Insurance and Health Care

Health, dental, and life insurance are available for eligible full-time and part-time employees, with dependent coverage also available. Additional optional benefits are also available, including additional term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and tax-deferred retirement program.

Eligibility for Continued Employment

Eligible for tenure: assistant professors on at least 51% time appointment, associate professors or professors on a Q appointment; faculty at the rank of associate professor or professor.

Employee Tuition Waiver

Eligible employees qualify for tuition and fee waivers for University courses.

Child of Employee Tuition Waiver

Children of eligible employees receive a 50% tuition waiver for up to 4 years at any public state of Illinois institution of higher education.

Holidays

New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas, and such other days as may be determined by the president of the University.

Floating Holidays

Each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), 2 non-cumulative floating holidays are available to staff who are appointed at more than 0%. Floating holiday “days” are prorated to the percentage of the employee’s appointment. Floating holidays are not prorated for partial year appointments.

Sick Leave

Eligible employees receive 12 days of cumulative sick leave and 13 days of non-cumulative sick leave. Unused cumulative sick leave rolls each year without limit.

Shared Benefits

Eligible employees who have donated to the Shared Benefits sick leave pool may request additional sick leave when the employee has a pending SURS disability claim, and all applicable accrued benefit time (sick and/or vacation) has been exhausted.

Bereavement Leave

Eligible employees receive up to 5 days of paid bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate family member or a member of the employee’s household, and 1 day of paid leave upon the death of a relative outside the immediate family. The University also offers up to 10 days of unpaid Family Bereavement Leave.

Family Medical Leave

Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave at the percentage of their appointments. Employees may use available paid benefit time (sick and/or vacation) to remain in pay status.

Jury Duty

Release time is granted for the duration of jury duty. The employee may also retain funds paid in compensation for jury duty.

Leave Without Pay

With appropriate approval, eligible employees may be granted leaves of absence without pay.

Military Leave

Compensation while on military leave for annual training, special or advanced training, and basic training shall be in accordance with the Illinois Military Leave of Absence Act.

Modified Teaching Duties

To enable a faculty member to recover fully from the effects of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions or to enable the primary caregiver of a new child to spend more time with the child immediately after birth or adoption, except in extraordinary circumstances, a schedule of modified teaching duties is granted. Upon request, tenured and tenure-track faculty members will be granted a period of modified duties without a reduction in salary.
Faculty members on modified duties status will be relieved of teaching but will be expected to fulfill their other professional responsibilities that can be scheduled around the recuperation/bonding period. The maximum period for which modified duties will be assigned is one semester. The department shall be responsible for arranging for coverage of direct teaching responsibilities for the period of modified duties.

Parental Leave

Eligible employees receive up to 6 weeks of paid leave following the birth of a child, or upon the initial placement of a child under 18 years of age for adoption or foster care, or the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age.

Sabbatical Leave

A tenured/tenure track faculty member who has served the University for at least three years in full-time service  in a professorial rank since his or her original appointment or since the termination of his or her last leave on salary may be granted sabbatical leave at full or partial pay for all or part of an appointment year, depending upon length of service and type of appointment (i.e., 9-or 12 month). Visiting and part-time faculty are not eligible for sabbatical leaves.

SURS Eligibility

Eligible employees must participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) and must make a one-time irrevocable election among three available retirement benefit plans within six months of their date of eligibility.

Insurance and Health Care

Health, dental, and life insurance are available for eligible full-time and part-time employees, with dependent coverage also available. Additional optional benefits are also available, including additional term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and tax-deferred retirement program.

Eligibility for Continued Employment

Ineligible for tenure: instructor, lecturer, teaching associate, research associate, or clinical associate; and appointments including the modifier adjunct, clinical, research or visiting in the title.

Employee Tuition Waiver

Eligible employees qualify for tuition and fee waivers for University courses.

Child of Employee Tuition Waiver

Children of eligible employees receive a 50% tuition waiver for up to 4 years at any public state of Illinois institution of higher education.

Holidays

New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas, and such other days as may be determined by the president of the University.

Floating Holidays

Each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), 2 non-cumulative floating holidays are available to staff who are appointed at more than 0%. Floating holiday “days” are prorated to the percentage of the employee’s appointment. Floating holidays are not prorated for partial year appointments.

Sick Leave

Eligible employees receive 12 days of cumulative sick leave and 13 days of non-cumulative sick leave. Unused cumulative sick leave rolls each year without limit.

Shared Benefits

Eligible employees who have donated to the Shared Benefits sick leave pool may request additional sick leave when the employee has a pending SURS disability claim, and all applicable accrued benefit time (sick and/or vacation) has been exhausted.

Bereavement Leave

Eligible employees receive up to 5 days of paid bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate family member or a member of the employee’s household, and 1 day of paid leave upon the death of a relative outside the immediate family. The University also offers up to 10 days of unpaid Family Bereavement Leave.

Family Medical Leave

Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave at the percentage of their appointments. Employees may use available paid benefit time (sick and/or vacation) to remain in pay status.

Jury Duty

Release time is granted for the duration of jury duty. The employee may also retain funds paid in compensation for jury duty.

Leave Without Pay

With appropriate approval, eligible employees may be granted leaves of absence without pay.

Military Leave

Compensation while on military leave for annual training, special or advanced training, and basic training shall be in accordance with the Illinois Military Leave of Absence Act.

Parental Leave

Eligible employees receive up to 6 weeks of paid leave following the birth of a child, or upon the initial placement of a child under 18 years of age for adoption or foster care, or the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age.

