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Benefits
Overview
The
mission of Portland State University is to enhance the intellectual,
social, cultural and economic qualities of urban life by providing access
throughout the life span to a quality liberal education for undergraduates,
and an appropriate array of professional and graduate programs especially
relevant to the metropolitan area. The University will actively promote
development of a network of educational institutions that will serve
the community by providing a high quality educational environment that
reflects issues important to the metropolitan region.
Portland
State University offers a comprehensive benefit package to its faculty
and staff. The purpose of this overview is to briefly describe the benefits
available to PSU employees and their families. For more specific information,
please contact the PSU Office of Human Resources at (503) 725-4926 or
visit our website at www.hrc.pdx.edu.
Our Flexible
Benefit Program
Employees
working at least .5 FTE or greater over the academic year are eligible
for PSU's flexible benefit program. Currently PSU pays the full cost
for most employees and family for medical, dental and a basic $5,000
required life insurance policy. The exception to fully paid coverage
is for part time classified employees (represented by the OPEU bargaining
group). Their contributions for benefits are pro-rated based on the
hours worked each month.
Portland
State University 's benefit program is provided through the Public Employees
Benefit Board (PEBB). PEBB is the benefit plan administrator for all
State of Oregon employees. Employees with other group medical coverage
may elect to “opt out” of the PEBB medical plans and receive limited
cash back. Employee dental insurance and the $5,000 basic life insurance
policy are mandatory.
New
Employees must enroll for benefits within 60 days of their hire date.
Coverage is effective the first of the month following the hire date
and the date of signature on enrollment forms. It is best to enroll
as soon as possible. After initial enrollment, future changes may be
made during the annual Open Enrollment period or due to a qualified
family status change (i.e., birth, marriage, divorce, death, employment
status change). See your benefits representatives in HR for specifics.
Medical
Coverage
Employees
may choose between Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield and Kaiser HMO.
The
Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield plan is a preferred provider plan and
offers worldwide coverage for all covered services. Employees can choose
any licensed physician, but get a better benefit by using a preferred
provider.
Under
the Kaiser HMO plan, employees must live in the HMO service area and
coordinate medical care through a doctor that participates in the HMO
program.
Vision
coverage is included in both medical plans.
Dental
Coverage
Five
dental plans are available. Three of the plans are dental maintenance
organizations (DMOs) with participating DMO dentists. One plan provides
worldwide coverage where persons covered under the plan may choose any
dentist, and one plan is a special low cost dental plan available to
part-time classified employees only.
Life
Insurance
Benefits
eligible employees will automatically receive $5000 in life insurance
coverage, and may elect to purchase additional coverage through payroll
deduction at PSU's group rates. This supplemental life insurance is
available up to coverage levels of $400,000. The first $45,000 of employee
life insurance is paid on a pre-tax basis. Amounts above $45,000, and
spouse life insurance, are deducted on a post-tax basis.
Disability
Insurance
PSU
offers a voluntary short-term disability plan (STD), and several different
levels of long-term disability (LTD) coverage to our employees. Disability
plans offer income protection during times when an employee is unable
to work due to an injury or illness. Premiums for disability insurance
are paid on a post-tax basis, and rates vary depending on the plan(s)
chosen and gross monthly salary. Accidental Death and Dismemberment
insurance is also available for employees and family.
Dependent
Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Dependent
Care FSAs are available to employees who must pay someone to care for
dependents so the employee (and spouse, if married) can work. Employees
may elect to have a certain dollar amount deducted from their pay each
month on a pre-tax basis (not to exceed $5,000 per year) and deposited
in their Dependent Care FSA. Throughout the year employees submit claims
and receipts for services provided and receive reimbursement from their
tax-free FSA account.
Retirement
Plans
The
retirement benefits provided to you as an eligible employee of Portland
State University can be a very significant part of your income in retirement.
Currently PSU, as part of the Oregon University System (OUS), offers
two retirement plans for unclassified employees:
•
The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) or the Oregon
Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP) (plan determined based
on date of eligibility).
•
The Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), which offers TIAA-CREF, VALIC,
American Century Funds, and Scudder Funds.
Classified
employees are automatically enrolled in the Oregon Public Employees
Retirement System or the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan.
