ARTICLE XXII

XXII. HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS

1. The College agrees to pay during the term of this contract the insurance premiums for:

   1. Full-time members of the faculty covered by this Agreement and their eligible dependents; they will be insured by the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program, known as the Traditional Program, consisting of Basic and Major Medical coverage.

   2. Benefits provided for retired employees under the expired AAUP or NJEA collective bargaining agreement shall be continued for those retired employees presently receiving such benefits, if permitted by State law and regulations.

   3.  

      1. Existing dental plan shall remain in place for the duration of the Agreement. For the 2000-2001 academic year, any increase in the dental premium as established on July 1, 1998, which is $41.93 monthly, shall be paid by the employee. Employees moving between coverage levels shall only be required to pay the premium above the base coverage level in which they are enrolled. During the second and third year of the contract an employee will be obliged to pay 50 percent (50%) of any subsequent increase.

      2. The College will reimburse individual faculty members the difference between the cost of a complete physical and/or dental services by a physician and/or dentist of the faculty member's choice and reimbursement for the same from the New Jersey State Health Benefits Plan and/or the College Dental Plan. This reimbursement shall not exceed $325.00. The college will also reimburse individual faculty members up to $100 for eyeglasses.

      3. Existing Group Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance Benefits shall remain in place for the duration of the Agreement.

2. Pension Plans

   1. Present participation in the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) for those members of the faculty covered by that plan shall be continued in accordance with applicable State laws and regulations.

   2. All faculty members not covered by the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund shall continue to be covered by the Alternate Benefits Program (TIAA/CREF).

   3. The faculty members’ contributions and the contributions from the State shall be as provided by State law. In addition, the College shall continue its supplementary contributions for those faculty members on behalf of whom the College contributed ten (10) percent prior to the merger, to insure that those faculty members will have ten (10) percent contributed on their behalf.

   4. Eligibility to the appropriate pension plan shall be in accordance with appropriate State law and regulations.

   5. Within ninety (90) days of the publication of final regulations in the New Jersey Register, the College agrees to submit to the Board of Trustees for action plans to make available to the faculty any and all pension plans offered by T.I.A.A.-C.R.E.F. or another retirement vehicle.

3. Supplemental Retirement Plans

   1. Supplemental Retirement Plans including those offered by T.I.A.A.-C.R.E.F. are at the employee’s option. Salary deductions authorized by the employee pursuant to the plan will not be matched by the College.
      Faculty members who are presently enrolled in deferred compensation plans may continue to participate according to their agreement with the College.

   2. Within ninety (90) days of the publication of final regulations in the New Jersey Register, the College agrees to submit to the Board of Trustees for action plans to make available to the faculty any and all supplemental retirement plan options offered by T.I.A.A.-C.R.E.F. or another retirement vehicle.

4. Worker’s Compensation

   1. As defined by the applicable State laws.

5. Unemployment Compensation

   1. As defined by the applicable State laws.

6. 
   It is the responsibility of each employee to contact the Personnel Officer if s/he wishes to apply for any one of the above listed benefits. Furthermore, the employee eligible for such benefits agrees to complete and execute all forms and applications and authorizations as requested by the College and/or insurance carrier(s) affording the aforesaid benefits. The College will furnish appropriate descriptive material to all faculty members.

7. It is agreed and understood that the sole liability of the College is to pay the aforesaid premiums for the insurance coverages heretofore set forth, and that any and all claims for benefits, eligibility requirements, and other conditions shall be as set forth in the insurance policy or policies affording the aforesaid benefits, and applicable State laws and regulations. The terms and conditions of said policy or policies and State laws and regulations shall govern and control all questions or claims arising hereunder.

8. The College reserves the right to change the insurance carrier or carriers providing the aforesaid benefits or to consolidate any or all of the above plans. Covered employees shall not suffer any loss in benefits as a result of a change.

9. Tuition Remission

   1. The College agrees to accord full-time members of the faculty, their spouses, and their dependents free tuition and all fees (does not include text and course material) in any course of study at the College, provided space is available and they meet the normal College requirements for admission to credit courses. Tuition remission shall also apply to dependents of retired faculty members and surviving dependents of deceased faculty members up to the age of 25. This benefit covers tuition cost and all fees (does not included text and course material). Employees and/or dependents must obtain a "Certification of Employment" form from the Payroll Department. A proof-of-dependency status is required for dependents. A dependent is a person for whom the employee claims an exemption under the provision of the Internal Revenue Service laws, rules, and regulations.

   2. Non-Credit Courses

      The College agrees to accord full-time members of the faculty or their spouses, or a dependent, free tuition and all fees (does not include text and course material), once per semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) in any Non-Credit Continuing Education course at the College, provided they meet the normal requirements for admission to the course(s). The College will make available one slot per course per semester for this enrollment on a first come first serve basis. This option is available only once per semester for each faculty member, or their spouse, or a dependent and must be requested at least three (3) weeks prior to the start of a semester. After that date, unused slots will be released for general registration. Employees and/or dependents must obtain a "Tuition Remission" form from the Personnel Department. A proof-of-dependency status is required for dependents. A dependent is a person for whom the employee claims an exemption under the provision of the Internal Revenue Service laws, rules, and regulations.

