1998, is fifteen percent of his or her current annual base salary in excess of $9,000. Contributions are made to each employee’s account on a monthly basis. 7.4.4 Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) All regular, full-time employees may elect to participate in the Supplemental Retirement Annuity (SRA) Plan. This plan is administered by the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF). This plan allows for contributions through salary reduction on a tax-deferred basis. Contribution regulations and limits are established by the IRS. The appropriate application must be completed in the Employment and Benefits Office. This plan is not retroactive to the first day of employment or eligibility. Contact the Employment and Benefits Office for additional details. 7.4.5 Health Insurance Coverage After Retirement Employees who officially retire under the provisions of the Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement System (OTRS) with at least ten years of service may enroll or continue enrollment in the BlueCross BlueShield health insurance program until they are eligible for Medicare. The cost of the coverage will be paid by the University and OTRS. The retiree may enroll in dental, vision, and/or eligible dependent coverage at his or her own expense. When an OTRS retiree becomes eligible for Medicare, the retiree may enroll in supplemental health insurance at his or her own expense. The premiums are deducted from his or her monthly retirement check. 7.4.6 Life Insurance Coverage After Retirement Employees who officially retire under provisions of the Oklahoma Teacher’s Retirement System (OTRS) may continue group life insurance coverage until the retiree attains age sixty-five. The cost of the coverage will be paid by the University. When an OTRS retiree reaches age sixty-five, the retiree will have thirty-one days to convert this coverage to an individual life insurance policy at his or her own expense. 7.5 Section 125 Flexible Benefit PlanEmployees may allocate specific amounts, according to contract and IRS limits, of monthly salary or wages, on a pre-tax basis, for the reimbursement of medical care expenses or dependent care expenses or both. Employees may subsequently file a claim voucher for reimbursement of the eligible medical and/or dependent care expenses that they have incurred. Employees may also elect to enroll in the Flexible Benefit Plan to allow employee-paid insurance premiums to be deducted on a pre-tax basis. Employees must enroll in this plan within thirty days of employment or during open enrollment, which is effective January 1st of every year. 7.6 Workers’ Compensation InsuranceAll University employees are covered by Workers' Compensation insurance. Health expenses directly attributable to the performance of compensable work for the University are covered under this program. 7.6.1 Procedures If an employee is injured on the job, the supervisor should immediately contact the Employment and Benefits Office to ensure that proper procedures are followed (see Section 10.5, Health and Safety). These procedures will assure that the medical services are provided with the appropriate information to ensure the employee is not charged for services rendered. In the case of life-threatening injuries, the employee should be transported by ambulance to the nearest available emergency health care treatment center. The incident should be reported immediately to the Employment and Benefits Office by the injured employee’s supervisor, and the medical service provider(s) should be notified that the injury was an on-the-job injury and that the proper authorization will be provided. An injured employee must obtain authorization from CompSource Oklahoma before changing physicians or health care facilities after initial treatment. If this authorization is not obtained prior to the injured employee’s being seen by the new physician, the employee is responsible by law for payment of the expenses incurred. 7.6.2 Compensation If an employee misses work because of an on-the-job injury, he or she has the option of being paid accrued sick leave for the time lost or receiving compensation from CompSource Oklahoma, but not both. An injured employee must be off work more than three calendar days before he or she is entitled to receive temporary compensation by CompSource Oklahoma. If the CompSource Oklahoma compensation is selected, it will be paid at a rate of sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the average weekly salary of the claimant with a minimum of sixty dollars per week and a maximum annual rate set by state statute. Temporary compensation cannot be paid in excess of three hundred weeks. Temporary compensation checks are paid every two weeks, and payments are never made in advance. Employees may also be eligible for permanent benefits. An employee may not receive payment for annual leave, personal leave and/or compensatory time while receiving workers’ compensation benefits. An employee may not receive sick leave benefits along with Workers’ Compensation Benefits, but may opt for one or the other (sick leave benefits or Workers’ Compensation Benefits). 7.7 Unemployment CompensationThe University has contracted to provide unemployment compensation benefits for eligible terminated employees or those who are laid off. Information concerning unemployment compensation can be found in a booklet entitled Information for Workers Who are Unemployed Concerning their Rights to Receive Unemployment Compensation. Copies of the booklet can be obtained from the Oklahoma State Employment Security Commission. 7.8 Comprehensive Automobile Liability InsuranceCurrently, all University employees are covered under certain provisions of the State Risk Management program while they are operating a University-owned or personal vehicle while conducting official University business. This coverage does not extend to non-employee passengers or to any damage sustained to the employee’s personal vehicle and/or property. Coverage under the program is subject to change without notice. If the employee is operating a University-owned or personal vehicle while conducting University business, the State of Oklahoma requires such persons to have personal automobile liability insurance in force at the time of use. Third parties injured as a result of a University employee operating a University vehicle or a personal vehicle while conducting University business, are covered for liability risk up to amounts set by statute. 7.9 Other Professional LiabilityEffective January 23, 1995, professional liability coverage provided insures actual or alleged “wrongful” acts, which are defined as any breach of duty, neglect, error, or misstatement, misleading statement, or act or omission by any employee in his or her capacity as such, committed solely in the course of his or her employment and of the activities of the University, including but not limited to, discrimination, whether based upon race, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability; sexual harassment; libel; slander; defamation; or publication or utterance in violation of an individual’s right to privacy. The State Risk Management Office, under the State of Oklahoma’s Self-Insurance Program, provides the following insurance coverage:
In the event an employee is threatened with litigation based on his acts as an employee, that employee should notify the Vice President for Business Affairs Office immediately. 7.10 Employee Academic Tuition Assistance ProgramAn Academic Tuition Assistance Program is available to regular, full-time employees. Staff are eligible for the program after six months of employment. The President may grant variance to the six-month employment restriction when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the University. Faculty members are eligible for the program on the date of hire. This program allows an employee to apply for a tuition waiver (fees are not included) for a maximum of seven Rogers State University undergraduate credit hours for the fall and spring semesters and three credit hours for the summer term. Tuition assistance is not available for courses audited or repeated. To remain eligible for the tuition assistance program, after the first semester, an employee must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all course work attempted after entrance into the program. Reinstatement in the program after the cumulative GPA falls below 2.5 is allowed only after the employee raises his or her cumulative GPA to 2.5 or greater. The employee must obtain approval from his or her supervisor before enrolling. Completed Academic Tuition Assistance Program Forms Requests may be denied when budget limitations dictate and/or for employees with unsatisfactory job performance or disciplinary issues, or for employees who have previously withdrawn from or failed courses for which tuition assistance was provided. If the class is scheduled during normal business hours, the employee must obtain approval from his or her supervisor to take the class before he or she enrolls in the class. The supervisor must make the decision based upon the best interests of the University. If enrollment is approved, the supervisor will approve a revised work schedule and submit a signed copy to the Employment and Benefits Office for each semester that a revised work schedule is approved. All class-related activities (admission, enrollment, advising, homework, etc.) must be done outside work hours. The following benefits are provided to regular, part-time employees:
7.11 Benefits for Part-Time EmployeesThe following benefits are provided to regular, part-time employees, as defined in Section 3.4.2:
7.12 Change of Employee InformationChanges of address, telephone number, marital status, number of dependents, beneficiaries, etc., are to be promptly reported to the Employment and Benefits Office. |
may receive an amount equal to the University-paid premium (less employer FICA) as additional taxable compensation.
must be approved and submitted to the Employment and Benefits Office before the last day of the drop/add period, as defined in the Class Schedule. Requests received after this date will not be considered.