SUBJECT:

Committee on Faculty Welfare Annual Newsletter

The Senate Committee on Faculty Welfare (CFW) would like to initiate a short, annual update on current faculty benefits both as a reminder to continuing and retired Senate members and as a welcome to new faculty. In the U.S. mail earlier this month, all faculty should have received information on Open Enrollment for November 1-30, 2005 from University of California Human Resources and Benefits. Open enrollment for medical, dental, vision, and other benefits can be completed on line with information on plan benefits and changes provided at http://atyourservice.ucop.edu.

At the beginning of the Fall Quarter, faculty received a pamphlet on "Family Accommodation Policies and Programs for Ladder-Rank Faculty" from Academic Personnel Services. It summarized the implementation of a number of new polices reviewed and approved by our local CFW, Senate Council, and now part of the UCSD Policy and Procedure Manual (PPM). Note especially the summary of updated Family-Friendly Policies relating to Childbearing leave, Additional pregnancy accommodations, Active Service-Modified Duties, Parental leave without pay, Extension of the eight-year probationary period for Assistant Professors, and Deferring the academic review.

This pamphlet also provides information on Child Care, Camps, and Recreation Programs; Public Schools; Partner Opportunities Program for Dual-Career Couples; Faculty and Staff Assistance Program; and a page of telephone numbers and websites for other UCSD Resources.

Let me emphasize three important assistance programs:

--UCSD Employee Rehabilitation Program: (858) 534-6744;
--UCSD Faculty & Staff Assistance Program: (858) 534-5534; and
--UCSD Health Care Facilitator Program: (858) 822-2192.

CFW would like to remind all faculty of the ongoing system-wide faculty involvement in medical plan negotiations to help keep health care costs affordable. In the present volatile environment on employee benefits nationally, it is important that each of us remain informed and vigilant of changes that will affect each of our unique personal and family circumstances.

Volatility also applies to retirement benefits as the national debate on Social Security and the performance of financial markets make us all aware. We would like to remind faculty who are not contributing to a Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan, especially new and young faculty, of the significant benefits to be obtained from long-term contributions to a Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan. Also, faculty with 15 years of UC employment as of December 31, 2003 may qualify for the Special Catch-Up Provision that allows for additional contributions. Find information online: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu, select "Retirement & Savings" and "Tax-Deferred 403(b) Plan" or check with the UCSD Benefits Office: (858) 534-9686. Faculty members also have access to a 457(b) Plan. This Plan was announced in September. In addition to the tax savings in the 403(b), salary can also be deferred to the 457(b) with the same limits as the 403(b). Information is available on the At Your Service website: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/news/retirement/new_457b_plan.html. Faculty may enroll on-line for both plans.

Further information on UCSD assistance programs and benefits can be obtained from the UCSD Benefits Office: (858) 534-9686, from Blink: http://blink.ucsd.edu; and as always, from the best source of immediate information, our departmental MSO.

John Marino, 2003/04 Chair Committee on Faculty Welfare Academic Senate: San Diego Division