faq's- frequently asked questions

• Total Compensation Statements NEW!
  
• ARP mitigating rates
  
• taxation of educational benefits 
• campus directory
  
• new benefits providers July 1, 2006
• position information management
• rideshare: hrss- self service

If you have a question that is not listed below email it to: hrweb@ohio.edu

What is a total compensation statement?
To help you better understand your complete package of compensation and benefits as an employee, Ohio University is providing you with this personalized Total Compensation statement. It provides you with a summary of your 2007-08 benefit elections. It also shows an estimated value of how much the university has contributed to your total compensation, above your annual base salary, and provides contact information for your retirement provider.

Why did Ohio University create this statement?
Human Resources worked with the Health Benefits Committee to provide useful information to employees in a concise format. Many employees may think of compensation as just their paycheck. This statement highlights the value each employee receives in the form of the comprehensive benefit programs.

We hope these statements will also educate employees regarding the optional benefits that are available.

Who received a total compensation statement?
Statements were prepared for all full-time benefits eligible employees as of June 30, 2007. If you were hired after June 30^h, are in a PART-TIME classified position, or were on a Leave of Absence on June 30^th, you will not receive a statement this year.

What is the effective date for the data shown on the statement?

The data shown on the statement was collected as of October 23, 2007. Any changes in coverage after that date are not reflected on the statement.

The 2007 Base Salary shown on the statement is as of July 1, 2007. It does not include overtime, additional overload contracts, allowances or other categories of pay.

Who should I contact if I do not understand the benefits information in my statement?
You may call the Benefits staff at (740) 593-1651 or 593-4395.

Who should I contact if I believe there are errors in the data used to prepare my statement?
Contact the office of Human Resources at (740) 593-1636. Remember, there are items on your paycheck, such as state and federal taxes that will not appear on this statement. The Total Compensation statement is not meant to imitate the employee’s paycheck.

What does the 2007 Base Salary shown on my statement represent?
The 2007 Base Salary shown on the statement is as of July 1, 2007. It does not include overtime, additional overload contracts, allowances or other categories of pay.

I did not receive a statement in the mail, how do I get one?
Statements will be sent in mid-November. Employees hired after 06/30/2007 and part-time classified employees will not receive statements. If you are not in one of these groups please call 740-593-1636 to request a statement. You may be asked to verify your current mailing address.

What do the costs shown for Medical, Prescription, and Vision represent?
The university and employee costs shown on the statement are the projected costs for a full year of coverage for each of the benefit plans in which you were participating as of October, 2007. The costs in the statement are the amounts that you and the university would have contributed if you were covered for a full year in the benefit plans and at the coverage levels shown on page 3 of the statement. The costs may not match the total that was withheld from your pay for the year, especially in cases where you may not have been a plan participant for the full year, or in cases where you may have made changes in coverage during the year, such as adding a dependent.

Those who waived coverage or are covered under their OU spouse will not have a deduction for Medical, Prescription & Vision coverage.

How were the university’s costs determined?
The medical, prescription and dental costs shown on the statement are the premium equivalent to the university’s Cobra rates (available online at: http://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/healthcare/rates_cobra.cfm).

Retirement costs are calculated as a percentage of the employee’s salary.

The Medicare cost is 1.45% of your compensation.  Employees hired prior to March 31, 1986 do not contribute to medicare.

An average per employee cost was used for Long Term Disability and Worker’s Compensation costs.  

What are the Basic Life Insurance costs?
The university’s cost for life insurance is the annual amount spent to provide you with Basic Life Insurance of 2.5 times your salary up to a maximum of $50,000.  This coverage is automatically provided by the university at no cost to you.

Supplemental and dependent life insurance coverage is optional. This coverage, if elected, is paid by the employee and is displayed on page 3.  These costs are not included in the chart on page 2 of your statement.

