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Human Resources |
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| Jobline 706-562-1594 Our mission |
Benefits
Click each link below to access more information.
The Human Resources' Benefits Office provides benefits administration and consultation services for employees, retirees and their dependents.
The Benefits Office:
- Counsels and assists new, current, terminating and retired employees on benefit-related matters.
- Negotiates and coordinates campus-based benefit programs.
- Administers University System of Georgia benefit programs in support of employees.
- Helps ensure compliance with University System policies as well as federal and state laws.
The following information provided contain a brief summary of benefits available to full-time benefits-eligible employees of Columbus State University. Further details and information will be provided at the New Employee Orientation or upon request. Please contact Annette Brown, HR Administration & Benefits Manager or Rebecca Richardson, Senior Benefits Assistant at (706) 568-2005.
Note: While we make every effort to present this information accurately, the information on these Web pages is a summary overview. This means some details, explanations, and qualifiers are left out. It is intended to only provide general guidance, and you should not rely upon it as a complete or binding explanation of Columbus State University benefits. If this summary information differs from the language or intent of the formal, published descriptions and-or legal plan documents of these benefit programs, that information prevails.
The university currently offers four health insurance plans, which can provide coverage on your first day of employment:
- Traditional Indemnity (Traditional Health Plan)
- PPO and PPO Consumer Choice (Preferred Provider Option Plan)
- BlueChoice HMO and HMO Consumer Choice ( Health Maintenance Organization)
- PPO - Health Savings Account (High Deductible Health Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO
The university contributes approximately 70% of the total cost of your health care coverage for HMO, PPO and PPO-Health Savings Account (the Indemnity employer contribution is capped at the PPO rate). The employee pays the remaining portion of the premium monthly through payroll deduction; premiums for health insurance are withheld from your pay on a pre-tax basis, resulting in less cost to you.
New employees who are benefits-eligible have 30 days from their date of hire to select a medical plan for themselves and their eligible dependents. Eligible dependents include your spouse and your dependent children up to age 19 (or to age 26 with proof that the dependent is disabled or a full-time student). If your spouse or dependents have a different last name than your own, you will be required to present a marriage license, birth certificate, or other document establishing a dependent relationship as a condition of their coverage.
On an annual basis, the university offers an open enrollment period, during which employees may change their healthcare plan elections and levels of coverage.
Medco (Pharmacy Benefit Manager)
The Prescription Drug Benefit program provides quality care for you and your family while managing costs. With the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia/Medco prescription program, you can get your prescription filled at any participating pharmacy. Please remember to present your prescription ID card with your prescription (applies to Indemnity and PPO only).
The university offers an Indemnity Dental Benefits Plan
The dental plan is 100% employee funded. Employees pays the monthly premiums through payroll deductions, which are on a pre-tax basis. Other features include:
- $50 annual deductible per insured
- $1,000 annual maximum benefit per insured
- $1,000 lifetime orthodontic benefit per insured
Vacation and sick leave hours are accrued based on the status and duration of employment with Columbus State University.
Regular, full-time benefits-eligible employees accrue vacation leave that is pro-rated based on the years of service:
- 1-5 years of service = 10 hours for each full month
- 6-10 years of service = 12 hours for each full month
- 10+ years of service = 14 hours for each full month
- 360-hour maximum annual carryover
- Nine-month contract faculty do not accrue vacation hours.
Sick leave is accrued at the rate of eight hours of each full month (with no maximum accrual). Unused sick leave may be used toward retirement under the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRSGA).
Part-time, benefits-eligible employees working at least one-half time but less than full-time earn and accrue vacation and sick leave on a pro-rata basis according to the percentage of time employed. Temporary employees, including student assistants, graduate assistants, and part-time instructors do not earn or accrue vacation or sick leave credit.
Accrued vacation and sick leave is listed on each employee's paycheck stub.
Employees under the age of 60 must participate in a basic retirement plan through the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia. Columbus State University requires all employees to participate in the state-mandated plans. The mandatory contribution is 5.25% of your pre-tax gross salary. Staff participate in the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, but faculty and core administrators may choose Teachers Retirement System of Georgia or the Optional Retirement Plan.
Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRSGA)
The basic retirement program is offered through the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRSGA). It is a "defined benefit" plan (a pension-type program). Normal retirement age for the TRSGA benefits is 60 with at least 10 years of service. If you have at least 30 years of service, you can retire regardless of age. Reduced benefits are available if you have at least 25 years of service and opt to take "early retirement."
The actual benefit amount you will receive when you retire depends on a formula that takes into account your total years of service and your years of highest average salary.
To help administer the TRSGA program and to fund its benefits, the university also contributes on your behalf. The university's contribution represents 9.74% of each participant's salary. There is currently a 10-year vesting schedule, meaning that once you have 10 years of creditable services in the TRSGA system, you are eligible for a retirement benefit once you reach age 60.
Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)
Faculty and certain administrators may elect to participate in an Optional Retirement Plan (ORP). The ORP is a "defined contribution" plan. Again, the individual makes a 5% mandatory contribution. The university also makes a contribution of 9.24% directly toward the individual's ORP account. There is full and immediate vesting of all contributions to an individual's ORP account.
The resources contributed to your ORP can be invested through your choice of four investment companies:
- AIG VALIC
- American Century Investments
- Fidelity Investments
- Teacher's Insurance & Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA_CREF)
Each company offers several investment options. You may change your company allocations once a year, during the annual Benefits Open Enrollment period.
Columbus State University's health and dental coverage is administered under Section 125 of the federal tax code. This allows you to pay your benefits premiums on a pre-tax basis. Doing so saves you money (as much as 25-40% of the cost). If you elect health and/or dental coverage, your portion of the premium cost is automatically deducted from your pay on a pre-tax basis through Section 125.
The university provides $25,000 of basic life insurance on your behalf, at no cost to you. Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefits are included in the coverage.
Supplemental Life
You may purchase at your own cost supplemental basic life insurance through the same program in increments of 1, 2, or 3 times your annual salary/contract. Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefits are included. The supplemental life is 100% employee funded. Premiums vary in price by age.
Dependent Life
You may also insure your eligible dependents (spouse and children) for $10,000 each at $4.70 monthly for family coverage. Dependent life is 100% employee funded.
You may apply for this coverage at the time of hire or during annual benefits Open Enrollment; subsequent acceptance after time of hire is contingent on your providing evidence of insurability.
Full-time, benefits-eligible employees of Columbus State University (employed full-time for at least six months by TAP application deadline) may be eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Program for approved courses for academic credit. Tuition is waived for approved courses. TAP application forms must be approved by Human Resources by the established deadlines prior to employee registration for each term.
The university offers an Employee Assistance Program through the Pastoral Institute for benefits-eligible employees and their dependents. The Employee Assistance Program is a service that provides short-term confidential counseling and assistance associated with resolving life problems such as family issues, job stress, substance abuse issues, traumatic events and other personal concerns. Employees have six free sessions during the service year (September 1 - August 31) for counseling and/or workshops. The employee's dependents may share an additional six sessions. A family may not exceed 12 sessions during the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) service year. This program operates in such a manner that the names of participating employees and family members aren't disclosed to CSU.
These benefits are outside your health plan.
Several supplemental insurance programs are available through Aflac and can be deducted through payroll. Policies include cancer, intensive care, accident and short-term disability. Most Aflac programs are subject to Section 125 and employees must enroll within the first 30 days of employment or during the annual Open Enrollment period. This benefit is 100% employee funded.
For more information, please contact the Human Resources Department.
This voluntary plan allows you to receive a benefit if you are ill or injured for an extended period and unable to work. You may receive 60% of your salary (up to a monthly benefit of $5,000) after you have been out of work for 90 days. Benefit levels may be adjusted if you receive other income such as retirement or Social Security disability benefits. You pay the full cost for this program. If you apply at any time other than at your time of hire, acceptance is contingent upon your providing evidence of insurability.
Prudential is the authorized vendor for long-term disability.
Flexible Spending Account Brochure
Flexible Spending Account reimbursement forms: Medical | Dependent Care
Who can participate?
