Updates to this Handbook

Ivy Tech Community College

TO:	All Full-Time Employees

DATE:	February, 2011

FROM:	Julie Lorton-Rowland
	Executive Director of Human Resources Office of the President

RE:	Update to the Full-Time Employee Handbook

Below is a summary of updates made to the Full-Time Employee Handbook. Included are significant updates to the previously communicated changes to employee benefits offered by the College, recent changes to the educational support policy for Western Governor’s University and various other changes summarized below. We have provided a direct link in this summary to the updated section. Please be sure to review the updates carefully.

The College’s Benefits Website has also been recently updated to reflect the changes addressed in the handbook. Please visit the site at Ivy Tech Employee Benefits for additional information, forms, direct links to vendor sites and more.

Personnel Policies and Procedures
	—	Employment at the College
		—		Employee Categories
				—	Faculty	Updated policy to include twelve month faculty.

				—	Faculty Classification Criteria	Updated the educational and teaching experience requirements.


General College Operations
	—	Standard of Conduct
		—		Employee Authored Texts		Added new policy to address employee authored texts.

Health and Dental Care Programs
	—	Health Care Plans				Description updated and link to search network of providers added.

		—	Choice Plan			New plan information.

	—	Dental Care Plans
		—	Dental PPO Plan			Updated to include expansion of Dental PPO Plan Network and provide link to search network of providers.

		—	Humana/CompBenefits DMO Plan			Updated vendor name and link to search network of providers added.

	—	Eligibility and Expense
		—	Employee Eligibility			Section added to define eligible employee categories.

		—	Dependent Children			Section added to reference changes in coverage for dependent children.

		—	Working Spouse Rule			Section added to reference spouse's eligibility in health and/ or dental plans.

		—	Changes in Status - Qualifying Event			Section added to advise employees on when changes can be made to health and/or dental coverage outside of the annual open enrollment period.

		—	Premium Expense			Section added to provide information on health and dental care premiums.

	—	COBRA
		—	Electing Cobra Coverage			Section added to provide information on COBRA and electing coverage under COBRA.

	—	HIPAA				Added statement to include the College's committment to the privacy and confidentiality of protected health information (PHI).

	—	Health and Dental Benefits after Retirement
		—	Option 2 - The 75-Plan Retiree Program			Language added to address availability to those continuously employed in full-time, benefits-eligible positions on or prior to December 31, 2008.

Other Core Benefit Programs						New section to condense information from other parts of the handbook.
	—	Group Term Life Insurance
		—	Basic Life Insurance			Increase in the maximum benefit available from $150,000 to $500,000.

		—	Optional Life Insurance			Increase in the maximum benefit available from $350,000 to $500,000 under guarantee issue. Evidence of Insurability required for coverage levels between $500,000 to $700,000.

		—	Benefit Reduction at Age 70 and Age 75			Added language to advise of 35% reduction in benefits at age 70 and a 50% reduction in benefits at age 75.

		—	Beneficiary Designation			Added language to remind employees to check beneficiary information on an annual basis.

		—	When Coverage Ends - Portability and Conversion			Updated language to provide distinction between portability and conversion.

	—	Group Long-Term Disability Insurance
		—	Eligibility			Revised language pertaining to eligibility.

		—	Cost			Clarified cost-sharing between the employee and the College.

		—	Qualifying for a Benefit			Clarified language pertaining to qualifying for benefits. Language pertaining to Total Disability has been changed from 39 months to 36 months.

		—	Benefit Payments			Added language to convey increase in monthly benefit from $4,000 to $6,000 and address changes to reduction in benefits when combined with other income for first 12 months of disability. Link provided for LTD Insurance Certificate containing details.

		—	When Coverage Ends			Expanded language on when coverage ends. Link provided for LTD Insurance Certificate containing details.

	—	Workers Compensation Disability Benefits
		—	Reporting Accidents			Added statement that claim form can be found in Employee Services tab of Campus Connect.

		—	Compensation			Added language to address compensation of seven day waiting period if injury requires you to be off 21 days or more.

		—	Returning to Work			Added language stating Family Medical Leave (FML) runs concurrent with time off related to injuries approved under Worker's Compensation.

	—	Other Disability Information				Section moved.

		—	Life Insurance			Language added to address qualifying disability annually with carrier to maintain Basic and Optional Life Insurance.

	—	Tax Saver Program				Section moved.

	—	Flexible Spending Accounts				Section moved. Language added to include Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account and convey changes in availability to use money for over-the-counter medications after January 1, 2011.

	—	HealthSmart Wellness Program				Section moved.

	—	Employee Assistance Program				Section moved.

	—	Educational Support				Section moved. Policy updated to include Western Governors University.

	—	Service Awards Program				Section moved.

	—	Annual Employee Benefits Statement				Section moved.

	—	Credit Union Membership				Section moved.

Voluntary Benefits						New section.

	—	Vision Insurance				New plan information added.

	—	Identity Theft Protection				New plan information added.

	—	Short Term Disability Insurance				New plan information added.

	—	Whole Life Insurance				New plan information added.

	—	Critical Illness/Cancer Insurance				New plan information added.

	—	Accident Insurance				New plan information added.

	—	Long Term Care Insurance				Section moved.

Retirement Programs
	—	PERF Retirement Plan				Language expanded and link to PERF Retirement Calculator added.

		—	Eligibility			Some language changes.

		—	Contributions			Language added to define "employee's contribution" and the Annuity Savings Account.

	—	Ivy Tech Retirement Annuity (RA) Plan
		—	Contributions			Language added to include annual open enrollment for vendor receiving future contributions.

		—	Leaving Employment with the College			Language added to emphasize an employee must leave part-time and adjunct assignments, in addition to full-time, benefits-eligible position to receive contributions and earnings.

		—	Additional Information			Added reference to availability of Summary Plan Descriptions at Ivy Tech Employee Benefits.

	—	Tax Deferred Voluntary Retirement Plans
		—	Contributions			Section updated to remove reference to the Hold Harmless Agreement. Employee may change reduction once per calendar year.

		—	Investments			Language added to clarify direction of investments.

		—	Additional Information			Added reference to availability of Summary Plan Descriptions at Ivy Tech Employee Benefits.

	—	Other Retiree Programs

		—	Medicare			Language added to state College's prescription coverage provided under group health plan is considered Part D creditable coverage.

All Sections						Benefits-eligible changed to reflect full-time, benefits eligible.

If you have any questions about these changes, please contact your regional Human Resources Administrator.