human-resources

Employment Benefits

The University of Baltimore (UBalt), as a University System of Maryland institution and a Maryland State agency, provides a comprehensive benefits package to all regular employees. Contingent II employees have access to a benefits package as outlined below. Contingent I and Adjunct Faculty employees are eligible to enroll in group health insurance benefits, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, term life insurance, long term disability program and tax deferred plans.

All contractual employees at UBalt may be eligible for partially subsidized health insurance. For more information on your eligibility, review the ACA Fact Sheet. For more options, review the Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options.

 

This page provides an overview of the benefits packages. If you have questions regarding the benefits package please contact our office.

Faculty and Regular Employees

The following benefits are offered to regular, UBalt employees both exempt and non-exempt and regular faculty. Click to obtain more information about the benefit. If you need more information that is not listed here, please contact the Office of Human Resources.

You may select from these state-subsidized plans:

  • Preferred Provider Networks (PPO)
  • Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPO)
  • Integrated Health Model (IHM)
  • Dental insurance
  • Prescription drug plan

Employees may opt to enroll in additional health plans that are paid for by you. Those include:

  • personal accident and dismemberment plan

Information about all plan options are available from the State Employees section of the Department of Budget & Management Web site.

A new employee has 60 days to enroll for benefits. After that, changes to benefits are made during the open enrollment period, which is offered once each year. During open enrollment an employee can change membership by adding or canceling a benefit. Changes and additions take effect on January 1.

You may make changes to your benefits during the year for certain qualifying events. Those events include marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, and death of a spouse or other dependent. These changes must be made within 60 days of the event and the employee will work with the Office of Human Resources to provide necessary documentation for these change.

Below is an overview of the paid leave package for a full time employee. Leave is pro-rated for employees who work at least 50%. 

Non-exempt, Regular Employees

  • Annual leave: employees begin accruing time immediately and can be used to the extent that it is accrued and available.  Accrual rates depend on years of service.
  • Sick leave: 15 days (120 hours) accrued annually
  • Personal leave: 3 days (24 hours) annually
  • Holidays: 14 total paid holidays (112 hours), 15 (120 hours) in a general election year. Three of the holidays are administrative leave holidays, used specifically for winter break.
Exempt, Regular Employees
  • Annual leave: 22 days (176 hours)  accrued annually with an increase after 20 years of employment
  • Sick leave: 15 days (120 hours) accrued annually
  • Personal leave: 3 days (24 hours) annually
  • Holidays: 14 total paid holidays (112 hours), 15 (120 hours) in a general election year. Three of the holidays are administrative leave holidays, used specifically for winter break.
Faculty
Paid leave for regular faculty varies based on your pay group. 

All regular exempt and non-exempt, full-time UBalt employees may receive up to 8 credits each semester free of tuition charge at any USM institution, in accordance with IRS tax liability regulations. Some schools may limit the number of credits during the summer session. The benefit is offered immediately upon hire for you to use at the start of the next semester.

The benefit for your spouse and dependent children are determined by your hire date.

Employees may obtain group term life insurance coverage for themselves, spouse, and/or dependent children from:

In addition to these options, employees who enroll in the Maryland State Pension System for retirement coverage, (see below) are entitled to a death benefit should the employee die while in active service after having been employed for at least one year. This death benefit is equal to your annual salary and payable to your designated beneficiary or beneficiaries.

State law mandates that all regular employees enroll in a retirement plan as follows:

Employee Type Retirement Plan
Regular, Non-exempt Employees Regular, non-exempt employees are required to join the Maryland State Pension System.
Regular, Exempt Employees

Maryland State Pension System, or
Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) with the choice of two managing companies:

  1. Fidelity

  2. TIAA

Maryland State Pension System: The State Pension system is a defined benefit plan, and the amount of an employee's monthly retirement is dependent upon an annual average final salary and the number of years of service.

