Employee Benefits
Short-term Academic Employees and Graduate and Post-graduate Employees
If you are in this group, you are considered unclassified, but you are not eligible for coverage under the Wisconsin Retirement System, either because you are not expected to work for one year or for the minimum percent of full-time, or because your position is excluded by state statute. However, you may qualify for health insurance and other benefits.
To be eligible for insurance and other benefits you must have an eligible university appointment (Exception: all academic staff and Research Associates are required to carry the University Insurance Association life insurance if they meet a minimum salary standard).
- Eligible short-term academic employees are those appointed to a faculty or academic staff position for a period of less than one year but at least one semester (6 months for year-round positions) and for at least 28% of full-time (21% for year-round positions). If you have an appointment like this, you may qualify for WRS coverage and associated benefits later if you continue to be employed by the University.
- Visiting Faculty must meet the same minimum time and duration standards as short-term academic employees and they have the same benefits. If you are on leave from another educational institution, state law excludes you from WRS coverage for the first twelve months of UW employment. However, your health insurance premiums are the same as for WRS-covered employees if your appointment is for at least one year (365 days).
- Eligible graduate and post-graduate employees are those who are appointed to work for at least one semester (6 months for year-round positions), and for at least 33% of full-time. Eligible job titles include: Research Associate, Research Intern, Postgraduate Trainee 1-7, Intern (Non-Physician), Teaching Assistant, Program Assistant, Project Assistant, Graduate Assistant.
Undergrad Assistants and Interns have a more limited array of benefits.
Read more about unclassified position titles in the Unclassified Titles Definition Book.
Read more about eligibility for Wisconsin Retirement System coverage.
Important enrollment deadlines
If you have an eligible university appointment, you are eligible for:
Retirement:
Social Security and Medicare coverage (unless you are exempt due to student status)
The Tax-Sheltered Annuity Program*
The Wisconsin Deferred Compensation Program*
Health Insurance
The State Group Health Insurance Program (for graduate assistants and short-term academic staff)
EPIC major medical/dental insurance*
Dental insurance plans* for represented or non-represented employees
Life Insurance through several university programs
Individual and Family Life Insurance*
University Employees, Inc. Life Insurance*
University Insurance Association (UIA)* (mandatory for all academic staff and Research Associates who meet the minimum salary standard; not available to other student assistants)
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance*
Worker's Compensation
Unemployment Compensation
Family and Medical Leave (if you have worked the required number of hours in any State of Wisconsin position)
Long-term Care Insurance*
Employee Reimbursement Account* (Pre-tax insurance premiums, medical expenses, and dependent care expenses
Savings Bond Program*
EdVest* (College Education Savings Program)
Pre-tax Parking Fees and Bus Passes*
* Employee pays entire cost.
This document was last revised on October 17, 2006