Retirement Benefit

Eligible employees must participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) and must make a one-time irrevocable election among three available retirement benefit plans within six months of their date of eligibility.

Insurance and Health Care

Health, dental, and life insurance are available for eligible full-time and part-time employees, with dependent coverage also available. Additional optional benefits are also available, including additional term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and tax-deferred retirement program.

Eligibility for Continued Employment

Academic Professional employees are appointed on an annual basis and have Notice of Non-Reappointment rights if they will not be reappointed.  The length of the non-reappointment notice period, which ranges from 2 to 12 months, is based on the years of service and position funding source. 

Employee Tuition Waiver

Eligible employees qualify for tuition and fee waivers for University courses.

Child of Employee Tuition Waiver

Children of eligible employees receive a 50% tuition waiver for up to 4 years at any public state of Illinois institution of higher education.

Academic Professional Development Fund

The Academic Professional Development Fund (APDF) provides a source of funds for eligible non-visiting academic professional staff members to assist in participation in professional development opportunities.

Vacation

Eligible employees receive 24 days of paid vacation leave per year, prorated for the percentage of their appointment.

Holidays

New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas, and such other days as may be determined by the president of the University.

Floating Holidays

Each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), 2 non-cumulative floating holidays are available to staff who are appointed at more than 0%. Floating holiday “days” are prorated to the percentage of the employee’s appointment. Floating holidays are not prorated for partial year appointments.

Sick Leave

Eligible employees receive 12 days of cumulative sick leave and 13 days of non-cumulative sick leave. Unused cumulative sick leave rolls each year without limit.

Shared Benefits

Eligible employees who have donated to the Shared Benefits sick leave pool may request additional sick leave when the employee has a pending SURS disability claim, and all applicable accrued benefit time (sick and/or vacation) has been exhausted.

Bereavement Leave

Eligible employees receive up to 5 days of paid bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate family member or a member of the employee’s household, and 1 day of paid leave upon the death of a relative outside the immediate family. The University also offers up to 10 days of unpaid Family Bereavement Leave.

Family Medical Leave

Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave at the percentage of their appointments. Employees may use available paid benefit time (sick and/or vacation) to remain in pay status.

Jury Duty

Release time is granted for the duration of jury duty. The employee may also retain funds paid in compensation for jury duty.

Leave Without Pay

With appropriate approval, eligible employees may be granted leaves of absence without pay.

Military Leave

Compensation while on military leave for annual training, special or advanced training, and basic training shall be in accordance with the Illinois Military Leave of Absence Act.

Parental Leave

Eligible employees receive up to 6 weeks of paid leave following the birth of a child, or upon the initial placement of a child under 18 years of age for adoption or foster care, or the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age.

Retirement Benefit

Eligible employees must participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) and must make a one-time irrevocable election among three available retirement benefit plans within six months of their date of eligibility.

Insurance and Health Care

Health, dental, and life insurance are available for eligible full-time and part-time employees, with dependent coverage also available. Additional optional benefits are also available, including additional term life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, long-term disability insurance, and tax-deferred retirement program.

Eligibility for Continued Employment

Civil Service employees may have employment rights on campus based on years of service and positions held.

Employee Tuition Waiver

Eligible employees qualify for tuition and fee waivers for university courses at any of the Illinois four-year public universities.

Child of Employee Tuition Waiver

Children of eligible employees receive a 50% tuition waiver for up to 4 years at any public state of Illinois institution of higher education.

Vacation

Based on years of service and eligibility for overtime pay, eligible employees receive at least 12 days, and up to 28 days, of paid vacation which is prorated for the percentage of their appointment.

Holidays

New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas, and such other days as may be determined by the president of the University.

Floating Holidays

Each fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), 2 non-cumulative floating holidays are available to staff who are appointed at more than 0%. Floating holiday “days” are prorated to the percentage of the employee’s appointment. Floating holidays are not prorated for partial year appointments.

Sick Leave
Civil Service employees accrue cumulative sick leave at a rate of (approximately 12 days per year for full-time status. Overtime hours do not increase the sick leave accrual.  Overtime exempt civil service employees are also eligible for 13 days of non-cumulative sick time each year.

Shared Benefits

Eligible employees who have donated to the Shared Benefits sick leave pool may request additional sick leave when the employee has a pending SURS disability claim, and all applicable accrued benefit time (sick and/or vacation) has been exhausted.

Bereavement Leave

Eligible employees receive up to 5 days of paid bereavement leave upon the death of an immediate family member or a member of the employee’s household, and 1 day of paid leave upon the death of a relative outside the immediate family. The University also offers up to 10 days of unpaid Family Bereavement Leave.

Family Medical Leave

Eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid family and medical leave at the percentage of their appointments. Employees may use available paid benefit time (sick and/or vacation) to remain in pay status.

Jury Duty

Release time is granted for the duration of jury duty. The employee may also retain funds paid in compensation for jury duty.

Leave Without Pay

Special unpaid leave can be given to employees for various valid reasons, such as accompanying a spouse on sabbatical, if they’ve used up their sick and family leave and still can’t work, or if they are pursuing public interest work or education. This also applies to assistants.

Military Leave

Compensation while on military leave for annual training, special or advanced training, and basic training shall be in accordance with the Illinois Military Leave of Absence Act.

Parental Leave

Eligible employees receive up to 6 weeks of paid leave following the birth of a child, or upon the initial placement of a child under 18 years of age for adoption or foster care, or the legal adoption of a child under 18 years of age.

Retirement Benefit

Eligible employees must participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) and must make a one-time irrevocable election among three available retirement benefit plans within six months of their date of eligibility.