The fringe benefits offered by the University are subject to change from time to time by the Board of Trustees based on the best interest of the University.  Unless otherwise stated, fringe benefits apply only to appointed faculty or staff employed at least one-half time.  Information regarding fringe benefits is available in the Office of Vice President for Administration or the Office of Human Resources.

In addition to the required deductions for state and federal taxes and retirement plan participation, faculty and staff may elect to have certain other deductions withheld from their pay:

1. Health insurance for family members.
2. Supplemental Retirement contributions
3. SAU Foundation contributions.
4. United Way contributions.
5. Optional insurance plans.
6. Debts to the University.
7. Flexible spending plan (a method to tax-exempt certain medical, out-of-pocket health premiums and child care expenses).
8. Credit Union.
9. Vision Plan.
10. Dental Plan.

The Fringe Benefit Committee may recommend additional offerings during the open enrollment period each year.

The flexible spending plan is offered for faculty or staff members wishing to exempt un-reimbursed health care expenses, health care insurance premiums, and dependent care expenses in accordance with section 125 of the IRS Code.  Specific information and forms are available in the Office of Vice President for Administration or the Office of Human Resources.  The plan is on a calendar year basis with sign-up renewal in November/December of each year.

The current plan type offered in a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization).  Benefits and rates are subject to change every January and July. The University currently pays most of the premium of each faculty or staff member. Contact the HR Office for specific amounts. Dependent coverage is available.  Actual cost is available from the Office of Human Resources. Dependents include spouse and children under age 26.  Rates are adjusted on an annual basis. Enrollment must be accomplished within 30 days of employment to guarantee coverage.  All applications after 30 days are subject to medical underwriting and may be denied. See the retirement section (Leaving the University) for information on eligibility to remain in the health insurance group if taking early retirement. Information on HIPAA is found in the SAU Health Plan Document issued to all covered faculty and staff.

Title 10 of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) provides that group health care coverage for certain faculty or staff members, their spouses, and dependent children be continued at the expense of the faculty or staff member, spouse or dependent child.  The charge will not exceed 102 percent of the current premium cost. COBRA coverage is provided, if requested, in the following situations where group coverage would normally cease if the covered faculty or staff member:

1. Leaves the University for any reason.
2. Dies.
3. Is terminated (other than for gross misconduct) or has a reduction of work hours.
4. Is divorced or legally separated from the individual eligible for benefits.
5. Becomes entitled to Medicare benefits.

For widows, spouses, and dependents, the continuation of coverage may extend up to 36 months.  For faculty or staff members who have been terminated or had hours reduced, coverage may extend for up to 18 months.  Faculty or staff members or dependents requesting COBRA coverage must notify the Office of Human Resources in writing within 60 days of a qualifying event.  COBRA is an additional benefit to the benefits listed in the retirement section.

The University’s long-term disability program is designed to provide partial replacement of earnings for faculty or staff members who are totally disabled and cannot work for a long period of time.  In the event a faculty or staff member becomes disabled for a period greater than six (6) months, he/she will become eligible for a monthly income benefit of 60 percent of the first $8,000 of monthly salary.  (This monthly benefit includes a payment offset from Social Security and Worker’s Compensation if applicable.)  The plan also provides for up to an additional 12 percent of the salary to be contributed to a retirement annuity in the faculty or staff member’s name.  Disability benefits are paid until age 65, death, or end of disability, whichever occurs first.  The University currently pays the total cost of this coverage.  New faculty and staff members are subject to a 90 day waiting period before they are enrolled in the program.

Health and life insurance provided by the University will be maintained at University expense until disability determination is made.  If disability is approved health and life insurance benefits will continue.  If disability is not approved and the individual does not return to work, only COBRA benefits continue.

All appointed faculty or staff members participate in the University’s life insurance program which provides coverage totaling 1.5 times the annual salary for twelve-month faculty or staff members and 1.65 times the nine/ten month salaries for nine-month faculty or staff members, rounded to the nearest $1,000.  (Plan types subject to change every July.)  This policy includes an accidental death and dismemberment supplement. The total cost of this coverage is paid by the University.  Faculty or staff members age 65 or older may have a reduced coverage amount in accordance with plan guidelines.  Additional accidental death and dismemberment insurance may be purchased through the flexible-spending plan.  The total cost of this coverage is paid by the faculty or staff member.

