Kentucky Community and Technical College System
Human Resources

2002-03 Salary and Benefits Plan

Questions and Answers

 

 

Salary and benefits are key elements in our effort to build a comprehensive community and technical college system that is recognized as the nation’s best and that fulfills the promise of House Bill 1, “The Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997.”  Our objective is to create incentives to encourage faculty and staff to voluntarily elect the KCTCS personnel policies to achieve the goal of building a unified system.

 

NOTE: The KCTCS annual budget and its provisions will be in effect for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003, unless changes are necessitated by a state budget enacted or spending plan implemented subsequent to Board of Regents approval of the KCTCS annual budget.

 

 

Should I opt over into the KCTCS personnel system?

 

Yes.  The KCTCS personnel system enhances the salary and benefits for faculty and staff.  The decision to change personnel policies by exercising the one-time election to opt over into the KCTCS personnel system is a major decision for any individual, and must be considered in light of one’s individual situation.

 

 

Former University of Kentucky Faculty and Staff

 

What are the incentives for a former UK faculty and staff to opt over into the KCTCS personnel system?

 

                                  

Personnel
 Policy   
Base Salary 
Increases  
Employer
Health 
Insurance
Contribution
Increased  
   
Tuition Waiver for Spouses
and Dependent Children*  

Performance
Based
Bonus
KCTCS  
  3.0%
1.1%  
on average
 yes 
 yes
UK  
1.6%
1.1%  
on average 
no  
yes

                                                             

*Effective July 1, 2002, faculty and staff in the KCTCS personnel system are eligible for a tuition waiver for spouses and dependent children (age 23 or less, as defined by federal financial aid guidelines) for three (3) credit hours per term (fall, spring, and summer) at KCTCS colleges.

 

o       The base salary percentage increase will be applied to faculty and staff salaries for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, based on your governing personnel policy as of July 1, 2002.

o       The base salary percentage increase will be applied to faculty and staff salaries for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, based on your governing personnel policy as of July 1, 2002.

 

o       The increased cost in employer-paid contributions for health insurance is on average 1.1 percent of salaries for faculty and staff governed by UK personnel policies and on average 1.1 percent of salaries for faculty and staff under KCTCS personnel policies.  The UK personnel system changes are effective July 1, 2002, and the employer contribution for KCTCS personnel system faculty and staff will be adjusted beginning January 1, 2003.

 

o       During FY 2002-03, KCTCS faculty and staff governed under all personnel system rules that earned in 2001-02 an “Exceeds” rating in the KCTCS performance evaluation system will receive a non-recurring merit bonus.  Funding for this program is contingent upon there being no state budget reductions for KCTCS in 2002-03.  If no state budget reductions occur, the merit bonus awards would be paid during the fourth quarter of the 2002-03 fiscal year.

 

 

If I opt over into the KCTCS personnel system from the UK personnel system, will my life insurance increase?

 

Yes.  Consistent with UK rules, former UK employees now receive $10,000 in employer paid life insurance.  When you opt over into the KCTCS personnel system, the employer paid term life insurance will increase to $20,000, and you will receive a $20,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) policy.

 

 

If I opt over into the KCTCS personnel system from the UK personnel system, will my paycheck continue uninterrupted?

 

Yes.  We have established a mechanism that eliminates the need to miss a pay period. 

 

 

If my spouse has health insurance that covers me, is there an additional benefit for me to opt over into the KCTCS personnel system from the UK personnel system?

 

Yes.  You may waive health insurance coverage and receive an employer contribution in a flexible spending account.

 

 

If eligible, can I retire from UK and opt over into the KCTCS personnel system?

 

 Yes. 


Former 18A/151B Faculty and Staff

 

What are the incentives for a former 18A/151B faculty and staff to opt over into the KCTCS personnel system?

                                                  

Personnel
 Policy   
Base Salary 
Increases  
Employer
Health 
Insurance
Contribution
Increased  
   
Tuition Waiver for Spouses
and Dependent Children*  

Performance
Based
Bonus
KCTCS  
 3.0%
1.1%  
on average
 yes 
yes
18A/151B  
2.7%
no  
no  
yes

 

  *Effective July 1, 2002, faculty and staff in the KCTCS personnel system are eligible for a tuition waiver for spouses and dependent children (age 23 or less, as defined by federal financial aid guidelines) for three (3) credit hours per term (fall, spring, and summer) at KCTCS colleges.

