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Benefits InformationThe University of Puget Sound has a strong commitment to offer faculty and staff members a comprehensive and competitive benefit package which represents a substantial addition to regular salary.
Additional Resources
The Flexible Benefits Plan is Puget Sound's group health insurance benefits program for staff members in regular positions scheduled to work at least half-time, 1,040 hours per year, and faculty members who teach part-time, who do not bear the full range of expectations associated with full-time faculty, have a half time appointment when they are contracted to teach four units of course work or to meet an equivalent set of responsibilities during the academic year, are eligible for Flexible Benefits. Program Benefits include the following: Benefits AllowanceThe university provides a monthly benefits allowance that you use to purchase benefits and establish personal expense accounts. If the cost for the benefits you select is greater than your allowance, you supplement the allowance with tax-free payroll deductions. Medical InsuranceYou may use your benefits allowance to purchase coverage for yourself and your family in one of the university's three group medical plans, an HMO plan, a point-of-service (POS) plan with a low deductible and a POS with a high deductible. However, if you have group medical coverage from some other source, such as your spouse's employer, you may decide not to enroll in the university's plan and instead apply your benefits allowance to the dental plan, the life insurance plan, or place it in a personal expense account. Domestic partners are eligible for coverage under the medical plan. Dental InsuranceYou may choose to use a portion of your benefits allowance to purchase coverage for yourself and your family in the university sponsored dental plan. The dental plan is an indemnity dental plan with co-payments and deductibles and allows you flexibility in your choice of dentist. Unless you have used a portion of your allowance to purchase the dental insurance, you will pay the cost of the coverage with tax-free payroll deductions. Life InsuranceAs a basic benefit, you receive $25,000 in life insurance coverage paid for by the university. You may choose to us a portion of your benefits allowance to purchase additional group life insurance - beyond the $25,000 that the university purchases for you - in increments up to $150,000 in additional coverage. Unless you have used a portion of your allowance to purchase additional group life insurance, you will pay the cost of this coverage with a tax-free payroll deduction. Health Care Personal Expense AccountAfter you have chosen your medical, dental, and additional life insurance coverage you may deposit any remaining benefits allowance in a health care personal expense account. You may also deposit some of your own salary into your health care account on a tax-free basis. During the year, you can use the money in the account to reimburse yourself, also on a tax-free basis, for qualified medical and dental expenses that are not covered by insurance. Dependent Care Personal Expense AccountAfter you have chosen your medical, dental, and additional like insurance coverage you may deposit any remaining benefits allowance in a dependent care personal expense account. You may also deposit some of your own salary into your dependent care account on a tax-free basis. During the year, you can use the money in the account to reimburse yourself, again, on a tax-free basis, for qualified dependent care expenses. Additional information about flexible benefits can be found in the election guide booklet. Benefits include the following: The university contributes 7.65 percent of your covered salary to your Social Security taxes and you contribute a matching amount through payroll deduction. These contributions (FICA taxes) fund Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare benefits (1.45%). Retirement Annuity Program Faculty members and staff members in regular positions scheduled to work at least half-time, 1,000 hours per year begin participation in the retirement program after 12 month of continuous employment or immediately with applicable prior service at another accredited college or university. The university contributes the equivalent of 10 percent of your regular salary to your retirement plan if your position is not exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (those eligible for overtime pay). The university contributes 12 percent if you are faculty members or if your position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (those not eligible for overtime pay). Immediately and fully vested, you direct those contributions to one or more of the nearly 60 investment options made available by the university through Teachers Insurance Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA/CREF) and The Vanguard Group. You receive quarterly reports showing the university's contributions and the total accumulation in your accounts. Tax-Deferred Annuity Program You can add money to your retirement savings; beyond the amount the university contributes, by making optional, tax-deferred contributions to TIAA/CREF and/or to The Vanguard Group. Contributions to the program are deducted from your pay on a pre-tax basis, lowering your current taxable income and, in turn, your tax liability. The interest, dividends, and capital gains earned on your investments compound, tax-deferred. You will not be taxed on your earnings until you begin to receive distributions. You save on taxes in two ways: through the pre-tax payroll deduction and through tax-deferred growth. No waiting period is required. Group Long Term Total Disability InsuranceFaculty members and staff members in regular positions scheduled to work at least three-quarter-time, 1,560 hours per year begin participation in the Long Term Total Disability (LTD) Insurance program after 12 month of continuous employment or immediately with documentation of prior coverage under a group LTD plan within three months before employment with Puget Sound. The university pays the premium for your LTD insurance. In the event of long-term total or partial disability, the plan pays you a monthly income benefits equal to 60% of your base monthly salary not to exceed $7,000, whichever is less. Benefits commence on the first of the month following six consecutive months of documented total or partial disability. The plan also includes a retirement premium waiver benefit which continues to contributions to your retirement plan during the period of disability. Accidental Death and Dismemberment InsuranceAt any time you may purchase this personal accident insurance for yourself and your family through the Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. You pay monthly premium for this insurance coverage with an after-tax payroll deduction. For 33 cents a month you can purchase $10,000 of coverage for yourself; for $9.75 per month, $300,000 of coverage. Tuition Scholarship and Tuition Exchange Personal Benefits. If you work for at least 30 hours a