All appointed faculty or staff members are required to participate in the defined contribution retirement program.  Faculty or staff members have the option of having their contribution tax deferred by completing the applicable forms. The retirement plan is a 403(b) Defined Contribution Program- open to all faculty and staff.

All faculty or staff members are covered by the Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance System (Social Security).  Social Security represents a major part of each faculty or staff member’s retirement/disability plan providing benefits for old age, survivors and disability income.  Under the law, the staff member and the University participate equally in Social Security contributions.  Questions pertaining to Social Security and its benefits should be referred to the local office of the Social Security Administration.

In addition to the faculty or staff members’ retirement programs, and subject to compliance with IRS regulations, it may be possible for faculty or staff members to place additional amounts of their salaries into tax-sheltered or non-tax-sheltered annuity programs through TIAA-CREF and/or Fidelity Investments.  Tax-sheltered contributions of greater than eight percent require that a calculation be completed in accordance with IRS regulations and submitted to the Office of Financial Services/Payroll prior to the contribution.

Legislation enacted in 1977 requires the University to participate in and contribute to the State Unemployment Compensation and the State Workers’ Compensation funds.  Faculty and staff members are entitled to benefits, as appropriate, from these funds.  The Office of Human Resources can provide further information.

Tuition waivers are provided to faculty and staff, their spouses and unmarried dependent children under age 26 who are listed as a dependent on the most recent income tax filing.  Currently the waiver is 100% of tuition. Fees are not waived.

There are no restrictions for courses taken outside the faculty or staff member’s normal working hours; however, when classes fall within the faculty or staff member’s working hours, the following rules apply.

1. Courses for Training.  When faculty or staff members take courses for the purpose of acquiring skills related to their present position, the course will be classified as on-the-job training and as a part of the faculty or staff member’s normal work week.  Approval for on-the-job training must be given by the vice president of the area in which the faculty or staff member is employed.  The approval will be filed in the faculty or staff member’s personnel file.  There are occasions that an individual in an exempt position whose qualifications require an appropriate degree.  This could occur because the individual selected was the most qualified as a result of reorganization or lack of qualified individual with a degree in the applicant pool.  If a degree provides a particular general qualification that benefits the University and the work schedule of the individual can be adjusted, then the individual may be designated to occupy a “grow our own” position.  The conditions for this appointment are: 1) the degree program is consistent with the position, 2) a work schedule must be approved by the vice president of the area, 3) the individual agrees to work for SAU at least one year after the completion of the degree, and the contract must be approved by the Office of Human Resources and the president.  Failure to stay for the year after completion will result in the individual being required to pay for all courses in excess of 3 hours per semester over the last two years of employment.
2. Other Courses. All other courses taken by a faculty or staff member during normal working hours, including the noon hour, require a written request from the faculty or staff member and approval from the supervisor and the vice president of the area in which the faculty or staff member is employed.  The request must specify the course name, meeting time, and the arrangement between the faculty or staff member and supervisor for coverage of the workstation and the faculty or staff member’s revised work schedule for the length of the course.  Three credit hours per semester is the limit for faculty or staff members during normal work hours; only one-half of the noon hour may be used to make up the time in class.  Additional courses may be taken after work hours.  Forms are available in the Office of Human Resources and the Business Office.

Full-time faculty or staff members and their dependents are admitted to most athletic events and some University-sponsored programs upon presentation of the faculty or staff member’s ID card (see 309).  Members of the faculty or staff member’s immediate family (dependents) may be issued athletic passes upon application to the athletic director’s office.

Dental Insurance

All full-time faculty and staff are eligible to participate in SAU’s group Voluntary Dental Insurance Plan.  The open enrollment period is during November of each year with a January 1^st start date.  This insurance is voluntary and at the faculty and staff members’ expense.  Dependents are also eligible for coverage.

2. Vision Insurance

All full-time faculty and staff are eligible to participate in SAU’s group Voluntary Vision Insurance Plan.  The open enrollment period is during November of each year with a January 1^st start date.  This insurance is voluntary and at the faculty and staff members’ expense.  Dependents are also eligible for coverage.

Magale Library has a variety of materials and services available to SAU faculty and staff. In addition to the main book collection, there are periodicals, government documents, audiovisual materials, music collection, maps, teaching/learning K-12 collection, and a browsing collection made up of paperback books for recreational reading.  The reference and public services departments provide an interlibrary loan service, research and resource assistance services, and information literacy (bibliographic) instruction. The library has computer labs for student use, including a computer lab used to instruct students on accessing electronic information.  The library currently has access to more that 78,000 full-text periodicals available from multiple database providers including Lexis/Nexis, EBSCO, JSTOR, and ProQuest that are available from any computer with Internet access.  Magale Library is open nights and most weekends.  Contact the library for specific times.

