Employment Benefits

A comprehensive and competitive employee benefits program is offered to eligible employees of Russell Sage College.

The College provides employee health insurance through Russell Sage College’s Health Insurance Plan. This plan is an alternative funded insurance plan with a third party administrator, Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan.

Eligibility: Full-Time Employment Status. Coverage effective: 1st of month if date of hire falls on first day of month; otherwise, 1st of month following date of hire. Employee contributions to the health plan are based on salary level and type of coverage utilized. Deductions are taken on a pre-tax basis.

A voluntary dental plan is available through Guardian. Three plan options are available.

Eligibility: Full-Employment Status. Coverage effective: 1st of month if date of hire falls on first day of month; otherwise, 1st of month following date of hire.

This savings program is available for employees with planned needs. Employees may establish a flexible spending account of pre-tax dollars annually to cover planned medical and dependent care expenses. Enrollment is conducted annually in accordance with IRS regulations.

Eligibility: Full-Time Employment Status

The College provides, at no cost to the employee, life insurance benefit at two times an employee’s salary up to $300,000. Accidental Death and Dismemberment is included in this protection plan.

Eligibility: Full-Time Employment Status; first day of work

The College provides this income protection plan for an employee unable to perform their job after 180 days. The protection provides a disabled employee with 60% of the after tax salary and will pay retirement plan premiums. The College provides this benefit at no cost to full-time employees.

Eligibility: Full-Time Employment Status; first day of work

The College provides this protection for all employees who may be injured in the course of travel while performing their job. Coverage includes a dismemberment and death benefit.

Eligibility: All employees receive this benefit at no cost; first day of work.

A comprehensive retirement plan (403b) through Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association/College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA/CREF) is available to employees after one year of employment and working at least 1,000 hours in one year. Some previous employment may satisfy these eligibility requirements, allowing an employee to enter the plan sooner; please contact Human Resources for more information.

Joining the plan, a participant agrees to contribute a minimum of 2% of their base biweekly pay, up to a maximum of 5% of their base biweekly pay, before taxes. Enrollment is required for participation and is not automatic.

This plan is immediately available to employees. A loan provision is available in this plan. The amount an employee can contribute is based upon annual earnings and will be calculated by our Provider, TIAA-CREF, annually in accordance with IRS regulations. Enrollment is required for participation and is not automatic.

Tuition Waiver for Employees

Full-Time Employees: Maximum of 6 credits or two classes per semester including summer sessions through the Russell Sage College Graduate School.

Note: Eligible employees are advised that graduate and doctoral level courses in which they enroll in using the Tuition Waiver Program may be reportable as wages and subject to withholdings if educational assistance benefits exceed the $5,250 threshold as stated in Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code.         

Children of Employees: Full, undergraduate tuition waiver within Russell Sage College

For regular Part-Time Employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per week: Effective 1/1/2013, employees may take a maximum of 3 credits or one class per semester including summer sessions through the Russell Sage College Graduate School.

Eligibility requirements, same as stated above for full-time employees.

Tuition Exchange
Tuition Exchange is a scholarship program and is not a guaranteed benefit. Sage participates in two national tuition exchanges, the Tuition Exchange and CIC Tuition Exchange. Both are nonprofit organizations that offer a full or partial scholarship to eligible children of employees. Acceptance into these aid programs is dependent on the host institution’s selection criteria and availability of exchange placements. Employees interested in finding out more about Tuition Exchange should contact the Russell Sage College Office of Human Resources.

The Sage Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is designed to provide confidential, professional counseling for problems that may adversely affect an employee’s work or personal life. Services are an employer paid benefit, available to all employees and their immediate family members. In addition to counseling, the EAP provides valuable resources for every area of life including: personal, financial & legal, family & relationships, and work & career.

*Full-Time Employment Status: an employee who regularly works 30 hours or more per week