Employee Benefits

 

(The descriptions below are general in nature.  Specific policies are contained in the Personnel Handbook)

Basic Life Insurance

All employees who work 15 or more hours per week are provided with basic life insurance ($50,000) paid for by Mesalands Community College.  The level of basic life insurance provided is subject to change and is at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

Health and Disability Insurance

Regular employees who work 20 or more hours per week may enroll within the first 31 days of employment in medical, dental, vision, and/or long-term disability insurance from carriers awarded contracts through the New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority.  A portion of the costs as provided by law and approved by the Board of Trustees is paid by Mesalands Community College.  The remaining costs are paid by the employee.  Information regarding additional insurance coverages available to eligible employees may be obtained in the personnel office.  The employee pays the full cost of additional coverages. 

Voluntary Life Insurance

Regular employees who work 20 or more hours per week, other than student employees,  may enroll in voluntary life insurance coverage within the first thirty-one (31) days of employment with Mesalands Community College.  The coverage amount can be one, two, or three times the contract salary.  All premiums for voluntary life insurance coverage are paid by the employee.

Educational Retirement

Employees, except student workers, who work 10 hours or more per week are required to participate in the Educational Retirement Act (ERA) system. 

Alternative retirement plans.  Administrators, faculty and designated professionals initially employed in a New Mexico institution July 1, 1999 or later have options available to them for retirement.  Information may be obtained in the personnel office.

Retiree Health Care

All employees required to participate in educational retirement or an alternative retirement plan are also required to contribute to retiree health care.  The current rate of contribution is .65% of gross earnings.  Mesalands Community College contributes 1.3% of gross salaries to the retiree health care fund.  Contributions to retiree health care are not refundable.  A pamphlet published by the New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority is available for further information in the personnel office.

Social Security and Medicare

Mesalands Community College is required to withhold from the pay of all employees, other than qualifying work study employees, the amount required by law for the Social Security Tax and Medicare.  Employees contribute a portion of their total earnings as provided by federal law.  The amount is deducted from each paycheck.  Mesalands Community  College contributes to the fund an amount equal to the employee's portion.  The rates are subject to change by congressional action.  

Educational Benefits

The College offers tuition reimbursement for regular full-time employees and their dependents as claimed on the most recent income tax return and for regular part-time employees, for Mesalands Community College courses. A regular full-time or part-time employee may be reimbursed for tuition paid by the employee for up to seven (7) credits taken by the employee and each dependent of a full-time employee per semester. In order to be eligible for the reimbursement, the employee must have completed federal financial aid forms and not be eligible for federal grants.

Tuition reimbursement for employees taking post-associate credits at other institutions.  Mesalands Community College encourages all employees to further their education specifically in areas related to the employee's job assignment.  To support and encourage this effort, regular full-time employees may be reimbursed for tuition paid by the employee for up to six (6) semester hour credits, 300-level or greater, earned at a regionally accredited college or university.

Injury Time/worker's Compensation

Employees injured on the job or suffering from occupational diseases, as defined in the New Mexico Worker's Compensation Statute, shall receive Worker's compensation benefits as prescribed by law.

Wellness Benefits

Regular full-time employees and his/her dependents will be allowed to enroll in any HPE course at no cost to the employee.  Regular part-time employees will be allowed to enroll himself/herself in any HPE course at no cost to the employee.