Employee Benefits and Plan Documents
Employee Benefits and Plan Documents
Employee Benefits
The college offers a wide range of benefits for faculty and staff. For detailed information about a specific benefit, please see the boxes below for the 2023 Benefits Guide and Health, Dental, and Vision Rates as well as the 2024 Benefits Guide and Health, Dental, and Vision Rates . For summary plan descriptions and enrollment forms, click on the appropriate tab below.
In addition, employees have access to a variety of On-Campus Services and Employee Discounts.
The college must reserve the right to modify its benefits programs as circumstances dictate. However, the college will always endeavor to provide the most attractive benefits package possible.
The Birmingham-Southern College Welfare Benefits Plan document and summary plan descriptions can be viewed here.
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Insurance
BSC offers a suite of insurance, including Health, Vision, Dental and Life insurance.
Please read the Benefits Guide and Benefits Rates, in the boxes above, for a comprehensive overview of insurance benefits.
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Retirement
Retirement
The college offers a voluntary retirement plan through TIAA. Tax-deferred monies can be contributed to a defined contribution plan (RA).
- Plan Highlights
- Change of Beneficiary
- Online Resources
- Phone numbers:
- Telephone Counseling Center: (800) 842-2776
- Automated Telephone Service: (800) 842-2252
- Summary Plan Description
- Financial Statement - 2019-20
- Summary Annual Report - 2019-20
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Group Life and AD&D Insurance
The college provides group life insurance through Mutual of Omaha. Employees under age of 65 are provided a $50,000 term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance policy. A $34,000 insurance policy is provided to employees between ages of 65 to 70. A $23,000 insurance policy is provided to employees over age 70. Employees may purchase additional coverage for self, spouse, and/or dependent children. Within the first 30 days of employment, a guaranteed issue amount of $150,000 is available for employees, $50,000 for spouses, and $10,000 for dependent children. Additional amounts subject to acceptable evidence of good health. Rates are determined by your age and the amount of insurance coverage.
- Change of Beneficiary Form
- Online Resources
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Critical Illness Insurance
Critical Illness insurance provides benefits for you, your spouse, and dependent children in case of a critical illness diagnosis. These benefits are paid out in lump sum amounts directly to you, the member. Benefit amounts are based on the schedule of benefits laid out in the policy documents and include things like
heart attack, cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s, and more. Please refer to the summary
plan description for a complete listing of all covered critical illnesses. -
Accident Insurance
Accidents can happen at any time. Mutual of Omaha’s Accident Insurance policy pays you funds when there’s been an accident on or off the job. This coverage pays lump sum benefits based on the injury and includes coverage for items such as ER visits, fractures, dislocations, burns, lacerations, medical devices including prosthetics, and more. You may choose to cover yourself and your eligible dependents. Please refer to the summary plan description for a complete listing of
all covered accidents. -
Flexible Benefits Plan
The college offers a flexible benefits plan through BeneTech Administrators. The plan has two components, premium conversion and flexible spending accounts, which allow employees to tax-shelter a portion income.
- Plan Highlights
- Brochure
- What is a Flexible Spending Account?
- Manual Claims Forms:
- Online Resources
- Customer Service: (205) 879-2824
- Summary Plan Description
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Long Term Disability
The college offers voluntary long term disability insurance through Mutual of Omaha. The policy provides disability income benefits for employees who are disabled and unable to work for 90 days or more. After 90 days, employees are paid 60% of their salary by the long term disability benefit. Premiums are calculated based upon salary.
- Plan Highlights
- Evidence of Insurability (required if enrolling after initial employment)
- Online Resources
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Employee Assistance Program
New for 2022!
Uprise Health Employee Assistance Program
This digitally enabled EAP is designed to reduce stress and keep you healthy. Create a profile and get started. See the flyer for more information and instructions on creating an account.
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Worldwide Travel Assistance
Travel Assistance can help you avoid unexpected bumps in the road anywhere in the world. The following services are available to all benefits eligible employees at no cost: pre-trip assistance, immediate attention for emergencies while traveling, emergency travel support services, and locating medical assistance.
- Travel Assistance Guide
- Available anytime: 1-800-856-9947
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Tuition Benefits
Employees and dependents are eligible to receive tuition benefits at the College.
- Tuition Benefits Summary
- BSC Tuition Remission Application
- ACS Tuition Exchange
- The Tuition Exchange
- Application for Tuition Exchange / ACS Tuition Exchange
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Employee Discounts
As an employee of Birmingham-Southern College, you are eligible for special rates or services at the following businesses. You may be required to present your Faculty/Staff ID card. If you know of other businesses offering discounts, please contact the Human Resources Office.
Automotive
Express Oil Change
Receive $5.00 off of every oil change with your BSC ID or Parking Decal at the 3rd Avenue West Location.Banking
Regions Bank
Discounts available for check orders and safe deposit box rentals. Bonuses available on certain loans or credit lines. Free personal financial checkup with a Regions banker. Contact your local Regions Bank for details or to establish or convert an account.AlaTrust Credit Union
You have the opportunity to become a member with benefits including payroll deduct for savings, loan payments, Christmas Club, IRAs, and more.You are eligible for the Wells Fargo At Work program – a valuable package of accounts, services, and special benefits that may help you reach your financial goals.