1. Borrowing Privileges

While the majority of the book and audiovisual collections may be checked out of the building, the use of other collections is limited.  General reference books, periodicals, microforms, maps, and some materials on reserve are restricted to use in the library only.  Borrowing privileges vary by type of users as well. The library extends borrowing privileges to students, faculty, staff, and community members.  Faculty and staff members have extended loan privileges and must account for their checked-out library materials on an annual basis, as designated by the library director.

The library must complete an annual inventory of materials, including items that are checked out to users.  Faculty have two options available to fulfill the annual accounting requirement:

1. 1. Faculty and staff may bring all their library materials to the library circulation desk.
   2. Faculty may request a library staff member to come to their office on the SAU campus, at the staff member’s convenience, to pick up the materials, check out the items for the next school year, and return them to the faculty member.

Faculty members are not required to relinquish the materials unless another library user has specifically requested an item or items.  Any materials that cannot be located by a faculty member will be considered lost.  Faculty and staff members are expected to pay for any lost library materials that they cannot locate by thirty days after the annual accounting date.  All financial transactions for lost library materials will be handled at the library’s Circulation Desk.  The Vice President for Academic Affairs will be informed of faculty and staff members who have not accounted and/or paid for lost library materials checked out in their name.

2. Availability of Library Materials and Resources

The library attempts to make available a comprehensive collection that meets student, faculty, and staff needs.  Although budget and space restrictions preclude the library from purchasing everything desired, several cooperative and automated services allow for access to information on a worldwide basis.

1. 1. Interlibrary Loans – Faculty and staff members may request interlibrary loans of materials not available in the Magale Library.  Request forms are available online via the library’s webpage and at the reference desk.   Those desiring to use this service are asked to provide the information necessary for the identification and borrowing of materials.
   2. Database Searching – The library provides access to a variety of databases, digital libraries, and indexing services.  Information about these services is available at the Reference or Circulation Desks.
   3. Internet Access – WiFi Internet Access is available on all three floors of the library as well as throughout the campus.  For more information on the Internet, ask at the Reference or Circulation Desks.

3. Gifts, Bequests

The library will accept any books, periodicals, DVDs, and other gifts with the understanding that, if the items do not prove suitable for the library, they will be disposed of.  Gifts such as outdated textbooks or abridged books are discouraged.  The library staff cannot assess the value of gifts but will provide a letter of acknowledgement.

4. Bibliographic Instruction

The professional library staff will work with faculty and staff members and groups of faculty to develop and conduct bibliographic instruction (information literacy) sessions on library use and research strategies for students based on course needs.  Magale Library’s classroom has network access and is available for class use.

5. Reserve Materials

Faculty may place materials on reserve in the library for use by their students.  The reserve process is initiated at the Circulation Desk or online from the library’s webpage.  Materials placed on reserve circulate for varied lengths of time and are returned to the collection or to the owner at the end of each semester.

University Health Services is staffed by a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse.  SAU faculty or staff members, spouses and dependents over age 18 may use its services.  The center is operated by the Student Affairs area and is primarily for students.  Many routine services are provided in the center.  The Office of Health Services can provide specific information.

Non-exempt staff and exempt staff (excluding faculty) are eligible for annual career service recognition payments upon completion of ten (10) years of state service in regular full-time position(s).  Payment amounts are established by the Arkansas General Assembly.  Current payments are:

The Mulerider Activities Center is open to all students, faculty, and staff.  For faculty or staff members wishing to participate in the activities, further information is available at the MAC.

The Intramural program offers all students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports.  Contact the Intramural Program Director at (870) 235-5498.

The purpose of the Faculty/Staff Dining Card is to promote the opportunity for faculty and staff to dine with students at an economical rate in an environment designed to enhance faculty/staff/student relationships and, therefore, retention.  The cards are subject to the following restrictions:

1. FSDC are not transferable to other faculty and staff.
2. Family members (dependents and spouses) of faculty and staff are eligible to use the FSDC.  Note: Family members who are SAU students may not use the FSDC.
3. Students are not eligible to purchase an FSDC nor can they use an FSDC.
4. Faculty/staff may not use FSDC cards for payment for catering services.

For additional information contact the food service contractor.