American

                                Association of

Connecticut State University

                                       Professors

     Phone: (860) 832-3790 * Fax (860) 832-3794 * Email: aaup@ccsu.edu

Health Care & Retirement

As an employee of Connecticut State University, you are entitled to a variety of benefits. If you have any questions about these benefits, please contact your Human Resources office.

Health Care - For a summary of the health care options provided to CSU employees, please visit the State Comptroller's website. The open enrollment period is typically during the month of May, at which time you can change your health insurance. If there has been a life-altering event, such as your spouse losing their job, you will be able to make changes to your health insurance plan outside of the open enrollment period.

Retirement - As a faculty member, librarian, counselor or coach in the Connecticut State University Retirement System, you have the choice between three retirement plans, contingent on eligibility:

1. The State Employee's Retirement System (SERS): SERS is composed of three (3) tiers commonly referred to as Tier I, Tier II, and Tier IIA and all are defined benefit plans. As a new employee, you may only join Tier IIA (or for any employees who were hired on or after July 1, 1997). Tier I is restricted to employees hired on or before July 1, 1984, and Tier II is restricted to employees hired from July 2, 1984 through June 30, 1997. Tier I requires contributions from your salary, either 2% or 5%. Tier IIA requires a 2% contribution. Tier II is a non-contributory plan. Under all tiers, at the time of retirement, benefits are calculated based on the average of your 3 highest years of earnings, your total years of credited service and a percentage factor. Normal, early, disability and hazardous duty retirements are available under these plans. For more information on SERS, please visit the State Comptroller's website.

2. The Alternate Retirement Program (ARP): ARP allows full-time and pary-time faculty to contribute 5% of their salaries to a pension plan, while the state contributes 8% to the plan. There are currently 24 funds available for investment purposes. For more information, please visit the State of Connecticut’s Defined Contribution Plans website. 

3. The Teacher's Retirement System (TRS): TRS is a defined benefit plan which provides a pension based upon the average of your three highest year's earnings, age at retirement and length of service. TRS requires a pre-tax contribution of 7% from your salary on a bi-weekly basis. This plan is only available to individuals who have previously or currently contribute to TRS through another teaching position. For more information, please visit the Teacher's Retirement Board website.

Same Sex Domestic Partners and Civil Unions: In order for employees and retirees to access the health care and pension benefits available to their domestic partners, the Domestic Partnership Affidavit (CO-1049) must be completed and submitted, along with supporting documentation, to the Division, which will serve as the custodian of this record. An employee who executes a Domestic Partnership Affidavit will be accorded thirty days therefrom to obtain medical and dental coverage for his or her same sex domestic partner and eligible dependent children. An employee who executes an affidavit but fails to enroll his or her domestic partner and eligible dependent children within thirty days will be required to wait until the annual health insurance open enrollment period in order to do so. Pre-retirement death benefits will also be extended to domestic partners, provided a Domestic Partnership Affidavit was accepted by and filed with the Division for at least one year prior to the employee's death. State employees entering into a civil union will be entitled to all the same pension and health care benefits that were afforded to same sex domestic partners. To obtain health care and/or pension benefits, you must submit proof of civil union to the Retirement & Benefit Services Division of the State Office of the Comptroller. Be advised that outside the annual health care open enrollment period employees may only add (or delete) partners and eligible dependent children to (or from) their existing coverage.

Connecticut State University American Association of University Professors

CCSU, Marcus White Hall, Rooms 310, New Britain, CT 06050 * Phone (860) 832-3790 * Fax (860) 832-3794