 

o       The base salary percentage increase will be applied to faculty and staff salaries for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, based on your governing personnel policy as of July 1, 2002.

 

o       The increased cost in employer-paid contributions for health insurance is on average 1.1 percent of salaries for faculty and staff under KCTCS personnel policies.  Employer contribution for KCTCS personnel system faculty and staff will be adjusted beginning January 1, 2003.

 

o       During FY 2002-03, KCTCS faculty and staff governed under all personnel system rules that earned in 2001-02 an “Exceeds” rating in the KCTCS performance evaluation system will receive a non-recurring merit bonus.  Funding for this program is contingent upon there being no state budget reductions for KCTCS in 2002-03.  If no state budget reductions occur, the merit bonus awards would be paid during the fourth quarter of the 2002-03 fiscal year.

 

 

How will the increased employer contribution for health insurance costs be implemented for those who opt over into the KCTCS personnel system?

KCTCS will pay a larger portion (on average, 1.1 percent of the KCTCS personnel system salary base) of the health insurance premiums for KCTCS personnel system faculty and staff and their dependents.  We are waiting for the state’s health insurance rate to be set for the next year.  Once that is available, we will announce employer contribution rates for faculty and staff governed by KCTCS personnel policies.  (For KCTCS faculty and staff under the administrative regulations governing former 18A/151B faculty and staff, KCTCS will continue to make employer contributions in accordance with the rates set by the state.)

 

 

Will former 18A/151B faculty and staff who opt over into the KCTCS personnel system receive a higher employer contribution for health insurance?

 

Yes.  When former 18A/151B faculty and staff elect to opt over into the KCTCS personnel system, they will receive the higher contribution rate.  The higher employer contribution will begin January 1, 2003.  (Those not opting over into the KCTCS personnel system will continue to receive the employer contributions established by the state.)

 

 

Other Questions

 

Do I serve an introductory period when I opt over into the KCTCS personnel system?

 

No.  An introductory period applies only to newly hired faculty and staff.

 

 

Will I retain my tenure or continuing employment status when I opt over into KCTCS personnel system?

 

Yes.

 

 

Will I keep my current leave balances when I opt over into KCTCS personnel system?

 

Yes. 

 

Will my years of service be recognized when future leave is calculated if I opt over into the KCTCS personnel system?

 

Yes.  All future leave accruals are governed by the KCTCS personnel system based on your total years of continuous service with KCTCS, UK, or 18A/151B personnel policies.

 

 

Where can I find a comparison of the KCTCS personnel system benefits to my current personnel system benefits?

 

On the KCTCS website http://www.kctcs.edu/employee/hr/benefitscomparison.htm

         

 

When can I opt over into the KCTCS personnel system and receive the full benefit of these incentives?

 

An opt over election prior to October 31, 2002, will result in the additional salary increase being effective retroactive to July 1, 2002.  The increased employer contribution for health insurance costs will begin January 1, 2003.  The tuition credit for spouses and dependent children will be available fall 2002.

 


What incentives are available to me if I opt over into the KCTCS personnel system after October 31, 2002?

 

The additional salary increase will be effective as of the date of the election to opt over into the KCTCS personnel system.  The availability of the other incentives will be the same as described above.

 

 

What actions do I take to opt over into the KCTCS personnel system?

 

Your Human Resource Coordinator can provide you with the appropriate forms to complete in order to make this change.  Make sure that you are fully informed before making a decision. 

 

 

What if I have additional questions?

 

First, you should contact your local Human Resource Coordinator.  In addition to talking to your college Human Resource Coordinator, you may contact the System Office Human Resources staff at 866-OPT-OVER.  A full comparison of each personnel system’s benefits and leave plans is available on the KCTCS website at http://www.kctcs.edu/employee/hr/benefitscomparison.htm .