What benefits do the Long Term Disability costs shown on the statement cover?
The university cost shown on the statement is the projected annual cost incurred to provide you with Long-Term Disability insurance through Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company.  Benefits are not automatic. Employees must apply and be approved for benefits.

RETIREMENT

I would like more information regarding my retirement account, who do I call?
Refer to page 2 of your statement for contact information for your retirement system (OPERS, STRS or ARP company). 

ARP: http://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/retirement/arp_providers.cfm

OPERS: 1-800-222-7377

STRS: 1-888-227-7877

Why are my 403(b) and/or 457 contributions are not included?
Unfortunately we were not able to include supplemental retirement account (403(b) and/or 457) information on this year’s statement. We hope to include this information in the future.

If currently enrolled, questions may be referred to company: http://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/retirement/sra_providers.cfm

What is the mitigating rate?
House Bill 586, effective March 31, 1997, established Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3305 which permitted certain academic and administrative employees of higher education institutions to select an Alternative Retirement Program (ARP) offered by a private vendor in lieu of participating in the appropriate state retirement system (either OPERS, State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) or School Employees Retirement System (SERS)).  Certain employees (those with less than five years of service and new hires) were permitted to opt out of the state retirement system with the understanding that it could have a negative financial impact on the state retirement systems.  To mitigate the negative financial impact of the loss of this population, the Ohio General Assembly authorized the state retirement systems to collect a portion of the employer contribution rate for those employees that elected to participate in an ARP. By comparison, when the state retirement systems were authorized to establish defined contribution options for their members in 2001, the Ohio General Assembly gave each system the authority to collect a mitigating rate from the employer contribution made on behalf of members who elect a defined contribution plan.

As someone who chose an ARP, why should a portion of my contribution go to OPERS?
Ohio is a non-Social Security state, meaning that public employees by law pay into a state retirement system instead of Social Security. If a public employee chooses an ARP instead of OPERS, there is the potential of a negative effect on the state retirement system. Therefore, the Ohio General Assembly mandated that the potential negative impact be mitigated by the collection of the “mitigating rate.” Similarly, when the Ohio General Assembly authorized the state retirement systems to offer defined contribution options to their members, the general assembly also authorized the systems to collect a mitigating rate from the employer contribution made on behalf of members who elect a defined contribution plan.  

What is the process for the determining the mitigating rate? 
Every three years according to law, the Ohio Retirement Study Council uses an independent actuary to review and determine any necessary adjustments in the mitigating rate to reflect any changes in the level of the negative financial impact on the state retirement systems.  The most recent review was completed in June 2005.  At the time the study was completed, OPERS was not authorized to begin collecting the ARP mitigating rate because the OPERS Board was not collecting a mitigating rate from participants in the OPERS defined contribution plans. (OPERS started collecting a mitigating rate from its defined contribution members in January 2006.)

Once determined, OPERS notifies its employers with ARP participants of the upcoming change and the implementation date.  This was completed in March 2007.  Each employer then notifies the impacted participants of the implementation date.

Can the mitigating rate change?
Yes. The General Assembly has authorized the Ohio Retirement Study Council with the responsibility of setting the mitigating rate every three years. The rate is  determined by an actuarial analysis that projects the potential impact of ARP participation on OPERS

The ARP mitigating rate is also impacted by the mitigating rate charged to OPERS defined contribution plan participants. By law, OPERS cannot collect a mitigating rate from ARP participants that exceeds the rate collected from OPERS’ defined contribution participants. The OPERS Board evaluates the OPERS mitigating rate annually for its defined contribution participants and, thus, to the extent that this rate does not exceed the rate set by the ORSA, the ARP mitigating rate may change. 

When does the mitigating rate go into effect?
Aug. 1, 2007.

What is the negative financial impact? 
The funding for the statewide retirement systems is based on average expected employee and employer contributions, which in turn is impacted by the employee’s salary.  The ARP program, which was established in 1997 and subsequently expanded in 2005, allows certain new hires who would otherwise participate in a state retirement system to opt-out of membership in the system.  In sum, the statewide retirement systems are negatively impacted if a portion of the population base is excluded. 