Employees
eligible to participate in our retirement plans must complete six full
months of employment in a qualifying position. The retirement plan receives
funding from employee and employer contributions. The employee contribution,
fully paid by the university, is 6% of gross salary. In addition, the
University pays the Employer Contribution on behalf of most employees.
Vesting rights occur after employer has made contributions in any part
of five calendar years, or employee is age 50 while employed.
More
information on the retirement plans may be obtained from the benefits
section of our HR website.
Additional
Retirement Savings Programs
The
University makes available to its employees a Tax-Deferred Investment
(TDI) Program, under section 403(b) and 457 of the Internal Revenue
Code. Through the TDI Program, employees may accumulate tax-deferred
savings to supplement retirement plans and social security. Payroll
deductions are done on a pre-tax basis. Currently there are 18 insurance
and investment companies in addition to The Oregon Savings Growth Plan
that provide a wide range of investment choices.
Workers' Compensation
Employees
who are injured or become ill due to work-related reasons are insured
by the state's workers' compensation plan. For approved claims, the
State Accident Insurance Fund (SAIF) provides coverage for medical expenses
and time lost from work beyond three days.
Use
and Accrual of Leave Time
Vacation
Annual
leave is available to employees who are employed at .50 FTE or more
on a twelve-month unclassified appointment; and to classified employees
employed at .50 FTE or more. Each full time, vacation-eligible unclassified
employee will earn 15 hours of vacation leave per month. Full time classified
employees earn 8 hours of vacation a month and this number increases
with years of service in five-year increments. Unclassified and classified
employees between .50 and 1.0 FTE earn vacation on a pro rata basis.
New employees are earning vacation from their date of hire, however
there is a 6-month waiting period for all new employees before they
may use any accrued vacation. Vacation is credited at the end of each
month and may not be used until the subsequent month. Employees can
accrue a maximum of 260 hours of vacation leave. In addition, classified
employees receive two “personal” days per year to be used in that year.
Faculty
on a 9-month contract do not receive paid vacations except institution
holidays occurring during the term of their contract.
Holidays
The
following holidays are observed at PSU: New Year's Day, Martin Luther
King Jr.'s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans
Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after, and Christmas Day.
Sick
Leave
Employees
accrue eight hours of sick leave credit for each full month of service;
part-time staff at .50 or more earn pro rata credit. There is no maximum
accrual and balance of sick leave.
Other
Benefits
Academic
Studies
Employees
who have appointments of .50 FTE or more per term are eligible to take
up to 12 credit hours at the reduced tuition rate. Adjusting an employee's
work schedule to accommodate taking classes is at the discretion of
the department. Eligible employees may transfer their staff fee privileges
to their spouse, domestic partner or dependent child on a per term basis;
however only one person at a time may use the employee reduced tuition
benefit.
Employee
Assistance Program (EAP)
The
Employee Assistance Program is a confidential counseling and referral
service that is provided to PSU employees as a pre-paid benefit. Several
referral/counseling visits are available to you, your household members
and dependents per calendar year to help you with personal or job-related
issues. This service is completely confidential and operates separately
from the university.
Gymnasium
Services
The
Peter Stott Center is open to faculty and staff during scheduled hours.
The gym includes a swimming pool, sauna, handball, racquetball, and
tennis courts. There is a nominal fee for those that would like a locker
at the gym.
Library
The
Branford Price Millar Library is available to all faculty and staff.
The University photo identification card serves as a library card.
Smith
Memorial Center
Dining
facilities, recreation areas and a reading room are open to faculty
and staff.
Transportation
& Parking
General
parking permits, car pool permits and discounted TriMet Transit Passes
are available from the Parking Office, 154 Neuberger Hall. Payroll deductions
for both parking and TriMet Passport Transit Passes are taken on a pretax
basis.
Location
PSU
is conveniently located in Downtown Portland with easy access to shops,
government agencies, specifically the Post Office, DMV, City Hall, etc.
and situated within Tri-Met's “Fareless Square.”
Office
of Human Resources
Portland
State University
302
University Services Building
Post
Office Box 751
Portland
, Oregon 97207-0751
503-725-4926
Fax:
503-725-5896
www.hrc.pdx.edu
PSU
promotes equal opportunity for all individuals without regard to age,
color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion or
creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status
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