Human Resources & Payroll
Northwest Christian University operates on a monthly pay cycle, with pay periods running from the 26th of the month through the 25th of the following month. Pay dates are on the first day of each month; if the first falls on a weekend or holiday, the pay date will be the next business day. We encourage our employees to enroll in direct deposit.
The following benefits are available for full-time faculty and staff. These are only summaries—benefits are subject to their respective policies as defined in the NCU Employee Handbook and are subject to change at the discretion of the NCU Board of Trustees.
Health Insurance
Voluntary Dental and Vision Insurance
Health Reimbursement Account
Cafeteria Plan (FSA, DCAP, POP)
Retirement
Sick Leave, Vacation, and Holidays
Tuition Benefit
Other Benefits
Health Insurance
NCU offers health insurance coverage for eligible employees and their dependents--a contribution of 10% of the monthly premium is required.
Voluntary Dental and Vision Insurance
Voluntary group dental insurance is available to eligible employees and their dependents at the employee’s expense. NCU offers two plans through LifeMap Assurance Company: a base level plan and a buy-up. Voluntary vision insurance is also available to eligible employees for a low monthly premium.
Eligible employees must enroll within the first 30 days of employment or during the annual open enrollment period.
Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
NCU has established a Section 105 Health Reimbursement Account Plan to assist eligible employees with deductible and co-insurance expenses.
Cafeteria Plan (FSA, DCAP, POP)
NCU's Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Dependent Care Accounts (DCAP), and Premium Only Plans (POP) are administered by Polestar Benefits, Inc. These plans allow employees to pay for certain non-reimbursed healthcare expenses on a pretax basis.
Employees sign up for the plan and elect their anticipated out-of-pocket healthcare and/or dependent care expenses for the year. Each paycheck, their election is deducted on a pretax basis and is available for reimbursement. Eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses are then submitted for reimbursement; benefits cards are also available which can bypass the reimbursement process for transactions under a certain amount.
Eligible employees must enroll within the first 30 days of employment or during the annual open enrollment period.
Long-Term Disability
A voluntary long-term disability plan through UNUM is available at employees’ expense. Premiums are based on age and rate of pay.
Eligible employees must enroll within the first 30 days of employment for guaranteed enrollment; employees who do not enroll during the first 30 days will be subject to the carrier’s standard eligibility requirements.
Retirement
Northwest Christian University contributes 6% of eligible employees’ gross regular wages to one of two retirement account options with the Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): a defined benefit pension plan, or a 403(b) tax deferred retirement account.
Additional pre-tax contributions may be made (subject to IRS limits) by employees with a salary contribution agreement. NCU will match this contribution up to a maximum of 4% of an employee's gross regular wages.
Sick Leave, Vacation, and Holidays
Sick Leave
Exempt and non-exempt regular full-time and part-time employees, full-time faculty and some employment contract employees earn sick leave for each month worked. Accumulation of sick leave begins the first full month of qualified employment. Sick leave is earned in any month in which the employee reports for work one day or more, or uses eight or more accrued absence hours. Employees earn the benefit in proportion to their scheduled weekly hours compared with the standard 40-hour week. For example, if an employee is scheduled for a 32-hour work week, he/she earns 6.4 hours of sick leave for each month of work. Sick leave is available for use upon hire provided the employee has earned the sick leave; any unused sick leave is forfeited when employment terminates for any reason.
Vacation
Certain classifications of employees receive a vacation allowance to provide time away from the job for renewal and rejuvenation. They are encouraged to use the hours earned. Student employees, salaried and hourly temporary employees, seasonal, 9, 10, or 11-month faculty and part-time instructors/adjuncts are not eligible for vacation. A newly hired employee may not take paid vacation during the first six months of employment, although vacation accrues during this period. Employees earn the benefit in proportion to their scheduled weekly hours compared with the standard 40-hour week. For example, if an employee is scheduled for a 32-hour work week, he/she earns 6.4 hours of vacation for each month of work.
Vacation accrual is based upon years of service with NCU. If an employee has prior service with NCU, he/she may be eligible to receive credit for the years of service at the time of rehire. Executive and Cabinet level positions are available for the maximum accrual upon hire.
Holidays
Employees who hold positions classified as regular part-time, full-time faculty, non-exempt regular full-time and exempt regular full-time receive pay for the following nine holidays each calendar year:
| New Year's Day |
Thanksgiving Day |
| Independence Day |
Friday Following Thanksgiving |
| Memorial Day |
Christmas Day |
| Labor Day |
Good Friday |
| Martin Luther King Day |
|
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the Friday preceding will be observed as a non-working day. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following will be observed as a non-working day.
Tuition Benefit
Northwest Christian University offers tuition benefits to all full-time employees, the spouse of the employee, and their dependent children. This benefit provides 100% remission of NCU tuition for undergraduate classes (up to 150 credits) and graduate classes (up to the number of credits required by the program). This benefit is available at the beginning of the second year of full-time employment. While undergraduate tuition remission is non taxable, only the first $5,250 for employee graduate tuition remission is non taxable (the full amount is taxable for dependents).
The Tuition Benefit covers NCU tuition charges only. Additional charges such as private lesson fees, outside tuition expenses, and any other costs that a student may incur will be the responsibility of the student, even if these fees are necessary for degree completion. The Tuition Benefit amounts may be reduced based upon a student’s eligibility for Federal Financial Aid.
Other Services and Benefits
Parking
Fitness Center
Access to NCU Library
One free meal per week in the NCU Cafeteria (Fall and Spring semesters only)
This is a general list of benefits currently offered by NCU and is subject to change without notice.