TSC Benefits

A variety of insurance programs are available to college employees through the Texas Employees Group Benefits Program (GBP). The Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) administers all Uniform Group Insurance Programs (UGIP) plans. Plan design and premiums are established on an annual basis by ERS in accordance with state regulations and in such a manner as to be the most cost-effective to employees.

Basic health and $5,000 life insurance are free to all full-time employees.

New employees have a 60-day waiting period before they are eligible for health coverage.
Optional coverage must be selected during the first 30 days after the hire date.
Health coverage may be selected during the first 30 days or any time prior to the end of the 60-day waiting period. Coverage will not become effective until the first day of the month following the 60-day waiting period.
Eligible dependents include the employee’s spouse and children under the age of 26.
As dictated by federal regulation COBRA, group health and dental insurance coverage may be extended for the employee and insured dependents for a period of up to 18 months after employment with the college ceases. Group health and dental insurance coverage may be extended for insured dependents of an active employee for specified reasons for a period of up to 36 months.
Summer enrollment occurs each summer, usually during July. During the summer enrollment period, employees can add or make changes to their insurance plans. Summer enrollment changes are effective at the beginning of the new fiscal year (September 1st).

Dental Insurance
EAP
Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Medical Insurance
Leave & Holiday
Payroll Calendar
Retirement
Tuition Reimbursement
Vision Insurance
Workers Comp
Drug Free

Important Dental Information is available here – https://ers.texas.gov/Summer-Enrollment/Dental-Comparison-Chart-Sept-1-2019.pdf

You and your eligible dependents can enroll in one of two dental plans:

Important information about the State of Texas Dental Choice Plan: Delta Dental will become the new third-party administrator (TPA) for the State of Texas Dental Choice preferred provider organization (PPO) plan on September 1st, 2019. Click here for more information about the transition.

Signing up for dental coverage never requires proof of good health, called evidence of insurability.
Delta Dental administers benefits for both dental plans.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

EAP Benefits Flyer

Short-term Disability Insurance provides protection from loss of income due to disability resulting from an accident or illness after a waiting period of 30 consecutive days. Short-term disability pays a monthly payment equal to 66% of your gross monthly salary up to $10,000 of salary or $6,600 in benefits for up to five months.

Long-term Disability (LTD) Insurance provides protection from loss of income during extended absences due to total disability resulting from an accident or illness. A waiting period of ninety consecutive days must be satisfied before disability benefits become payable. Long-term disability payments are equal to 60% of your gross monthly salary, up to $10,000 of salary, or $6,000 per month in benefits. LTD benefits for the first 24 months are based on disability from a specific job. After 24 months, it is based on disability from any job and approval by social security for disability benefits.

When you enroll in HealthSelect, you receive $5,000 in term life insurance with $5,000 in accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. If you want additional coverage, you may purchase Optional Term Life Insurance with AD&D coverage.

VOLUNTARY ACCIDENT AND DISMEMBERMENT
This benefit provides additional protection for you and your family in the event of accidental death or certain accidental injuries. Coverage is purchased in increments of $5,000 with benefits between $10,000 and $200,000. This is in addition to AD&D benefits provided with basic and optional term life insurance for active employees.

You can choose from two levels of coverage: you only or you and your family. You cannot convert this coverage to an individual policy.

Securian is the insurer for voluntary AD&D insurance.

Medical Insurance Rates and Important Information is available at https://ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits

HealthSelect Medical is a health insurance plan for you and your covered family members. The plan offers three benefit levels – in-area network, in-area non-network, and out-of-area. The benefit level depends on where you live or work, the doctors and providers you use, or your eligibility for Medicare. HealthSelect coverage includes a comprehensive Prescription Drug Program, provided by OptumRX, and basic term life insurance.

If you live or work in the State of Texas and are not eligible for Medicare, you can have in-area network benefits, except for certain retirees under age 65. Individuals with in-area benefits can save on out-of-pocket costs by using network doctors and providers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield administers HealthSelect of Texas effective September 1st, 2017.

Sick Leave (DEC Local)

Full-time, 12-month employees accrue eight hours of paid sick leave per month.

Faculty accrues eight hours of paid sick leave per month and eight hours of paid sick leave per four weeks of full-time classroom instruction in the summer.

Vacation Leave (DEC Local)

Full-time, 12-month employees accrue eight hours of paid vacation leave per month.

Paid Holidays (DED Local)

Each full-time employee, other than teaching faculty, shall be eligible for paid holidays as outlined on the official master calendar and in accordance with the employee’s monthly schedule.

DEC Local Policy

FY 2025

FY 2024

FY 2023

FY 2022

In accordance with State of Texas law, all benefits-eligible employees are required to participate in one of two retirement programs offered by the Texas Southmost College. The programs are the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) and the Optional Retirement Program (ORP).

The employee and employer’s contributions to the retirement programs are a percentage of the gross salary as specified by the state legislature. All retirement program contributions are tax-deferred and become taxable income to the employee at the time of distribution to the employee.

Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)

Participation in the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is open to all benefits-eligible employees of the college. Rights to benefits are vested upon completing five years of creditable service. Employees contribute 7.7%, and the state contributes 7.5% of their monthly gross salary to a state account to pay retirement benefits. TRS includes life insurance and disability benefits.

Regular retirement is available at age 65 with a minimum of five years of participation in TRS or when age and service combination equals eighty (i.e., age 52 with 28 years of participation). Early retirement, with reduced benefits, is available at age 55 with a minimum of five years of participation in TRS.

