Welcome to Northern Illinois University. According to information provided to this office, you are eligible for insurance benefits effective August 16, 2001. Your deadline for enrollment, therefore, is August 26, 2001.

Human Resource Services invites and encourages you to attend a benefits orientation session for new faculty. During the session, you will learn about the many options available to you in health, life, dental, retirement, and sick leave benefits. There will also be presentations on payroll schedules and deductions as well as a brief overview of other employee programs and services. The orientation sessions last approximately three hours. New faculty members are strongly advised to attend one to these important sessions not only to receive information on benefit programs, but also to complete all the necessary enrollment forms.

We encourage you to attend one of the sessions by August 16 if possible in order to enter your benefit choices by the deadline for the first payroll of the academic year. Enrollments after that time will be deducted from the following payroll (September 16), with some loss of tax advantages on the first payroll.

Some important deadlines are:

• State of Illinois policies mandate that all new employees, that meet eligibility requirements, have only 10 calendar days from the beginning date of their contract in which to elect insurance coverage, enroll dependents and select a HMO.
• Full-time employees who fail to make the benefit choices and do not enroll within this 10-day calendar day period will be assigned basic coverage for themselves only. Failure to complete enrollment forms within this period may cause a loss of valuable insurance benefits. If you need dependent coverage, you must enroll during this period.
• Part-time faculty may be eligible for insurance benefits. If covered, the employee must pay a portion of the State's cost in relation to the percentage of employment. Enrollment into a plan must be completed within the 10-calendar day period. Individuals who fail to enroll within the 10 calendar days cannot elect insurance coverage until a qualifying event or the State of Illinois Benefit Choice period. Benefit Choice period is May 1st through May 31st with the effective date of coverage of July 1.
• Benefit coverage becomes effective on the first date of the contract. Late enrollment contingencies or questions should be discussed with the Insurance and Employee Benefits staff at 815-753-0191.
• Retirement Plan. New employees have 6 months from date of contract to choose among three retirement program options. An overview of these options will be presented at the orientation sessions and a detailed information booklet will be mailed to your home from the State Universities Retirement System. Note: The election of a retirement program option is irrevocable for life. Early information is critical to your ability to select the plan that is best suited to your needs.

Benefit orientation sessions are held in the Training Room in the Center for Diversity Resources. The building is located at the western end of Human Resource Services, 1515 W. Lincoln Hwy. (Rt.38) on the western edge of campus, just past the Stadium and just west of the water tower. Parking is available and you may obtain a temporary-parking sticker from our staff prior to the start of the session.

We look forward to meeting you and assisting with your important benefit decisions.