Significant to each employee’s compensation package are the additional benefits provided, including leave privileges, insurance programs, pre-tax options, a tuition scholarship program and retirement plans. Each benefit is described briefly.

Finally, there is a section devoted to the special services as well as cultural and recreational activities that the University makes available to all employees.  

If you have questions about any aspect of your employment at FAU, please contact the Department of Human Resources, Administration Building, Room 112, (561) 297-3057

Overview

Florida Atlantic University was established by act of the Florida Legislature in 1961, becoming the fifth university in Florida’s State University System. The University opened in September 1964 with a charter enrollment of 850 students. President Lyndon B. Johnson was the keynote speaker at the dedication ceremony that was held one month later. He also accepted the first honorary doctorate to be presented by FAU. For more information on the University’s founding and history, please visit http://www.fau.edu/40th/ .Today FAU enrolls more than 26,000 students and has awarded more than 100,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees. The University’s total work force, including faculty, administrators and support staff, totals close to 3,700, and its annual budget exceeds $397 million, as of 2007.

Boca Raton Campus                                

The 850-acre Boca Raton campus is located on a former U.S. Army airfield, a bit of history that accounts for its early treeless state. A concerted effort over the years has transformed the “runway look” into a pleasant South Florida scene. Burrowing owls, ground-dwelling birds found in this region, are still seen on campus, which was designated a burrowing owl sanctuary by the Audubon Society in 1971. The bird is the official mascot of the University’s intercollegiate athletic teams.  For more information on the Boca Raton campus, please visit http://www.fau.edu/about/campuses/bocacampuses.html

Dania Beach Campus (SeaTech)

SeaTech, situated between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean in Dania Beach, is a state-of-the-art Ocean Engineering Research Center. Serving students and faculty members in FAU’s internationally respected Department of Ocean Engineering, SeaTech opened in January 1999. For more information on SeaTech, please visit http://www.broward.fau.edu/dania.html

Davie Campus

Located adjacent to the central campus of Broward Community College (BCC), the 25-acre Davie campus has seen spectacular growth since it opened in 1991. The Davie campus is the largest of FAU’s three Broward campuses (Dania Beach, Davie and Fort Lauderdale). First sharing space with BCC, FAU at Davie’s Modular Center was built in 1991.  For more information on the Davie campus, please visit http://www.broward.fau.edu/davie.html

Fort Lauderdale Campus

The Fort Lauderdale campus (comprised of the Reubin O'D. Askew Tower and the  Higher Education Complex) is located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale-a dynamic urban area that provides a laboratory for students in business, computer arts, architecture, urban and regional planning, criminal justice, social work, and public administration. This nine-story Tower opened in 1987 as a shared facility with BCC.  The FAU/BCC Higher Education Complex (HEC), located across the street from the Askew Tower, was completed in October 2001.  For more information on the Fort Lauderdale campus, visit http://www.broward.fau.edu/tower.html

Jupiter Campus and Honors College

The John D. MacArthur campus at Jupiter, named to honor the late philanthropist whose foundation donated the land on which it stands, is located on a 135-acre site within the community of Abacoa. This campus, which opened in 1999, includes the four-year residential Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Scripps Florida and the Elinor Bernon Rosenthal Lifelong Learning Complex. For more information on the Jupiter campus, please visit http://www.fau.edu/jupiter/

Treasure Coast Campus

The 50-acre Treasure Coast campus is located in Port St. Lucie, one of the fastest growing communities in the United States. The campus opened in 1994 on a site immediately adjacent to the St. Lucie West Campus of Indian River Community College (IRCC). In 2001, FAU and IRCC moved into a spacious joint-use facility to better serve students. For more information on the Treasure Coast campus, please visit http://www.fau.edu/psl/

Harbor Branch Campus

In 2007, negotiations were completed for the University to bring the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce under the FAU umbrella. At this renowned marine science research facility, undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to take classes in marine biology, marine science, marine biotechnology, natural resources and environmental education in a recently opened $11 million building. For more information on FAU Harbor Branch, please visit http://www.fau.edu/psl/