Bookstore
The BSC Bookstore in the Norton Campus Center offers all BSC Faculty and Staff a 15 percent discount on BSC merchandise, gift items, and office supplies. Please show your BSC ID to receive the discount.
Computers, Telephones, and Software
Computer Purchases
Our IT Department, Apple, and Dell have teamed up to offer you the ability to purchase computer systems for personal use at special prices with exclusive discounts and promotions. For more information, visit the Apple Education Program or the Dell University websites.Telephone Purchases
Verizon is pleased to offer an employee discount to the Share Everything Plan. Click here for more information.Dining and Entertainment
The Caf at Norton Center
Enjoy all-you-can-eat for $5 on Fridays.Home
Simplybabyfurniture.com
Receive 15% off your entire order and free shipping by visiting www.simplybabyfurniture.com/educational-discount.html.Housing
Grand Highlands at Mountain Brook
Receive 5% off each month of rent. Click or call (967-9312) for details. -
Changing Your Benefit Elections
Health, Dental, and Vision
You may make changes to your benefit elections for health, dental, and vision during annual open enrollment (to be effective January 1 of the following year) or because of a qualified status change, such as marriage, adoption, birth, death, divorce, or a gain/loss of other coverage. Any benefit changes made must be consistent with the event.If you have a qualified status change, you must notify the Human Resources Office within 30 days.
To make changes to your benefits, access the Employee Navigator website and login to begin.
Retirement
You may make changes to your retirement election at anytime by logging in to your TIAA account at TIAA.org/bsc.Other Benefits
For all other benefits, changes in elections are permissible at anytime because the premiums are not tax-sheltered and therefore enrollment is not subject to IRS regulations. -
Paid Time Off
Annual Leave
You may accrue annual leave according to the following schedule:
1 - 3 years of service 1 day per month
3 - 15 years of service 1.5 days per month
15+ years of service 2 days per month
A year of service is defined as completion of one year of service effective with your date of hire. Accrual begins the first month of employment if your date of hire is on or before the fifteenth of the month and at the first of the following month if your date of hire is after the fifteenth. Your accrual rate will increase in the month of your date of hire if the date is before the fifteenth of the month or in the following month if the date is after the fifteenth. One annual leave day will be equivalent to one “employee workday.” An “employee workday” will equal the average number of hours you are regularly scheduled to work each day. You are eligible to take annual leave after six months of employment, subject to scheduling requirements. You must schedule annual leave time in advance with your supervisor. Annual leave may accumulate up to a maximum of 30 employee workdays.
Sick Leave
You will accrue sick leave at the rate of one day per month worked. One sick leave day will be equivalent to one “employee workday.” An “employee workday” will equal the average number of hours you are regularly scheduled to work each day. Sick leave may be accumulated up to a maximum of 90 “employee workdays.” Accrual begins the first month of employment if your date of hire is on or before the fifteenth of the month and at the first of the following month if your date of hire is after the fifteenth. You may take sick leave for your illness, doctor and dental appointments, for conditions of pregnancy, birth of a child, the placement of a child for adoption or foster care; and to provide care during illness of your spouse, your dependent child or your parent (does not include parent-in-law). You may not use sick leave for a day that falls immediately before or after a scheduled annual leave or holiday unless you present a written doctor’s excuse on the first day of your return to work. You must provide an excuse from a physician if you are absent for three (3) or more days consecutively or in a single work week.
Sick Leave Bank You may be eligible to receive donated sick leave if you have a serious health condition, are caring for your spouse, child, or parent (not parent-in-law) due to a serious health condition (as defined by the FMLA), or have given birth to a child or received the placement of a child for adoption or foster care. You will be required to furnish applicable medical documentation and complete a “Request for Sick Leave Bank Donation and REPAYMENT AGREEMENT.” You must have a minimum balance of 10 days sick and annual leave (combined) at the time your Family and Medical Leave is approved to be eligible to receive donated leave. In addition, in order to use donated leave, you must first exhaust your own sick and annual leave accrual. You may receive no more than 3 months (approximately 65 days) of donated time. You must return to work for a minimum of one month or you must reimburse the college for all compensation paid to you after your sick and annual leave has been exhausted. Birmingham-Southern College will determine the use of the sick leave bank on a case-by-case basis. Donation of Leave You may voluntarily donate annual or sick leave. A maximum of 5 days per fiscal year (06/01-05/31) may be donated. A minimum balance of 12 sick leave days must remain in your accrual balance after the donation(s) of leave.
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Holidays
The College recognizes the following holidays for all eligible employees:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving and the day after
- Winter/Christmas Break
(REV 6/14/23)
A list of observed holidays will be established at the beginning of each calendar year and published in the Monday Morning newsletter.
The President of the College may designate additional days as official holidays.
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Summary Annual Reports