Regular retirement benefits under the standard annuity option are calculated as 2.3% times the number of years of membership in TRS times the average salary for the highest five years of participation in the program.
Additional information on the TRS program is available on the TRS web site and TRS Benefits Handbook. TRS also provides a useful tool to assess an estimated retirement date. If interested, please click on TRS Retirement Estimate Calculator.

Optional Retirement Program (ORP)

Optional retirement plans are available to full-time (100 percent FTE) benefits-eligible faculty members and certain professional/administrative staff under the provisions of state law. Employees may obtain a list of approved companies and their representatives from Human Resources. It is the employee’s responsibility to select a company in which to invest their retirement contributions.

The employee contributes 6.65% of their gross salary monthly, and the state contributes 6.6% of the employee’s gross salary to the ORP account. Contributions made by the college to the optional retirement program are vested for employees after one year and one day of participation in the program.

Participation in ORP is a one-time election and must be made in writing within 90 days of the date an employee becomes eligible. Eligible employees will be enrolled in the TRS program until an election for ORP participation is made in writing. If an employee does not apply for ORP participation before the expiration of the 90 day election period, eligibility is forfeited and the employee must remain in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for the remainder of their employment in higher education in Texas.

Retirement benefits under the ORP are based on the account value and the age of the participant at the time of retirement. Several distribution options are available to the employee at the time of retirement.
Employees should consult the Director of Benefits and Compensation for eligibility requirements and additional information on the ORP program.

Employee and Dependent Tuition Free Program

Employee Tuition Reimbursement Program

Important vision information is available here – https://portal.superiorvision.com/stateoftexasvision/benefits

You and your eligible dependents can enroll in the ERS vision plan:

https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Optional-Add-on-Benefits/Vision-Benefits

IF EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT IS REQUIRED, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CALL 911 OR GO DIRECTLY TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Supervisor:

Employee Incident Report – with notification of an illness or incident, it is the responsibility of the supervisor to complete and immediately submit the form to HR benefits and compensation.
1. The form is on the tsc.edu website/Human Resources/Forms/Workers Compensation/Employee Incident Report.
2. The form must be completed within 24 hours of illness or injury.
3. The form should be emailed directly to [email protected]; or hand delivered to Human Resources in Tandy 105.
Witness Statement – It is also the responsibility of the supervisor to complete the witness statement and forward it to Human Resources with the Employee Incident Report.
1. The form is on the tsc.edu website/Human Resources/Forms/Workers Compensation/Witness Statement.
2. The form must be completed within twenty-four hours of illness or injury.
3. The form should be emailed directly to [email protected]; or hand delivered to Human Resources located in Tandy 105.

Employee:

Report illness or injury immediately to supervisor.
If illness or injury is an emergency, Call 911 or Go Directly to the Emergency Room.
Report to Human Resources for the following paperwork to take to the clinic:
1. Verification of employment
2. Verification of coverage
3. Employee rights and responsibilities
4. Acknowledgment of medical alliance (medical network)
5. First fill program/medication card (English/Spanish)
6. Form to elect to leave benefits
Take paperwork to an Alliance Network Facility
Deliver Texas Workers Compensation status report to Human Resources
Obtain authority to report to work from the health professional and deliver to supervisor

Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

Drug and Alcohol Policy Statement

Texas Southmost College is a drug- and alcohol-free college and workplace. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, purchase, dispensation, possession, or use of an illegal drug or alcohol by students and employees on college property or as a part of any college-sponsored activity is prohibited. Students violating any provision of the drug and alcohol policies are subject to disciplinary sanctions ranging from suspension to referral for prosecution. Employees who violate any provision of the drug and alcohol policies may be subject to disciplinary action up to termination. Information regarding drug and alcohol problems, as well as referral services, is available at the Office of Counseling and Student Accessibility Resources. Employees should refer to the Human Resources web page.

For a copy of TSC’s Drug-Free Schools, campuses, and workplace operating procedures, please scroll to the TSC Resources at the bottom of the page.

Alcohol and Drug Use

Drug and alcohol use, misuse, and abuse are complex behaviors with many outcomes at both the cultural and the individual levels. Awareness of the dangerous effects of drug/alcohol use is imperative for an individual’s well-being or survival. Negative consequences of drug/alcohol may be exhibited through physical dependence (the body’s learned requirement of a drug for functioning) or psychological dependence (the experiencing of persistent craving for the drug and/or a feeling the drug/alcohol is a requirement for functioning).

Abuse of any drug/alcohol, whether licit or illicit, may result in marginal to marked, temporary to permanent physical and psychological damage, even death. Since many of the illicit drugs are manufactured and sold illegally, their content varies and may contain especially harmful ingredients or amounts. Regardless of the types of drug/alcohol utilized, a perceived need for continued use is likely to ensue, resulting in dependence. Dependence on drugs and alcohol alters the user’s psychological functioning. The acquisition of drugs and alcohol becomes the primary focus of the drug-dependent individual and often results in reduced job performance and jeopardized family and other interpersonal relationships. Criminal behavior is frequently the means for financing a drug habit. Behavior patterns often include violence and assault as the individual becomes increasingly drug/alcohol dependent. Social and psychological alienation and medical problems increase as the abuser becomes entrapped in drug/alcohol dependence.

TSC Referrals

Drug/alcohol counseling and referrals for students are available through the Office of Counseling and Student Accessibility Resources. To access referrals for employees please see the Human Resources page.