Optional Retirement Plan (ORP): The Optional Retirement Plans are defined contribution plans. Monthly retirement is determined by the amount of funds in the account and the annuity method selected at the time of retirement.

Click here to access the Choosing a Retirement Program handbook.

This plan offered by USM MetLife, provides an income benefit of 60% of an employee's salary up to a maximum of $10,000 per month in the event that an employee becomes temporarily disabled. The benefit begins after a required waiting period chosen by you. Waiting periods are 90-day or 365-day.

ou may choose to enroll in any of the following plans:

The Employee Assistance Program provides employees and their household members with free, confidential assistance to help with personal or professional problems that may interfere with work or family responsibilities and obligations. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via a toll-free number (855.410.7628). 

When a regular employee terminates from USM employment, leave is cashed out as follows:

  • all accrued annual leave
  • accrued holidays up to the date of resignation or retirement

If an employee leaves USM service but transfers to another State agency, all leave, with the exception of compensatory time and earned holidays, is transferred to the new agency.

Regular status faculty and staff can use the Light Rail, the Baltimore Metro Subway, local bus service, and commuter bus service in the Baltimore region at no charge. The free Mass Transit Benefit currently does not include the MARC trains.
All regular employees are eligible to join the State Employees' Credit Union. Automatic deposits from an employee's pay can be made to the account. One branch is located at 201 W. Preston Street, a 5-minute walk from UBalt.
All regular employees are required to set up direct deposit to a federally-insured financial institution of the employee's choice. 
University employees are covered under the Workers' Compensation laws of the State of Maryland.

 

 

Contingent II Employees

The following benefits are offered to contingent II. Click to obtain more information about the benefit. If you need more information that is not listed here, please contact the Office of Human Resources.
Health insurance for contingent II employees may be subsidized. You send monthly payments to the State of Maryland Employee Benefits office. If you wish to enroll in a health plan through UBalt, the plan options are:
  • Preferred Provider Networks (PPO)
  • Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPO)
  • Integrated Health Model (IHM)
  • Dental insurance
  • Prescription drug plan

Employees may opt to enroll in additional health plans that are paid for by you. Those include:

  • personal accident and dismemberment plan

Information about all plan options are available from the State Employees section of the Department of Budget & Management Web site.

Contingent II employees earn up to eight days (64 hours) of contingent paid leave and eleven holidays (88 hours) per contract period (July through June). The earned holidays are: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

Your contract must be in effect during the holiday to earn the paid leave for that holiday. Leave is pro-rated if you work less than full time. 

You may register for up to eight (8) credits per semester (fall, spring, and summer) at the University of Baltimore only. Benefits are prorated for employees who work less than full time but at least 50%. Employees must be hired and working at the beginning of the semester to qualify for the tuition waiver for that semester.

No benefits are offered to a Contingent II employee's spouse or dependent child(ren). 

Employees may obtain group term life insurance coverage for themselves, spouse, and/or dependent children from:

This plan offered by USM MetLife, provides an income benefit of 60% of an employee's salary up to a maximum of $10,000 per month in the event that an employee becomes temporarily disabled. The benefit begins after a required waiting period chosen by you. Waiting periods are 90-day or 365-day.

You may choose to enroll in any of the following plans:

The Employee Assistance Program provides employees and their household members with free, confidential assistance to help with personal or professional problems that may interfere with work or family responsibilities and obligations. Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via a toll-free number (855.410.7628).
There is not a cash-out provision for Contingent II employees. Leave earned during a fiscal year must be used within that time frame. Any leave time remaining at the end of the fiscal year is lost.
Contingent II employees are eligible to join the State Employees' Credit Union. Automatic deposits from an employee's pay can be made to the account. One branch is located at 201 W. Preston Street, a 5-minute walk from UBalt.
Contingent II employees are required to set up direct deposit to a federally-insured financial institution of the employee's choice. 
University employees are covered under the Workers' Compensation laws of the State of Maryland.