Q. What holidays will IIT observe this academic year?
A.

Monday, September 3	Labor Day
Thursday, November 22	Thanksgiving
Friday, November 23	University Holiday
Monday, December 24	University Holiday
Tuesday, December 25	University Holiday
Tuesday, January 1	University Holiday
Monday, January 21	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Monday, May 26	Memorial Day
Friday, July 4	Independence Day

Q. How can I confirm the number of days of vacation, sick leave and personal leave I have remaining in my accrual bank?
A. Vacation and sick accruals are posted in hours on the paychecks of those employees who earn paid vacation and sick time. Employees on the bi-weekly payroll will have paid vacation and sick time posted on each paycheck. Employees on the semi-monthly payroll will have paid vacation and sick time posted on the first paycheck of every month (the prior month's accrual). You may also find balances for vacation, sick leave, and personal time in Web for Employees.

Q. I have moved. How do I update my address?
A. Login to Web for Employees and change any items that need to be updated. All information entered here is reflected immediately in the Human Resource System, and all payroll and insurance information is extracted from there. If you are utilizing the commuter program through Ceridian, you must update your address by updating your online account at www.ceridian-benefits.com.

Q. I recently married. What should I do to update my records in Human Resources?
A. A spouse may be added to existing medical or dental insurance within 30 days of marriage by completing a change of status form and providing a copy of your certified marriage certificate. Please note that there is a corresponding change in your payroll deduction. You may also choose to update your life insurance and/or retirement plan beneficiary and change the number of tax exemptions you claim. Benefit forms are available in Human Resources.

Federal tax exemptions can be updated in Web for Employees. (Select Payroll Services, then Update Federal Withholdings.) This information is reflected immediately in the Human Resource System. You can also use Web for Employees to print the form requesting a change in your Illinois state tax withholding. (Select Payroll Services, then State Withholdings Change Form. Print the form from your browser and send it to the Payroll Office.) Or, you may contact the Payroll office at x73336.

*IIT also extends benefits to same-sex domestic partners and eligible dependents if the employee has submitted a certification of domestic partnership. Employees are encouraged to contact Human Resources for more details.

Q. Do I have life insurance benefits?
A. All benefits-eligible employees are automatically covered by a life insurance policy. Coverage is provided by Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA) policy with the following death benefits:

Q. Is there a pre-existing condition limitation on the health plan?
A. The Network PPO plan does not have a pre-existing condition limitation; however, the PPO plan includes a pre-existing condition limitation for the first 365 days of employment that may be waived if the participant provides proof of prior coverage to Blue Cross Blue Shield. Details regarding criteria and procedures for providing proof are available in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plan booklet.

Q. Are there pre-existing condition limitations if I change health plans?
A. There is no pre-existing condition limitation under your new plan when you transfer plans, provided you have been covered by a health plan for at least one year prior to the change. Any condition for which you are receiving treatment prior to your coverage change will be covered immediately by your new plan.

Q. How long can I cover my dependent children on the health plan?
A. Dependent, unmarried children can be covered by your Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plan up to the last day of the month that they turn 23. Student status is not required.

Q. How long can I cover my dependent children on the Dental plan?
A. Dependent, unmarried children can be covered by your Aetna Plan up to the last day of the month that they turn 19. Proof of full-time student status must be provided to continue coverage through age 23.

Q. When is Open Enrollment?
A. Open Enrollment is held in May of each year for medical and dental insurance and flexible spending accounts. Changes in insurance coverage as well as adding dependents may be made at this time with a June 1 effective date. UNUM long-term disability may be added in December for a January 1 effective date.

Q. Can I make changes to my health or dental insurance at any time other than Open Enrollment?
A. A change may be made within 30 days of a qualified change in family status. Examples include: birth, adoption, marriage, addition of a same sex domestic partner, divorce, death or change in spouse's/same-sex domestic partner's employment status. Please contact Human Resources for additional information.

Q. How often can I change my doctor or dentist?
A. The Network plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield does not require that you choose a primary care physician. However, the Network PPO plan requires that a PPO provider is used in order to receive a benefit. If your doctor recommends a specialist, it is also your responsibility to make sure that this specialist is part of the PPO provider directory. To find a PPO provider, you may call (800) 548-1686 or search online. To find a provider online, click "Provider Finder", then select "PPO (Participating Provider Option)" from the "Group Products" drop-down menu.

The Aetna Dental Plan allows each participant to change his or her dentist once per month. The participant should contact Member Services at (877) 238-6200.

Q. Do we have a vision plan?
A. Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a vision benefit of $250 every 24 months for each covered individual. The $250 benefit applies to eye exams, refractions, prescription sunglasses, and the cost of prescription eyeware. Blue Cross Blue Shield also has a partnership with EyeMed. This partnership provides additional discounts for those that utilize EyeMed providers. For a list of EyeMed providers, please click here.

