Employee Benefits

Traditional State of Texas fringe benefits are provided for eligible employees. All non-student employees, working twenty hours or more per week for a period of four and a half months or more are eligible for fringe benefits, which include Social Security, insurance, retirement, and sick leave. Classified and unclassified (non-faculty) employees are also eligible for annual leave and longevity pay. Graduate Teaching and Research Assistants are eligible for insurance benefits. The Human Resources Office coordinates benefit programs. The following is a brief summary based on local interpretation of benefits. All employees should familiarize themselves with supporting documents (e.g., group insurance policies) and/or consult the applicable agency or organization (e.g., the United States Social Security Administration) for a full statement and/or explanation of their benefits.

State Benefits

Sul Ross State University is a member of the Texas State University System. As a state agency, employees are eligible for State benefit programs. All State benefit programs and contribution rates are subject to change by the Legislature.

Social Security Program

All non-student employees participate in the Social Security program as a condition of employment. The tax rates set by federal law are 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare for the employer and 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare for the employee.

Teacher Retirement System (TRS)

All non-student employees employed at least half-time and appointed for 4 1/2 months participatein the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS). New Employee’s TRS membership begins on the employee’s first active duty date. Employees contribute 8.0% and the State contributes 8.0%of the employee’s wages. Employee contributions are tax deferred. Members vest after five yearsof creditable service. TRS is a defined benefit program offering death, survivor, disability and retirement annuity benefits. Information concerning TRS benefits is available in the Human Resources Office and the TRS website at www.trs.state.tx.us

Optional Retirement Program (ORP)

Full-time faculty, executive staff and some designated unclassified staff are eligible to elect Optional Retirement Program (ORP) in lieu of TRS. Employees have 90 days from their first active duty date to make an irrevocable choice between ORP and TRS. Employees contribute 6.65% and the State contributes 6.60% of the employees wages. Employee contributions are tax deferred. These contributions are deposited with the employee’s selected ORP carrier. Participants vest after one year and one day of ORP participation. ORP is a defined contribution plan with benefits based upon individual investment decisions.

Supplemental Tax Deferred Annuity

All employees may purchase a supplemental tax deferred annuity in addition to retirement and a Texa$aver plan. This program offers the same type of investment found in the ORP plan. The program is also governed by federal 403(b) retirement plan regulations. Deposits to supplemental tax deferred annuities are based only on employee payroll deductions. The employee selects the monthly contribution level in a salary reduction agreement, which is limited by federal regulations.

TexSaver

All employees may participate in the Texa$aver plan in addition to retirement and a tax deferred annuity. This tax deferred program is administered by Great-West Retirement Services and governed by federal 457 plan regulations. Deposits to Texa$aver are based only on employee payroll deductions. The employee selects the monthly contribution level in a salary reduction agreement, which is limited by federal regulations.

Group Insurance

The Employees Retirement System of Texas administers state employee insurance. Group insurance is provided for eligible employees. Employees may select coverage for themselves and eligible dependents from medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. A dependent may be a spouse or a child in a normal parent/child relationship. A child must be under the age of 26. Long term disability (LTD) and short-term disability (STD) are also available for employees. Information on insurance coverage and claim forms is available from the Employees Retirement System on the ERS website at www.ers.state.tx.us.

Longevity Pay

Non-academic and non-law enforcement full-time employees of the University receive longevity pay in addition to their base salaries in accordance with State statutes. A full-time employee is defined as one who is employed to work forty hours per week for a period of at least four and one- half months, excluding students employed in positions that require student status as a condition of employment. Longevity pay starts at the end of the second year of service and increases at the end of each two years up to and including 42 years of service. The rate is based on $20 per month for each two years of service.

Hazardous Duty Pay

Law enforcement personnel are eligible for hazardous duty pay of $10 per month for each year of service in a hazardous duty position after completion of the initial year. Hazardous duty pay ceases upon transfer to a non-hazardous position.

