East Tennessee State University

RETIREMENT PLANS
INSURANCE PROGRAMS
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
LEAVE PROGRAMS
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
HOLIDAYS
LONGEVITY PAY PLAN
BUCSPORTS
TENNESSEE STATE PARK DISCOUNTS
FACULTY AND STAFF IDENTIFICATION CARDS
HOME MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE
HIPAA PRIVACY
OPTIONAL BENEFITS
PAYROLL CHECK ABBREVIATIONS

RETIREMENT PLANS

The university provides two types of non-contributory (no contributions by the employee) retirement to choose from:

a. The Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System - a defined benefit plan where the total years of experience and the highest five consecutive years' salary is used in the computation of the retirement benefit. It has a five-year vesting requirement. All regular full-time and regular part-time employees are eligible for this plan.

b. The Optional Retirement Plan - an annuity plan in which 10 percent of the employee's salary up to the social security wage base  and 11 percent on the salary above the social security wage base is sent to the annuity of choice. All regular full-time and regular part-time faculty and administrative employees are eligible for this plan. There are three vendors ING, TIAA-CREF, and AIG VALIC. The employee can participate in one, two, or all three and can transfer between companies.

On-Line Calculators Simplify Retirement Planning:

You can now calculate your future social security benefits, TCRS benefits, and Deferred Compensation benefits for 401(k) and 457 plans in just a few minutes using the calculators on the Internet. In addition to these calculators, each of these three programs will automatically mail you a benefit projection statement once a year. TCRS mails in October, Deferred Compensation mails in February, and Social Security mails in the month (usually two months prior to birthday) to workers over age 25.

Social Security calculator          TCRS calculator          Deferred Compensation calculator   

back to top

INSURANCE PROGRAMS

All employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week are eligible to participate in the State of Tennessee Group Insurance program -- Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO option (http://www.bcbst.com), United Healthcare HMO option (https://www.uhcrivervalley.com/employer/tennstate/) or Cigna POS Option (CIGNA Information).  The program provides health, basic term life, and basic special accident insurance for the employee and his/her dependents. Premiums are paid 80 percent by the university and 20 percent by the employee.

Additional optional plans include Dental Insurance, Optional Special Accident, Long Term Care, Optional Term Life, Optional Universal Life, cancer care, intensive care, and two long-term disability plans. A flexible benefits plan is provided.

The State of Tennessee Division of Insurance Administration (DIA) site features enrollment and claims information, frequently asked questions, and descriptions of DIA services and programs.  Also available is an Insurance Handbook for State and Higher Education Employees which provides a summary of employee benefits (http://www.state.tn.us/finance/ins/inspub.html). 

back to top

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Employee Assistance Program and provides consultation and referral for employees and their eligible dependents who are experiencing personal problems which are likely to impact work performance and/or personal well-being.  

back to top

LEAVE PROGRAMS

Twelve-month faculty and executive/professional/administrative staff earn 2 days annual (vacation) and 1 day of sick leave monthly.  Regular full-time clerical and support personnel earn 1 day of sick leave monthly, and accrue annual leave (1-2 days monthly) based upon years of service.  Nine-month faculty earn sick leave. Participation in a faculty and/or non-faculty sick leave bank is optional.  Additional information on leave programs can be found under Personnel Policies and Procedures :
 

back to top

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

The university is committed to the need for the continued professional growth and development of staff and faculty, and considers support for educational expenses of employees an important vehicle for addressing that need. The specific educational programs available to employees include:

1. Faculty and Administrative/Professional Staff Grant-in-Aid Program
2. Faculty or Administrative/Professional Staff Tuition or Maintenance Fee Reimbursement Program
3. Employee Audit Program
4. Clerical and Support Staff Maintenance Fee Payment Program
5. Request for State Employee Fee Waiver - PC191
6. Black Staff Development Program
7. Black Faculty Development Program
8. Student Fee Discount for Spouses and Dependent Children of Employees

Forms can be found at the Human Resources Forms website or at the university comptroller's office web site.  Detailed descriptions of educational programs are contained in the university's Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.  Various scholarship programs are available for both employees and dependents (see Personnel Policies and Procedures 13 Educational Benefits).
 

back to top

HOLIDAYS

There are 13 official university holidays (see ETSU Holiday Schedule).