All regular, benefit eligible employees can participate in the Medical Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Reimbursement Plans. However, for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account expenses to be eligible for reimbursement, both spouses must be gainfully employed, and you must have a qualified dependent. If your spouse is disabled or a full-time student, special rules apply. Contact the Human Resources Department for more information. A qualified dependent is a child under the age of 13 or another relative, such as a parent or incapacitated spouse, who depends on you for at least half of their support, lives with you and qualifies as your dependent for federal income tax purposes. Please note, if you participate in a Flexible Spending Account, you are not able to participate in a Health Savings Account.
A Health Savings Account is an individually owned, portable savings account that allows an employee to save for qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-sheltered basis. CSU sponsors payroll deduction for such account through US Bank. The benefit of participating in a HSA is three fold; tax free contributions, tax free withdrawals and tax free interest on an interest bearing account. There is no ‘use it or loose it’ rule like a Flexible Spending Account since your balance stays in the account if not withdrawn. However, certain rules will apply:
- Employees must choose between HSA and the Medical Flexible Spending Account. IRS guidelines will not permit both.
- You must be enrolled in a PPO High Deductible Health Plan in order to set up an HSA.
- Cannot be enrolled in Medicare (generally not reached 65)
- May not be claimed as a dependent of another person’s tax return
Contribution savings limits change annually, the limits for 2009: Single Coverage - $3,000, and Family Coverage - $5950 and $1,000 age 55 catch-up
Cost Comparison of PPO-HSA to Indemnity
Cost Comparison of PPO-HSA to Traditional PPO
CSU Supplemental Retirement Savings Plans
Supplemental Retirement Savings Plans 403(b) and 457(b)
Columbus State University provides employees the opportunity to save for your future in a 403(b) and/or a 457(b) tax-sheltered savings program. These retirement plans are available to employees of public educational institutions and certain nonprofit organizations, allowing employees to make pretax contributions through payroll deduction. Both tax sheltered retirement plans are meant to encourage employees to save for their future in a long term retirement savings. The income tax is paid at withdrawal when you may be in a lower tax bracket. However, if withdrawn before age 59½ you might be subject to federal restrictions and a 10% penalty for early withdrawal.
Why participate in a tax sheltered annuity retirement savings plan through CSU?
- One advantage is lower taxes – you contribute before taxes are calculated lowering your taxable income.
- Another advantage is tax-deferred growth and compounding interest – the difference you would have paid in taxes earns interest plus that interest earns interest, compounding even more.
- Saving for retirement is at your control – to contribute to a 403(b) & 457(b) retirement is totally up to your discretion. You start at anytime, increase or decrease your deduction at anytime as your situation permits.
Columbus State University offers personal tax sheltered retirement savings from three different vendors for your convenience:
TIAA-CREF
Darren K. Graff, CEBS
100 East Pratt Street
5215 North O’Connor Blvd.
Las Colinas, TX 75039-3730
dgraff@tiaa-cref.org
VALIC
Chris Bone
706-888-3700 (cell)
706-660-6339 (local)
800-892-5558 ext.88298
www.valic.com
Fidelity
www.fidelity.com
For more information regarding tax sheltered annuities, please contact your benefits personnel in Human Resources
Columbus State University has established 12 official paid holidays per year for its employees. An exact schedule of these holidays is published each year by the university administration.
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King's Birthday
- Memorial Day
- 4th of July
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving (and Friday)
- Winter Holiday Week
These holidays are in addition to earned vacation time and are observed in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the university.
2009 Holiday Schedule
| Date(s) | Day(s) | Holiday |
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| January 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| July 3 | Friday | Independence Day |
| September 7 | Monday | Labor Day |
| November 26 - 27 | Thurs - Fri | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| December 21 - 25 | Monday - Fri | December Holidays |
2010 Holiday Schedule
| Date(s) | Day(s) | Holiday |
| January 1 | Friday | New Year's Day |
| January 18 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday |
| May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| July 5 | Monday | Independence Day |
| September 6 | Monday | Labor Day |
| November 25 - 26 | Thurs - Fri | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| December 20 - 24 | Monday - Fri | December Holidays |
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Human Resources |
Columbus State University |
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