The University is organized into nine colleges: the College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs; the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters; the Barry Kaye College of Business; the College of Education; the College of Engineering and Computer Science; the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College; the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing; the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Biomedical Science. Founded in 1964 as the first university in the nation designed to serve upper-division and graduate students exclusively, FAU became a full, four-year university in 1984 when the first freshman class was admitted. For more information on the University’s colleges and administrative divisions, please visit http://www.fau.edu/college_div/college_div.html

FAU offers 82 bachelor’s, 71 master’s, 3 specialist’s and 19 doctoral degree programs. For a complete listing of degree programs, please visit http://www.fau.edu/academic/registrar/univcatalog/CombDegreeProg.pdf

In December 1967, FAU was elected to regular membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. At that time, the Commission on Higher Education of the Southern Association granted full accreditation to all of the University’s programs. In accordance with Association regulations, this accreditation was reaffirmed in 1972, 1982, 1992 and 2002.

Playing an important part in furthering the mission of the University are almost 50 Centers and Institutes that are dedicated to specific fields of inquiry. The University’s highly accomplished researchers are at work in a wide variety of areas, including the search for new drug therapies, the development of new technologies and the ongoing quest to expand human knowledge in a host of fields. FAU is home to the Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology and the Center for Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology, research centers specially funded by the Florida Legislature.

Always known for the excellence of its faculty, FAU has fully funded Eminent Scholar Chairs in the arts, business, community education, engineering, growth management, Holocaust studies, the humanities, Judaic studies, marine biology, nursing, the performing arts, philosophy, science and social science. 

The University provides on-campus housing for more than 3,000 students on the Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses. For more information on student housing, please visit http://www.fau.edu/housing 

Serving the Community

FAU’s commitment to serving degree-seeking students is complemented by its dedication to serving older residents through its immensely popular Lifelong Learning Society (LLS). More than 20,000 men and women of retirement age are enrolled in this program, which offers a wide variety of non-credit courses on the Boca Raton, Broward, Jupiter and Treasure Coast campuses. FAU’s Lifelong Learning Society is believed to be the largest and most successful program of its kind in the United States. Additionally, FAU ranks among South Florida’s most vibrant centers of cultural activity, presenting an interesting array of plays, concerts, exhibits, lectures and films to the public each year. The University’s outstanding intercollegiate teams provide excitement for fans of all ages.

The six counties that make up FAU’s service area – Broward, Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie – share many common denominators while remaining individually distinctive. The area’s highly desirable climate and many lifestyle amenities have made it known around the world, prompting phenomenal population expansion. FAU employees commute to their jobs from as far north as Fort Pierce and as far south as Miami. Travel options are offered by Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike, Tri-Rail, Palm Tran, Broward County Transit and St. Lucie County Community Transit. 

Florida Atlantic University is uniquely charged with reaching a broad service area through partner campuses, community alliances and lifelong learning opportunities.  Effective, consistent and empathetic service to everyone FAU serves has a direct impact on the university’s ability to achieve its vision and fulfill its mission.  What’s more, providing superior customer service contributes directly to the university’s vision of being recognized as a university of first choice in excellent and accessible undergraduate and graduate education. For more information on customer service at Florida Atlantic University please visit http://wise.fau.edu/ServingU/index.php

Florida Atlantic University is committed to the implementation of both the direction and spirit of the law regarding affirmative action and equal opportunity in all of its hiring and employment practices. All employees and staff members, in their relationships with other members of the University community and in the fulfillment of the duties and responsibilities of their positions, are expected to uphold this commitment.

Florida Atlantic University is committed to equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, marital status, disability, political affiliation or veteran status. This policy extends to all areas of the University and covers all applicants and employees with respect to recruitment, selection, placement, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, termination and all other personnel actions and terms and conditions of employment.

In this regard, the University complies with all laws and regulations concerned with discrimination in employment, such as the Florida Educational Equity Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans Rights Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act, the rules and decisions of the Florida Commission on Human Relations, the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as all federal civil rights laws.