10. Faculty Improvement Plan

    1. The College has instituted a Faculty Improvement Plan to assist faculty members in the completion of doctoral requirements and for post-doctoral work. Loans from the Faculty Improvement Plan may be made, subject to the following conditions:

       1. Applicant must hold an appointment and must have previously completed at least two consecutive academic years as a full-time faculty member at Union County College.

       2. Applicant must have been admitted to doctoral candidacy or post-doctoral work at a recognized university, with all course work completed.

       3. Loans will ordinarily not exceed $2,500.00, but in any case may not exceed $5,000.00.

       4. No interest will be charged while the candidate holds an appointment to the Union County College faculty (in either "on-leave" or "active" status).

       5. No interest will be charged after the candidate has received the degree, so long as s/he continues as a member of the Union County College faculty.

       6. At the end of each academic year after the one in which the degree has been received or post-doctoral work completed, provided the recipient has served for that year as a full-time faculty member of Union County College, $400 will be canceled from the loan. The balance of the loan shall be canceled at the end of the sixth (6^th) year.

       7. If the recipient of a loan voluntarily leaves the Union County College faculty before annual forgiveness has wiped out the loan, whether or not s/he has received the degree, repayment of balance is due with interest of 5 percent per annum from the date of the loan.

       8. If the recipient of a loan retires or is dismissed from the Union County College faculty before annual forgiveness has wiped out the loan, whether or not s/he has received the degree, repayment of balance is due with interest of 5 percent per annum from the effective date of the retirement or dismissal.

       9. In case the recipient fails to receive the degree or to complete post-doctoral work within three academic years after the one in which the loan is made, the loan becomes a legal interest-bearing debt to Union County College, subject to modification as to principal or interest or both by the Board of Trustees on recommendation of the President in light of the circumstances of the case.

          Applications for such a loan are filed with the Academic Vice President and must be accompanied by a written recommendation from the Departmental Chairperson and the appropriate Academic Officer. They are presented by the President to the Board of Trustees for approval.

11. Tuition Reimbursement shall be made under the following conditions:

    1. Eligibility

       1. All full-time members of the faculty taking courses in accredited institutions towards the completion of a graduate degree in their academic discipline (or in library service for Librarians) or courses required as a prerequisite for relicensure or recertification in their discipline are eligible for such tuition reimbursement as defined further below.

       2. Reimbursement for such courses not directed toward a degree must be approved by the appropriate Academic Officer. In the case of Librarians, such courses must be recommended by the Director of Libraries and approved by the Academic Vice President. In the event any faculty member disputes the Academic Officer’s judgment, or in the case of Librarians, the Director’s, the matter may be appealed to the Academic Vice President.

       3. Reimbursement for such courses not in a faculty member’s discipline, or in the case of a Librarian, not in library service, must be approved by the appropriate Academic Officer (in the case of the faculty) and the Director of Libraries (for librarians). Such approval will be granted only if, in the judgment of those individuals, the taking of such courses is beneficial to the College. In the event a faculty member disputes an Academic Officer’s judgment, or in the case of Librarians, the Director’s, the matter may be appealed to the Academic Vice President.

       4. In all cases involving individual courses which are part of an established and approved degree program, approval must be obtained prior to registration for such courses. In the case of degree programs, the first registration for courses in such a program also requires prior approval. All full-time faculty members who had registered for (a) course(s) in an established and approved degree program prior to June 30, 1987, shall be deemed to have received prior approval. Failure to obtain prior approval shall relieve the College of its obligation to reimburse.

       5. In all cases, reimbursement will be made only for courses satisfactorily completed.

       6. A faculty member shall be eligible for tuition reimbursement only for courses beginning after the faculty member has completed one (1) academic year of service at the College.

    2. Amount and Limitations

       1. After June 30, the Business Office determines the total requested for the preceding academic year. Whenever the request for reimbursement exceeds the amount available, reimbursement will be paid proportionately; however, reimbursements will normally always be at least 100 percent of tuition paid. A full-time member of the faculty may receive payments totaling not more than $5,500 per year.

       2. Payments will be made once a year on or about July 31 for courses taken during the preceding academic year.

       3. No reimbursement is payable for fees, room, board, or the like, which are regarded as fees and not tuition, inasmuch as class attendance is normally not involved.

       4. Reimbursement is payable of "maintenance of matriculation" fees and "Thesis or Dissertation supervision" for one academic year.

       5. In order to obtain tuition reimbursement, a full-time member of the faculty must fill out an "Application for Tuition Reimbursement" form obtainable from any Academic Officer’s office or the Personnel Officer, and file it with the appropriate Academic Officer or the Director of Library, not later than June 30 of the academic year in which the course(s) was (were) taken.

    3. Budgeting for Tuition Reimbursement

       The College agrees to include an amount for tuition reimbursement in its annual budgets.

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