Employee Benefits
All full time employees are eligible for benefits. Benefit eligible new employees have the opportunity to enroll in insurance plans within the first fifteen days of employment.
medical insurance
Medical insurance is available at the time of hire for all eligible employees. The effective date of coverage is the first of the month following the date of hire. Coverage is available for employees and their dependents. If coverage is not taken at the time of hire it may not be added except during the annual open enrollment prior or within 30 days of a valid family status change.
dental insurance
Dental insurance is available at the time of hire for all eligible employees. The effective date of coverage is the first of the month following the date of hire. Coverage is available for employees and their dependents. If coverage is not taken at the time of hire it may not be added except during the annual open enrollment prior or within 30 days of a valid family status change.
vision insurance
Vision insurance is available at the time of hire for all eligible employees. The effective date of coverage is the first of the month following the date of hire. Coverage is available for employees and their dependents. If coverage is not taken at the time of hire it may not be added except during the annual open enrollment prior or within 30 days of a valid family status change.
Life Insurance
Benefit-eligible employees will receive a $50,000 Term Life Policy and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance at the time of hire, courtesy of the University of the Southwest.
long-term and short-term disability
Benefit-eligible employees who suffer a disabling illness, disease, or injury, can apply for continuation of partial compensation through a short-term and long-term disability plan. The University pays for this coverage. The coverage does not include job-related illness, disease, or injury. Such conditions are covered by Worker’s Compensation Insurance.
health care premium only plan
The option of assigning specific salary amounts under Section 125 of the IRS code which will not be taxed by federal, state, or FICA taxes is available.
retirement plan
All eligible employees are able to participate in the University 403(b) Retirement Plan with Guidestone. All eligible employees are able to make voluntary employee contributions upon employment. The discretionary University of the Southwest contribution will begin after the employee meets the eligibility requirements.
tuition waivers
The University supports the ongoing professional and personal development of its employees; therefore, full-time employees are eligible for a 100% tuition waiver of undergraduate and graduate tuition upon the first day of service. The waiver shall apply to tuition only. The tuition waiver benefit is also available to spouses and dependents after the employee has one year of service. The benefit is limited to the equivalent of full-time student status on a calendar basis (i.e., 18 hours graduate and 24 hours undergraduate). Employee discounts are available for tuition not covered by a tuition waiver, excluding dissertation and/or doctoral mentoring hours.
council for independent colleges
University of the Southwest is a member of the CIC tuition exchange program. This network of colleges and universities is willing to accept a limited number of tuition-free children from families of full-time employees of other CIC institutions. For further information go to www.cic.edu.
paid time off (PTO)
PTO leave is available for full-time staff at the rate of 2 days per month (or 7.39 hours per pay period). Staff members with over 10 years of service earn additional levels of PTO. PTO is available for vacation, illness, or personal business affairs of the employee.
Sick Leave (Part-time employees)
Staff employees classified as part-time will earn one hour of sick leave for every thirty hours worked.
paid parental leave
University of the Southwest will provide up to four weeks of paid parental leave to employees following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care. The benefit is available to employees after one year of service.
bereavement leave
Staff will be granted up to five days paid leave in the event of the death of a spouse, children, children-in-law, parent, parent-in-law, or grandchild and three days paid leave in the event of the death of a grandparent, brother, sister, or brother/sister-in-law in order to attend the funeral and/or take care of final arrangements.
court leave
Eligible full-time staff will be granted leave with pay to attend court as a juror or witness duty. A copy of the subpoena is required.
family medical leave act (FMLA)
Employees may be eligible for up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons, including the employee’s own serious health condition. Please apply in writing through the Human Resources office.
All employee benefits are subject to change at the discretion of the university.