Section 18: Employee Benefits
Benefits Eligibility
Individuals employed in management or confidential positions (except “casual” employees) are eligible for the following benefits as provided by the College and described below. Part-time employees are eligible for pro-rated benefits on the basis of budgeted FTE for their position. Executive Officers of the College are eligible for these benefits to the extent consistent with their individual employment agreements. Benefits become effective on the first day of the month following thirty days of employment in an eligible position.
Medical and Dental Insurance
The College provides group health, prescription, dental and vision care insurance programs for full-time and part-time employees and eligible dependents subject to enrollment periods and procedures specified by the carrier and the College.
For full-time employees the College shall pay the maximum monthly amount (Medical Cap) established by the College Board each year, toward payment of the combined health and dental plan premiums, with any excess amount paid by the employee through payroll deduction. The amount shall be prorated for part-time employees. Premiums are subject to rate changes, effective October 1 each benefit year.
Long-Term Disability Insurance
The College shall provide and pay for the current (or comparable) long-term disability benefit for full-time and for part-time employees.
Retirement – Public Employees Retirement System
Portland Community College is a participating employer in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and its successor the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP). State law governs eligibility for retirement plan membership and subsequent retirement and benefits.
Employees who retire under the provisions of PERS shall be able to participate until age 65 in College group health, dental, prescription and vision care plans, subject to approval by the insurance carriers, and provided that the retiree pays the premiums.
Early Retirement Option – Management Staff
Effective November 1, 1999, the College eliminated the Early Retirement Option for Management Staff and replaced it with the Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (College contribution 403(b) plan) for all management and supervisory staff described below. Executive Officers and management staff who met specified criteria as of the effective date of the plan elimination were grand-fathered and were notified at that time of the manner in which they would be compensated upon retirement. A list of those grand-fathered staff who have not yet retired is maintained by the Human Resources staff. Staff with questions about their eligibility and the manner of compensation upon retirement may contact the HR benefit staff for further information.
Early Retirement Option – Confidential Staff
Only confidential employees hired prior to July 1, 1987, are eligible for the early retirement option. A full-time employee who has completed ten consecutive years of full-time employment with the College and who is at least 55 and not more than 61 years of age shall have the option of an early retirement program which will provide the full-time employee $270 per month for a maximum period of four years. Such payments will terminate at the end of the month in which the employee reaches the age of 62 or at the end of four years whichever comes first. A full-time employee choosing this option must give written notice to their supervisor at least 90 days prior to the full-time employee’s retirement date if at all possible.
Tax-Deferred Annuity – 403(b) Plan
Management and confidential employees are eligible to participate on a voluntary basis by contributing a portion of their income to a 403(b) plan on a pre-tax basis. Regardless of this voluntary participation, employees of the College who have completed one full year of service in a management, supervisory or confidential position are eligible for a College contribution of 2% of the individual’s gross salary, contributed on a monthly basis to any 403(b) vendor on the approved College vendor list.
Group Life Insurance
The College shall provide and pay for the full premium for term life and accidental death/dismemberment insurance in the amount of $50,000.
Employees and their dependents may enroll in an additional term and accidental death and dismemberment programs provided by the College. Premiums for such coverage will be paid by employees through payroll deduction.
Other Benefits
Employees may enroll in programs such as group automobile or homeowners’ insurance, credit union transfers, tax shelter annuities, etc. as identified by the College. These are employee paid premiums that may be paid through payroll deduction.
Employee contributions will be withheld by payroll deduction for social security and State of Oregon Workers’ Compensation, according to the requirements of Oregon and federal law. The College will make contributions to Social Security, State of Oregon Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Insurance according to the requirements of Oregon and federal law.
Tuition Waiver
The Board agrees to waive tuition for any full-time or part-time employee, the employee’s spouse or domestic partner and eligible children under the age of 24 who enroll in classes at Portland Community College. (Children must meet the IRS code definition of a legal dependent to be eligible.) Such classes may be taken with or without credit; however, the tuition waiver shall apply to a maximum of eight-credit-hours per term for each employee. Spouse, domestic partner and dependent child entitlement: 19 credit hours each term for a maximum of six terms.
The employee or dependents shall register for any Portland Community College classes in accordance with the College’s registration schedule and procedure.
Attendance at any class by an employee shall not interfere with the employee’s regular responsibilities and assigned duties.
It is understood that no course will be conducted which would not have met without the enrollment of such tuition waiver students and that no tuition waiver student shall displace a tuition paying student.
Tuition Reimbursement
Full-time employees are eligible for tuition reimbursement. The reimbursement is pro-rated based on the number of requests and the funds available. All persons meeting the deadlines and criteria will receive at least partial reimbursement. Eligible employees are reimbursed up to a maximum of 4 credits per term. Only courses taken at an accredited institution are reimbursable. The maximum reimbursement shall not exceed the published in-state tuition rate at Portland State University, regardless of the institution attended.