Who is eligible, and when
Faculty, academic staff, and university staff with an appointment of at least 50% expected to last six months or longer are eligible for the benefits below. Limited-term employees and students are not, with the exception of the retirement system for LTEs who work more than 1,200 hours in a year. Health coverage begins on the first of the month after your hire date; most other coverages start the same day.
You have 30 days from your hire date to make elections. Missing the window enrolls you in nothing except basic life insurance, and you then wait until the annual open enrollment (October 13–November 7, 2026, for 2027 coverage) unless you have a qualifying life event. Human Resources will sit down with you and compare plans; it takes about 40 minutes.
Health, dental, and vision
Health plans are offered through the State Group Health Program in three premium tiers. Tier is about price, not quality: all plans cover the same benefits, and the tier reflects each plan’s cost in Porter County. The employer pays the rest of the premium, roughly 88% for a Tier 1 plan.
| Plan (2027) | Network | Employee, single | Employee, family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — River Valley Health HMO | Porter Falls and Lake City clinics and hospital | $96/mo | $242/mo |
| Tier 2 — Northwoods Care Plan | Regional, including the Cities | $148/mo | $370/mo |
| Tier 3 — Statewide Access PPO | Any provider, in or out of state | $322/mo | $806/mo |
| High-deductible plan + HSA | River Valley network | $38/mo | $96/mo |
The high-deductible plan carries a $1,650 single / $3,300 family deductible, and the university deposits $750 / $1,500 a year into your health savings account. Part-time employees between 50% and 74% pay a higher share; HR has that rate sheet. Dental is included in every health plan for preventive and basic care; a supplemental dental plan ($11.20 single / $34.60 family per month) adds orthodontia and crowns. Vision is $6.40 / $17.10 per month. Completing the wellness screening and survey by April 30 earns a $150 premium credit.
Retirement
Eligible employees are enrolled automatically in the Wesconsin Retirement System (WRS), a defined-benefit pension. For 2027 both you and the university contribute 6.95% of pay, and you are vested after five years of service. The benefit at retirement is calculated from your three highest years of earnings and years of service; WRS statements arrive each spring.
- Wesconsin Deferred Compensation Program. An optional 457(b) plan for additional pre-tax or Roth savings, with no employer match.
- Tax-sheltered annuity. An optional 403(b) plan, which can be used alongside the 457(b).
- Retirement planning. Group sessions each semester and one-on-one appointments with a WRS counselor in Millwright Hall. Retired employees can stay connected through the Emeriti and Retirees Association.
Leave accrual by category
Full-time accruals are shown; part-time appointments accrue in proportion. Accrual details and how to request time off are in the self-service portal described on employee resources.
| Category | Sick leave | Vacation | Personal holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty and instructional academic staff (9-month) | 96 hours per academic year | None (academic-year appointment) | None; campus closures follow the academic calendar |
| Academic staff (12-month) | 130 hours per year | 176 hours (22 days) per year | 36 hours |
| University staff, first 5 years | 130 hours per year | 104 hours (13 days) per year | 36 hours |
| University staff, 5–10 years | 130 hours per year | 136 hours per year | 36 hours |
| University staff, 10–15 years | 130 hours per year | 160 hours per year | 36 hours |
| University staff, 15+ years | 130 hours per year | 184–216 hours per year | 36 hours |
| Limited-term (LTE) | None | None | None |
Sick leave has no cap and carries over indefinitely; at retirement, unused sick leave converts to credits toward health premiums. All eligible employees also receive nine legal holidays.
Tuition remission, parental leave, and support
- Tuition remission. After six months of employment, employees at 50% or more may take up to six credits per semester at Porter with tuition waived (segregated and lab fees still apply). Spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children receive a 25% reduction on undergraduate tuition. Courses during work hours need supervisor approval.
- Parental leave. Six weeks of paid parental leave for a birth parent and two weeks for a non-birth parent, running concurrently with the twelve-week federal clock. Details on family and medical leave. Lactation rooms in Founders Union, Halvorsen Library, and the Health Sciences Center are open to employees, and employees are second in line for the Child & Family Center waitlist after student parents.
- Life and disability insurance. Basic life insurance equal to your annual salary at no cost; optional additional coverage up to five times salary; income continuation insurance for long-term illness.
- Employee Assistance Program. Up to six free, confidential counseling sessions per issue per year for you and your household, run by an outside provider. See the Employee Assistance Program.
- Smaller things. Forge Recreation Center membership at $14 a month by payroll deduction, library borrowing, and discounted arts and athletics tickets.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. These benefits are invented: the health plans, premiums, retirement system, and accrual rates do not exist, no one is enrolled in anything, and this page is not a summary of any real employer’s benefits.