Sick Leave

All regular non-student employees are eligible for sick leave with pay. Full time employees accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month and part-time employees accrue proportionate to the percent of employment. An unlimited amount of sick leave may be accrued. For additional information see the Administrative Policy Manual Section 5.04 Employee Leave and Overtime, Subsection C. Sick Leave.

Vacation Leave

All regular non-student and non-faculty employees are eligible for vacation leave with pay. New state employees have a waiting period of six months before using vacation leave. Full-time staff employees accrue vacation based on years of service and part-time employees accrue proportionate to the percent of employment. A limited amount of vacation leave may be carried over to the next fiscal year. Excess vacation converts to sick leave.

Employee Education Assistance Program

This program is for full-time (1.0 FTE) benefits-eligible staff and faculty employees, employed by SRSU, who desire to enroll in university credit courses at the University. Applicants must have a minimum of twelve months, full-time continuous employment at SRSU by the first-class day.
Coursework must relate to the employee’s current or prospective job duties within their department. Undergraduate and graduate (limited to master level programs) participants may take up to nine (9) credit hours per semester. Participants are responsible for the payment of statutory tuition only, with other tuition and fees waived by the University. Waiver is based on successful completion of all coursework (grade of C or better). Participants are required to repay the University the full cost of tuition and fees for course results of less than C, withdrawal or incomplete (please contact the Cashier’s Office for repayment instructions).

Staff Development

Sul Ross State University is committed to supporting and providing professional development training to promote professional growth in support of life-long learning. It is also the policy of the University that no person shall be discriminated against in opportunities for professional development activities on the bases of race, creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Personnel actions are reviewed to ensure Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance.

Family Medical Leave Act

State employees who have been employed for 12 continuous months by the state and who have worked at least 1,250 hours during that period are hereby entitled to leave pursuant to the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act. An employee may take up to 12 weeks of FMLA leave per year for a serious medical condition affecting the employee, their spouse, their child, or their parent. The year cycle for FMLA is designated as a 12-month floating period beginning with the first FMLA time used by the employee for any purpose. FMLA provides for no additional paid time beyond accrued sick leave or annual leave. Paid compensatory time or overtime may not count as a part of the 12-week FMLA period.

Holidays

National and state holidays observed by the state agencies are specified by the Texas Legislature. Institutions of higher education may establish their own holidays in accordance with academic schedules. However, the number of observed holidays may not exceed the number of holidays allowed for state agencies. The University holiday schedule must be approved each year by the Board of Regents.

Nursing Mothers Accommodations

Sul Ross State University recognizes that maintaining a balance between work and family is necessary for optimized employee work performance. The university is committed to supporting employees who choose to breastfeed. To assist employees with challenges associated with workplace milk expression, and to comply with the Texas State Health and Safety Code Chapter 165.003 which recognizes that a mother is entitled to breastfeed her baby in any location in which the mother is entitles to be, the university has implemented a Workplace Lactation Program.

State Employee Discount Purchase Program

The Discount Purchase Program is an employee discount program offering savings on hundreds of products and services from local and national merchants and service providers. The Discount Purchase Program is administered by Beneplace. ERS does not endorse or sponsor any Discount Purchase Program service or service provider and it does not benefit from employees’ or retirees’ participation in the program.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ Compensation Insurance is provided for all State employees at no cost to the employee. An accident or illness, which occurs as a direct result of employment, should be reported immediately to the employee’s supervisor. The supervisor is responsible for completing and submitting an “Accident/Injury Report” form to the Human Resources Office. The Workers’ Compensation Division of the State Office of Risk Management administers benefits, which may include medical expenses and/or compensation for lost wages.

Unemployment Insurance

Unemployment insurance is available for State employees without cost to the employee. Claims for unemployment benefits should be filed with a Texas Workforce Commission office. If an employee leaves employment, he/she may be eligible for unemployment benefits dependent upon the circumstances. Faculty members are not eligible for unemployment benefits between academic sessions or during the summer sessions.