week all year or full-time for nine months, you are eligible to receive 100 percent tuition remission when enrolled in courses at the university, subject to applicable admission requirements. These courses may be either graduate or undergraduate. This benefit is subject to the availability of space in the class after the enrollment of regular, tuition-paying students is complete. If you are eligible for tuition remission, you are also eligible to participate in the tuition exchange program with Seattle University. The value of tuition remission for your graduate coursework, under current tax laws, may be subject to Social Security (FICA) and federal income taxes. Individuals who were employed on a regular, full-time basis for at least twenty (20) years immediately preceding (1) retirement at or after age 55, or (2) earlier retirement because of total disability shall be eligible to receive tuition scholarships equivalent to, and on the same conditions as those for which they would have been eligible if they were not retired. Faculty and staff members who become disabled after ten years of service will continue to be eligible for tuition remission scholarships at the University of Puget Sound. Retirement means the faculty or staff member leaves the regular, full-time work force. Disability means either (1) for the first 24 months of the faculty or staff member's disability, being completely unable to perform the material and substantial duties of his or her normal occupation and not performing any other occupation; and after that 24 months, being unable to perform the material and substantial duties of any occupation for which the faculty or staff member is reasonably qualified by education, training, or experience. The disabled faculty or staff member must be under the regular care of a physician, other than himself or herself or a member of his or her family. Benefits for Spouse and Same Sex Partner. If you are eligible for tuition remission, your partner, subject to applicable admission requirements, is eligible to receive 50 percent tuition remission when enrolled for credit in courses at the university. The benefit level increases to 100 percent after you have completed two years of employment. If your partner is eligible for 100 percent tuition remission, he or she is also eligible for participation in the tuition exchange program with Seattle University. The value of tuition remission for your partner's graduate coursework, under current tax laws, will be subject to Social Security (FICA) and federal income taxes. Both FICA and federal income tax will be deducted from your earnings based on the value of the tuition remitted for your spouse. Individuals who were employed on a regular, full-time basis for at least twenty (20) years immediately preceding (1) retirement at or after age 55, (2) earlier retirement because of total disability, or (3) death, shall be eligible to receive for their partners tuition scholarships equivalent to, and on the same conditions as those for which they would have been eligible if they were not retired, disabled, or deceased. The partners of
disabled or deceased faculty/staff members who
become disabled or die after ten years of
service will continue to be eligible for
tuition remission scholarships at the
University of Puget Sound. Benefits for Your or Your Partner's Dependent Children. If you are eligible for Tuition Remission, your dependent children, subject to applicable admission requirements, are eligible to receive 50 percent tuition remission when enrolled for credit in undergraduate courses for 34 units of coursework, or the attainment of a baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first. The benefit level increases to 100 percent after you have completed two years of employment. Your dependent children are not eligible for tuition remission when enrolled in graduate courses. If your dependent children are eligible for 100 percent tuition remission, they are also eligible for participation in the tuition exchange programs in which Puget Sound participates. If you have a child who is planning to apply for a tuition exchange scholarship, request an updated list of the participating colleges and universities from the Human Resources Department. Individuals who were employed on a regular, full-time basis for at least twenty (20) years immediately preceding (1) retirement at or after age 55, (2) earlier retirement because of total disability, or (3) death, shall be eligible to receive for their dependent children tuition scholarships equivalent to, and on the same conditions as those for which they would have been eligible if they were not retired, disabled, or deceased. The dependent children of disabled or deceased faculty/staff members who become disabled or die after ten years of service will continue to be eligible for tuition remission scholarships at the University of Puget Sound. Sick Leave Vacation Leave
If your position is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act, you earn twenty (20) paid vacation leave days per year. Vacation leave is prorated for all regular, part-time staff.
Holidays and Bonus Days
Other Paid Leave Bereavement Leave. You may request up to three working days off with pay to attend the funeral and/or to make funeral arrangements for a member of your immediate family or household. To attend the funeral of a relative who is not a member of your immediate family, you may request up to one day off with pay. Jury Duty. When you have completed your assignment, request a Work Certification Report from Jury Administration at the County-City Building, attach it to your time sheet and forward both to the Human Resources Department. National Guard or Reserve Duty/Military Leave. You will be granted a military leave of absence for a maximum of ten working days per year for the purpose of attending active duty training. When you have completed your assignment, submit to the Human Resources Department a copy of your orders and pay statement along with your time sheet. You will be paid the greater of your regular salary, including shift differential, but excluding overtime, or the amount you were paid for National Guard or Reserve Duty. Personal Business Leave. If you cannot schedule a personal business appointment outside your normal work schedule, you may request up to two hours of personal business leave. Personal business leave is granted at the supervisor's discretion. Detailed descriptions of these and other programs can be found in the Staff Policies and Procedures Manual. Download Leave of Absence form Employee Assistance
Program (EAP) Child and Elder
Care Assistance The services of LifeEra Inc. are sponsored by the university as a part of the benefits available to staff and faculty members. Savings Bonds
Direct Payroll Bank Deposit
Athletic Events
Recreational Facilities
Intramural Sports Program Arts, Performances,
and Entertainment
Dining and Conference Service Diversions Cafe
Bookstore University of Puget
Sound Identification Card, Charging
Privileges, and Library Privileges Contact: hr@ups.edu
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