The State of Utah (URS) administers a defined benefit retirement program under federal and state law, and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service. Classified staff employees of SUU whose employment normally requires an average of 20 or more hours each week and who receive benefits normally provided by the institution are eligible for enrollment in the retirement program. The University pays 14.22 % of your monthly salary into the retirement program each month. An additional 1.5% is placed in a 401(k) plan.
Faculty and professional staff employees have a choice of either The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association/College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA/CREF) or Fidelity or a combination of both for their primary retirement program of the University. Fidelity and TIAA/CREF are defined contribution plans. The University contributes 14.2% of your monthly salary into your retirement account each month.
The University pays 7.65% of your salary to pay for future Social Security benefits from the United States Federal Government.
All qualified employees, their spouses, and their unmarried dependent children (unmarried dependent children under the age of 26) are provided with hospital and medical benefits, plus major medical coverage, through Educators Mutual Insurance. To contact Customer Service, call (Toll Free) 1-800-662-5850. The Human Resources Office should be referred to for answers to specific questions.
All qualified employees, their spouses, and their unmarried dependent children (unmarried dependent children under the age of 26) are provided with dental benefits through Educators Mutual Insurance. The dental insurance includes basic/preventative benefits, prosthetic benefits, and orthodontic benefits. The University pays 80% of the premium and the employee pays 20% of the premium for the dental insurance program. To contact Customer Service, call (Toll Free) 1-800-662-5850. The Human Resources Office should be referred to for answers to specific questions.
After two years of employment, the University provides you with long-term disability benefits through Standard Insurance Company. The benefit pays 66.67% of base salary for approved disabilities, up to a maximum of $6,000 per month.
The University provides you with term life insurance through Standard Insurance Company. The benefit is two times your salary (up to $50,000 of salary) of term life insurance. Also provided is $3,000 term life insurance on your spouse and each dependent child. Additional supplemental life insurance is also available through Standard Insurance Company-- please contact the Human Resources Office for additional information.
The University provides you with workers compensation insurance through the Workers Compensation Fund of Utah. The insurance covers the medical and lost time expenses caused by work related accidents or illnesses. (Workers Compensation Fund of Utah, St. George Office, Phone Number: 1-800-324-9470)
The employee assistance program (Blomquist Hale Consulting) provides confidential counseling for you and your family at no expense to you. It is provided to you by the University. A counselor is available to assist with issues such as stress, parenting, abuse, aging, drugs/alcohol, grief, marriage, work, finances, legal questions, depression, relationships, eating disorders and many other issues. Individuals in your family may call for assistance for themselves or for another family member. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a counselor, please call 1-800-926-9619. The toll-free, 24-hour crisis hotline is 1-800-926-9619.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment
PEHP (Public Employees Health Program) offers the employees of Southern Utah University a comprehensive Accident Plan which offers several layers of protection in the event of death or serious injury. The coverage provides protection 24 hours a day, on-or-off-the-job, in amounts from $25,000 to $250,000. Additional information is available in the Human Resources Office or through PEHP at (801) 366-7500.
Cancer, Long-Term Care, and Intensive Care
AFLAC offers Southern Utah University employees Cancer, Long-Term Care, and Intensive Care supplemental insurance. Such coverage includes hospital confinement, cancer treatment, and nursing home confinement--for additional information, please contact AFLAC at (435) 668-2626.
Tuition waivers are available to all employees who are currently employed for nine (9) months or more per year for six (6) hours a day or more and to spouses of employees who meet the criteria listed above. Tuition and regular fees are waived for nine (9) or less credit hours per semester; any eligible employee or spouse who takes ten (10) or more hours per semester must pay full regular fees in accordance with the University catalog. Special fees are still assessed. Tuition waivers are available to unmarried dependent children under 27 years of age of full-time employees currently employed for nine (9) or more months per year. One-half of tuition is waived. The eligible individual must pay one-half of tuition and all regular and special fees.
(SUU Policy No. 8.2.1)
Faculty and staff whose annual term of employment is half-time or more are eligible to receive the benefit of two season tickets for athletics events and for Mainstage theater and dance productions and Music Department Masterworks concerts. IRS regulations maintain that tickets that are received free of charge are taxable benefits subject to FICA, Medicare, State and Federal taxes. The University withholds the FICA and Medicare taxes. Other tax liability will be the individual's responsibility. Tickets will be taxed regardless of whether they are used or not. Faculty and staff with valid ID may, in lieu of season tickets, purchase up to two (2) individual event/game passes for each event at 20 percent discount from the full ticket price. This approach avoids tax ramifications.
(SUU Policy No. 8.2.3)