Benefits

Faculty Association members have access to a wide number of benefits including pension, mandatory life insurance, voluntary life insurance, professional expense allowance, housing loan, long term disability, parental leave, extended health care and dental plan. Generally these are set out in Article 22.

Pension: all new employees will be members of the Money Purchase Plan. You contribute 7.32% of salary per month into your pension account and this is matched by the University.

Compulsory Life Insurance: Two times your annual salary with the Employer paying the entire premium.

Voluntary Life Insurance: highly recommended because the rate is competitive. You may enroll without a medical within 30 days of hiring or after a change of circumstances such as marriage or the birth of a child; otherwise, a medical will be needed. The rates depend on smoking/non-smoking status and age. There is a maximum of $500,000, either in multiples of salary or in units of $50,000. You can also insure your spouse and there is additional coverage available for accidental death and disability.

Academic LTD Plan: This is a long-term disability plan which pays 100% of salary up to 90 days (the qualifying period), then 70% thereafter. After the qualifying period, pension contributions are made by the LTD plan; Voluntary Group Life Insurance plan premiums are waived.

Professional Expense Allowance: $2050 per year to cover travel to conferences, books, memberships, computers, etc. You may submit up to four claims per year and unused balances are carried over to the following academic year (July 1 - June 30). Guidelines are posted on the Financial Services Division website. The best advice with regard to claims is to KEEP RECEIPTS AND CANCELLED CHEQUES.

Housing Assistance: An interest-free loan of up to $12,000 is available for the purchase of a principal residence. You sign a promissory note and pay it back over three years through salary deductions. Application information is available online or through Human Resources.

Moving Expenses: up to $6000 although more may be approved in special circumstances (see Article 23.8).

Sabbatical Leaves and Sabbatical Travel: you may apply for a full year leave after six years at 80% salary or 6 months at 100%; thereafter, six months after three years or a full year after six years, both at 80%. You must have a project approved by a sabbatical leave committee and there is an appeal committee if denied. Receive up to $2,800 to cover sabbatical travel. This amount will be increased to $4,000 effective July 1, 2008. It is important to continue to make full pension contributions while on sabbatical.

Scholarship: Commencing with the 2004-05 academic year a tuition reimbursement scholarship fund will be available to immediate family members (spouses, partners and children) of employees. Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis upon successful completion of the course or courses if the candidate has achieved a sessional weighted average of 65% or more. The maximum annual award for any one individual will be based on tuition reimbursement equivalent to 30 credit units for the Category One group of tuition. The maximum total award to any one individual is based on tuition reimbursement equivalent to 120 credit units for the Category One group of tuition. [Terms of Reference and Guidelines] Application forms are available online or through Student Central.

Tuition Waiver: One credit course per academic term taken at the University of Saskatchewan. This applies to tuition only. Entitlement is one 6 credit unit course taken in the Regular Session (September to April) and one 6 credit unit course taken in each term of the spring and summer sessions up to a total of 18 credit units per academic year. Information and application forms are posted on the Financial Services Division website.

Employee Assistance Program: a confidential referral and counselling service is available to all employees of the University of Saskatchewan and employee family members. The EAP is overseen by an eight member board that includes representation from each of the unions on campus as well as administration. The Joint Stakeholder Agreement for the University of Saskatchewan Employee Assistance Program outlines the program structure. Visit the EAP Website for more information.

Dental Plan: This is a family plan that is funded by the employer at an annual amount equal to the total required to pay the premiums for the 2007 calendar year. It allows for one checkup per year, plus routine work and a considerable portion of major work. The plan pays for 100% of basic services and 50% of major services to a combined maximum of $2,000 per person per calendar year, and 50% of orthodontic services to $1500 per person per lifetime.

Wellness Account: $150 per employee provided annually in addition to benefit plans. These funds can be used for taxable and non-taxable health and wellness expenses and can be carried over for one year. Claim forms are available on the Human Resources Division website.

Extended Health and Vision Care Plan: For all claims under the Extended Health and Vision Care Plan KEEP RECEIPTS AND SUBMIT TO BLUE CROSS WITHIN FOUR MONTHS.

Extended Health is a family plan carried by Blue Cross with the University funding the plan at an annual amount equal to the total required to pay the premiums for the 2007 calendar year. The following are major areas covered under our current Extended Health Plan for faculty and eligible dependents:

drugs - 100% to a maximum of $2,000 per year (exclusions: dietary aids, fertility drugs, experimental drugs, vitamins, Rogaine, any drug for cosmetic purposes)
eye exams - up to $80 every two calendar years
eye glasses/contact lenses/laser eye surgery - up to a maximum of $200 every two calendar years per family member
anti-smoking drugs - 6 month supply
ambulance - to the nearest hospital
Hospital accommodation - 100% private or semi-private rooms
private duty nursing - when ordered by a physician to a maximum of $10,000/year
accidental dental - 100% based on current Dental Fee Guide
equipment - payment for rental (or purchase if longterm) of wheel-chair, hospital bed, equipment for administration of oxygen
prosthetic appliances - (when prescribed by a physician) artificial eyes, limbs, breast prosthesis, crutches, canes, walkers, splints, casts, braces and trusses; repairs to foregoing to maximum of $300/year; wigs (when prescribed by a physician) to a maximum of $500 per year
diabetic supplies - needles, swabs, test tapes, syringes, lancets - as prescribed by a physician deemed reasonable by Blue Cross; diabetic equipment: preci-jet, glucometer, etc. - to $700 in five years
hearing aids - to a maximum of $500 in three calendar years (children requiring binaural aids - 2@ maximum of $500 each in three calendar years)
cochlear implants - up to a total expense of $1000 per person in three calendar years when prescribed by an otologist or clinical audiologist. Coverage for implants includes upgrades but excludes batteries and warrantees.
paramedical practitioners - to a maximum of $350 in a calendar year for each type of practitioner (psychologist, chiropodist, podiatrist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath, naturopath, massage therapist, acupuncturist)
mobility aids - charges for the purchase of bathroom rails, bath seats, raised toilet seats or reachers, on the written authorization of a physician
orthopaedic shoes - prescribed by an orthopaedic surgeon, physiatrist, rheumatologist or physician
surgical and embolic stockings - when prescribed by a physician
cardiac rehabilitation - under a recognized program to maximum of $300 per person
blood pressure monitors - purchase (one every five years) or rental - on authorization of physician
referrals outside Saskatchewan - to maximum of $50,000 per course of treatment (lifetime maximum = $100,000)
outside Saskatchewan travel benefits - to a maximum of $1,000,000 for accident or sudden illness occurring while out of province. No benefits for residents traveling outside the province to seek medical advice or treatment, even if on the recommendation of a physician.

Claim forms for the Dental, Extended Health and Vision Care Plans are available through the Human Resources Division/ Benefits Office or the HRD website. Make claims directly to Blue Cross at 516 2nd Ave. N., Saskatoon, SK S7K 2C5. You will need to provide the Policy No: 50111 and the identification number on your Blue Cross Card.

Parental Leave (Article 22.7): Members are entitled to Parental Leave of 52 weeks (or for term employees employed for less than one year, until the end of the employment term). This applies to the birth mother, primary care-giver and to adoptive parents. EI benefits are supplemented by the University up to 95% of salary for the first 21 weeks; unfortunately, the rest is without pay, although the University continues to pay for coverage under compulsory life insurance, long term disability, extended health and dental plans. The employee has the option of continuing pension contributions (and should!).

Updated September 14, 2009