Q. What happens to my benefits when I am on a leave of absence or suffering from an illness?
A. The health, dental, life and disability plans may be continued during illness, family and medical or educational leaves without pay. The university will continue the employer contribution portion of the health plan if the employee is on a Family and Medical Leave (FMLA).

An employee is responsible for the full cost of coverage for all other types of plans and during all other types of leaves. The employee is sent an invoice and payment is expected at the end of the month for the following month's coverage. Failure to pay the required premium will result in cancellation of coverage with employee eligible to reinstate coverage at the next Open Enrollment.

Q. What happens to my insurance when I retire?
A. Life, dental and disability benefits terminate on the last day of the following month after you separate. The Blue Cross Blue Shield health plan may be continued if the retiree is age 55 or older and has at least 5 years of service with the university. A supplemental plan to Medicare is offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield for those age 65 and older who are covered by Medicare and meet the 5 year service requirement. Coverage must be elected within 30 days of retirement. COBRA coverage is available for those not meeting the criteria indicated above. Schedules of cost and details on coverage are available in Human Resources.

Q. What happens to my insurance when I resign or my appointment ends?
A. If your employment ends before the 16th of the month, benefits end on the last day of that same month. If your employment ends after the 15th of the month, benefits continue through the last day of the following month. The employee must contribute his/her share of the cost of these benefits from the final paycheck. Retirement plan contributions will be based on all final wages earned and terminal vacation pay (if applicable). If you are currently participating in the tuition reimbursement program and leaving your position before the end of the semester, you will be responsible for paying back the semester amount covered by the tuition reimbursement program.

This information is reviewed with the terminating staff member by a representative from Human Resources during the exit interview.

Q. Are there tuition benefits at IIT?
A. The university provides IIT tuition benefits for full-time members of the faculty and staff and benefits eligible part-time staff. The purpose is to enable the employee, his/her spouse or eligible same-sex domestic partner, and dependent children to pursue educational programs at the university. The student must complete an application for admission and be admitted to the university before Human Resources will grant a tuition waiver. Please click here for additional information.

Q. What is the maximum amount that I can contribute to the university's tax-deferred retirement plan?
A. Please click here for the 403(b) contribution maximums.

Q. When can I change the amount that I contribute to the retirement plan?
A. At any time, but no more frequently than once every three months.

Q. How do I change my contribution amount to the retirement plan?
A. Download the Salary Reduction Agreement form with your changes and submit to Human Resources.

Q. How do I change the investment options in my retirement plan?
A. Contact TIAA-CREF at 800.842.2776 or visit their website at www.tiaa-cref.org. Fidelity can be reached at 800.343.0860 or visit their website at www.fidelity.com/atwork.

Q. How can I transfer funds from one retirement investment provider to another?
A. A transfer/rollover forms can be obtained from Human Resources. Before transferring funds, the employee must complete an application for the newly elected retirement investment provider; forms can also be obtained from Human Resources.

Q. How does the commuter program work?
A. The program allows you to pay, with pre-tax dollars, for up to $215 per month in parking expenses and up to $110 per month in mass transit expenses. On-campus annual parking permits may also be purchased pre-tax using this program. Click here for a summary of the commuter program and enrollment form. Once your application has been received, you may enroll in mass transit online at www.ceridian-benefits.com.

Q. How does the flexible spending program work?
A. You are eligible to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) if you are a regular full-time IIT employee working at least 1,209 hours per year (23.25 hours per week). Eligible employees may begin participation on the first day of the month after hire or at the beginning of the plan year (June 1).

The plan allows you to pay, on a pre-tax basis, for certain medical, vision or dental expenses that are not covered under IIT's plans, including deductibles and co-payments. These would include out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses should you elect not to participate in the university's insurance plans. Lastly, you may also pay certain child-care and elder-care expenses.

The maximum contribution that you can make to the medical/dental expense portion of the FSA is $4,000 per plan year. The maximum contribution for the child/elder care portion is $5,000 per plan year. Health care and dental premiums done by payroll deduction are automatically withheld pre-tax in this program.

Q. How can I apply for a promotion or transfer?
A. Available positions are posted on our employment website at www.iitri.iit.edu. Employees are welcome to apply to any vacancy after a minimum of six months in their current position and are in good standing. An internal application is available for employees on the website above.

Q. I applied for a position online. What is the next step?
A. Applicants are encouraged to log in to the employment website at www.iitri.iit.edu to check on the status of their application.

Q. What employee parking is available?
A. For information on Main Campus, please click here.

The Downtown and Institute of Design campuses do not offer designated employee parking, but discounts may be available. Inquire on location.

For Rice and Moffett campuses, there is no charge for parking.