Equal access is afforded to all qualified applicants and employees according to the requirements of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need a reasonable accommodation of a disability in order to participate in the application/selection process, you must notify the Employment Manager no less than five working days in advance.

Concerns regarding any of these practices should be directed to your immediate supervisor, the Employee Relations Office or the Equal Opportunity Programs Office.  Please see http://www.fau.edu/eop

Commitment to Diversity

The university takes special pride in the diversity of its student body, faculty and staff.  At present, minority and international students make up more than forty percent of our student body, and according to U.S. News and World Report, the University ranks 27^th

At FAU, all people are respected.  The University has a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of harassment and discrimination, whether or not it is expressly covered by law. The offices of Equal Opportunity Programs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Academic Affairs and the University Ombudsman all play important roles in maintaining an environment of fairness and safety on FAU’s seven campuses.

We will continue to value and promote diversity as the University grows in the years ahead.;  There can be ho higher standard for an institution of higher learning to uphold than that which affirms the intrinsic worth and dignity of all human beings. Please see our web page at www.fau.edu/president/diversity.

Lunch Periods

SP employees can expect to have their lunch periods scheduled based on the hours that they work. Employees who work a regular schedule of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or a minimum of nine hours a day) will get a one-hour lunch break. Other schedules provide a half-hour lunch break.

Rest Periods

 For each four hours of scheduled work, SP employees may be permitted a 15 minute rest period.  A rest period may not be saved, used to arrive to work late, leave work early, extend the lunch period or be combined to form one half hour rest period.

Parental Leave

When an employee becomes a biological parent or a child is placed in the employee’s home pending adoption, up to six months of leave without pay will be granted upon written request.  This period of leave must begin no more than two weeks before the expected date of the child’s arrival.

Parental leave taken under the provisions of FMLA or the University’s parental  leave policy must be a consecutive period of time, and the employee must provide a minimum of 30 days notice prior to the requested leave period.  Employees on parental leave may use up to six weeks of paid sick leave for the period of leave immediately following the birth of a child.  Parental leave beyond the six-week period may be covered by other accrued paid leave or remain a period of unpaid leave

Any employee on an extended leave should contact the Benefits Office at (561)-297-3071 to ensure benefit continuation during an absence.

Holidays

 

All State holidays shall be observed as official designated University holidays.  All employees in established positions, who are in active pay status for that pay period, will be paid for all official holidays. Employees on an extended approved leave without pay for medical leave, parental leave or military leave will get eight hours of holiday compensatory leave. Holiday compensatory leave applies to all pay plans and must be used by the end of the fiscal year or be forfeited.  It cannot be converted to cash.

 

 

Special compensatory leave is provided to compensate an SP employee for an official University holiday when the employee observed the holiday and worked 40 hours the week during which the holiday occurred; the holiday falls on the employee’s regularly scheduled day off; or the employee is required to work on the holiday.  AMP employees will earn holiday compensatory leave if required to work on the day of an official holiday.  http://wise.fau.edu/hr/EmpDevelopment/Leave.php

 

Personal Holiday

AMP and SP employees will earn one day of Personal Holiday each fiscal year. The personal holiday must be used by June 30 each year or be forfeited. Personal holidays cannot be accrued. Part-time employees are entitled to personal holiday time in proportion to the hours regularly worked.

Dental Plan

Employees may choose a plan for assistance with the cost of various dental care procedures through pre-tax premiums paid by payroll deduction

Long-Term Disability Insurance

This is a group plan offered for all State University System employees. The purpose of this program is to replace a substantial portion of an employee’s salary if the employee is unable to work because of sickness or injury.

Gabor Agency

 

The Gabor Agency offers several group plans to University employees, including Group Term Life Insurance, Hospital Income Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance and Short and Long Term Disability Insurance. All of these plans provide the convenience of payroll deduction.

 Automobile and Homeowner Insurances

While not a group plan, since premiums are based on individual experience and needs, the rates are competitive with the ease of payroll deductions so payment is made over the term of the policy rather than in one lump sum.

