Information about Benefit Programs for Faculty
For information about benefits available to faculty, you may contact the Benefits Office directly, via the link, or by telephone at (301) 405-5654. Some basic information about faculty benefits programs appears below.
Retirement
Enrollment Deadline
Per state law, the deadline for enrollment is the beginning of the pay period in which your employment begins. For faculty starting July 1st, this is July 12th; for those beginning August 23rd, it is August 9th. Click here for information on the plans available. Failure to select a plan by the deadline will result in automatic enrollment in the Maryland State Pension Plan.
Plan Choices
Eligible faculty may choose either:
- Maryland State Pension System: a defined benefit plan in which you become vested after five years. There is a mandatory pre-tax contribution of 7% of your annual salary.
- Optional Retirement Program (ORP): a 403(b) plan in which you are immediately vested. You may select either TIAA-CREF or Fidelity Investments as your vendor. The University contributes 7.25% of your annual salary to your account, and you are not required to make a contribution.
Health Benefits
Enrollment Deadline
You have 60 days from the date you begin employment to choose your benefit programs. In order to allow time for the completion of the benefits registration process, you are strongly encouraged to enroll in benefit programs no later than one month before the beginning of your appointment. Contact your department for the appropriate enrollment forms.
Plan Choices
The University offers medical, dental, vision, mental health and prescription insurance plans for yourself and your eligible dependents. Optional plans include long term and life insurance. Medical benefit plan vendors are BlueCross Blue Shield, United Health Care and Aetna. The type of plan selected may be a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Point of Service (POS), or Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO).
For more information, contact the Benefits Office directly.