back to top

LONGEVITY PAY PLAN

A longevity pay plan is in place to reward state employees for extended full-time service to the state,  subject to yearly positive action by the State Legislature. Upon completion of 36 months of service, regular full-time employees are eligible to receive the current established rate of $100 per year of service, not to exceed $3,000 (see Personnel Policies and Procedures 15 Longevity Pay).

back to top

Some discounts are available to full-time or retired state employees, which also includes employees of state-supported colleges and schools, employees and members of the Tennessee National Guard, and members of the General Assembly. In general, between April 1 and October 31, employees receive 25% off inn rooms and cabins, and between November 1 and March 31 the discount is 50%. The discount does not apply to business travel and is valid only if reservations are made no more than 30 days in advance for inn rooms and 7 days in advance for cabins. Current state ID or verification of retirement will be required at check-in. For more specific discount information and exclusions, contact TN State Parks.

If you have questions about State Parks Reservations, contact
Agency: TN Department of Environment & Conservation
Address: TN State Parks Division, 7th Floor L&C Tower, Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 888-TN-PARKS (888-867-2757)
E-mail: ask.tnstateparks@state.tn.us

If you have questions about this online service, contact
TennesseeAnytime Help Desk
Phone: 615-313-0300 or toll-free at 1-866-8TN-EGOV
E-mail: help@tennesseeanytime.org

back to top

FACULTY AND STAFF IDENTIFICATION CARDS

All employees of ETSU must obtain an ID card on or after their first day of employment.  There is no charge for the first ID card.  However, a replacement fee will be charged for lost or stolen IDs.  Upon ending your employment, you must turn in your ID card to Human Resources.  If you are retiring from ETSU, you may obtain a Retiree ID card which will give you privileges for the Center for Physical Activity and Library.  Full time employees are allowed access to the Center for Physical Activity, and all employees may use the debit card option (ID BUC$).  You also have the option of payroll deduction for the ID  BUC$.  Please call the ID office for details of benefits to employees using ID BUC$ and payroll deduction. 

The heart of the system is each individual's official photo ID card.  Each ID card includes a color photo, name, ID number, campus classification, and the Sherrod Library barcode.  On the back of each ID card is two magnetically encoded stripes.  The larger stripe is encoded with your ID number, while the smaller one is used with the Sherrod Library copier system.

With this single ID card, students, faculty, staff, and guests can be given many privileges and services all over campus.  This includes access control to residence halls, some computer labs and parking gates, Mini-Dome, athletic events, the Center for Physical Activity, and the Audio Visualization Lab.  The ID card also gives access to meal plans, library services, and gives the holder the option of using his/her card as a campus debit card (ID BUC$).

For more information, visit http://www.etsu.edu/students/univcent/id.htm, or call the ID office at 439-8316.

back to top

Recognizing that housing is important in the lives of our employees, ETSU is working with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) to provide an Employee Assisted Housing (EAH) Program.  Through the EAH program our employees will be provided with educational information on the home buying process and home buyer education counseling programs.  Additionally, ETSU employees are eligible for affordable mortgage products and down payment and closing cost assistance as a result of our participation in the TDHA program.  If you are interested in learning more about the EAH program, please visit this website:  http://www.thda.org.  A brochure containing an overview of the program is located at http://www.etsu.edu/humanres/EAHEmployeeBrochure.pdf. For more information, please call Rich Ashley at 423-439-6130.

In addition to the Homebuyer Education Workshops being held at ETSU, the workshops will also be offered by Eastern Eight Development Corporation at the times and locations below:

To register please contact:    Mindy Bowman, FTDD 722-5100 or Debbie Perry, Eastern Eight Community Development Corporation 232-5097

Class Locations:                    Johnson City:          207 N. Boone St., Suite 500 (January 26th class only!)

                                                         New Address:        221 E Unaka Ave. Johnson City  (all classes!)

                                             Bristol:                    Slater Community Center, 124 McDowell Street

                                            Greeneville, Mountain City, Elizabethton:     Call for location

back to top

For more information about other Benefit Programs, call 423-439-6126.

Please fill out our Customer Service Survey

Mailing Address:  Office of Human Resources
ETSU Box 70564
Johnson City, TN  37614-1707
Telephone:  423-439-4457
Fax:  423-439-8354
TDD:  423-439-4710

Office Hours:  8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Monday - Friday
Office Location:  Room 307, Dossett Hall

Webmaster

since 05/30/08

Updated on 05/30/08