Tax-Sheltered Annuities

Employees may choose among several companies to participate in a tax-sheltered annuity under Section 403-B of the Internal Revenue Code. These savings are excluded from the current taxable income of the employee and are an excellent supplement to an employee’s regular retirement plan. Options can be found at http://www.fau.edu/hr/Benefits/index.php

State Deferred Compensation

Deferred Compensation is another supplemental retirement plan offered to employees of the State in accordance with Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code. This program is designed primarily as a retirement savings program. Therefore, federal law prohibits early withdrawals except for separation from State employment due to retirement, termination, death, or disability or financial hardship as defined by the Code.

Flexible Benefits

The Florida Flexible Benefits Plan is qualified under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code. State employees may take advantage of any or all of the three options available under this plan.

Employees must enroll within 60 days of employment to take advantage of any pre-tax option.

State Group Health and Life Insurance and certain supplemental health plan premiums may be paid on a pre-tax basis. Pre-tax means premiums are paid before federal income tax and Social Security taxes have been calculated.

Medical Reimbursement Accounts may be established to pay for certain eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses on a pre-tax basis.

Dependent Day-Care Reimbursement Accounts may be established to pay for eligible dependent day-care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Florida Atlantic University’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is committed to helping employees stay healthy and productive, and encourages troubled employees to seek professional help. If you have a problem and do not know where to turn, the Employee Assistance Program is there to help give you direction. Counseling Services Institute administers the EAP program on behalf of the University. Any assistance received through the EAP program is strictly confidential. For additional, specific information, contact the Benefits and Retirement office in the Department of Human Resources, or contact EAP at 1-800-492-0253. Please see http://wise.fau.edu/hr/Benefits/index.php for more information.

Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP)

Eligible Florida Atlantic University employees can enhance their job skills and further their education by attending classes at FAU during their employment tenure. Eligible full-time employees may enroll for up to six credit hours of graduate or undergraduate instruction per term (Fall, Spring, and Summer) under the Employee Educational Scholarship Program. Temporary/Visiting appointees are not eligible to participate in the Employee Educational Scholarship Program.  SP employees must have completed six months of full-time, continuous, satisfactory, regular service with Florida Atlantic University. Law Enforcement Officers serving a 12-month probationary period will also be eligible to participate in the EESP after six months of full-time, continuous, satisfactory service with FAU. Employees' performance must be at the "Achieves" level on the day before classes begin. Faculty members and Administrative, Managerial and Professional (AMP) employees must have completed six months of service with FAU and be in good standing with the University on the day before classes begin. Please see http://wise.fau.edu/hr/Benefits/Scholarship.php

Gold Coast Credit Union, Bright Star Credit Union or IBM Credit Union

Employees are eligible for membership in the Gold Coast Federal Credit Union, the Broward Schools (Bright Star) Credit Union, or IBM Credit Union. These are non-profit corporations through which employees can establish checking and savings accounts or arrange loan payments through payroll deductions.

Please see http://www.gcfcu.org/ , http://www.bscu.org/ , www.ibmsecu.org

Retirement

Optional Retirement Program (ORP)

 

This program is available to all faculty and administrative, managerial and professional (AMP) employees. In this defined contribution plan, the State provides a percentage of the employee’s gross biweekly salary that goes into an approved 403-B tax-sheltered annuity.

Employees may match the State’s contribution up to the maximum of IRS regulations. The advantage of enrollment in this program is that employees are vested immediately.

Employment Procedures

Access to Personnel Records

• Employees shall respect the rights of others.
• Employees shall exhibit a level of behavior supporting the mission, purposes and best interests of the University.
• Employees shall perform assigned duties in an orderly and efficient manner.
• Employees shall adhere to all University regulations and directives.

Performance Management

Performance Management is an on-going, year-round partnership between supervisors and employees, working together to accomplish the goals of their specific department and Florida Atlantic University.  This process involves establishing individual goals and expectations; communicating standards; timely and constructive feedback; positive coaching and support; and performance evaluation.