In developing the employer contribution rate, the actuary determines the portion of the contribution rate that is allocated to fund what is referred to as the “unfunded liability.”  To the extent the pool of new members is diminished, the employer contribution available to fund the “unfunded liability” is reduced, and thus the state retirement systems are negatively impacted. 

What causes the unfunded liability? 
Unfunded liability is created when a benefit is provided and the appropriate employer and employee contributions (and corresponding investment return) needed to fund the cost of the benefit are not paid.  Assume for example that you are an employer with two employees.  Employee A has worked for you for 18 years, and Employee B has worked for you for 6 years.  You have no pension plan in place, but you have opted to start one.  Should both of these employees have the same benefit?  Typically, the pension plan would consider all the past service for both of these employees and would give them credit for their service in the retirement calculation.  However, this creates a benefit for which there is an unfunded liability.

Unfunded liability is also impacted by the amount the retirement system earns on its investments.  As you are aware from your own personal investments in the ARP, only a small portion of the funds you plan to have for retirement come from the contributions from you and your employer.  The more significant component of the retirement savings comes from the investment earnings of the long-term investment of the retirement funds.  This also applies to the state retirement systems.  To the extent that the retirement systems earn less than they anticipate, the unfunded liability grows.  Conversely, to the extent that the retirement systems are able to earn more than they anticipate, the unfunded liability is reduced.  With the exception of the fiscal years 2000-2002, the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System has had good returns and has been able to reduce the unfunded liability. 

Is there a limit on the mitigating rate? 
Yes.  The enabling statute authorizes the state retirement systems to collect up to 6% of the employer contribution made on behalf of ARP participants until such time the unfunded pension liability is/was fully amortized or more simply put, fully paid off, excluding unfunded liability for health care benefits and benefit improvements enacted after the enabling legislation. By comparison, when the state retirement systems were authorized to establish defined contribution options for their members in 2001, the Ohio General Assembly gave each system the authority to collect a mitigating rate from the employer contribution made on behalf of members who elect a defined contribution plan.  

Why is it being implemented now? 
With the enactment of H.B. 586, which took effect on March 31, 1997, OPERS began collecting a mitigating rate of 6 percent.  Beginning January 1, 1999, OPERS reached full funding, which means there was no unfunded liability. Consequently, OPERS ceased charging a mitigating rate to the ARP participants.  In 2002, OPERS was no longer fully funded and thus could have begun charging ARP participants a mitigating rate.   

In 2004, the legislature passed Senate Bill 133, which became effective August 1, 2005.  This bill expanded the population of OPERS employees (and potential new hires) that could participate in the ARP. Pursuant to the actuarial study completed by ORSA in July 2005, OPERS was authorized to collect 6 percent of the employer contribution made on behalf of ARP participants; however, the 6 percent rate was limited to the mitigating percentage rate that was being collected from OPERS defined contribution participants. OPERS did not implement a mitigating rate for its defined contribution participants until January 2006.

The implementation of this mitigating rate to participants of ARP was delayed until August 2007 to allow adequate time for OPERS to notify employers, who in turn needed to notify the impacted employees and make changes to their payroll systems. 

What are the other Ohio statewide retirement systems doing? 
Each of the state retirement systems whose populations are eligible to opt out to participate in the ARP (OPERS, SERS and STRS) are authorized to collect a mitigating rate to offset the negative financial impact of the electing employees’ participation in ARP.  OPERS and SERS previously ceased collection of the mitigating rate because each system reached full funding in 1999.  Since the expansion of the eligible ARP population in August 2005, SERS resumed collecting 6 percent of the employer contribution made on behalf of the ARP participants.  Due to differences in funding status, STRS has never reached full funding status since the passage of the enabling legislation.  Consequently, STRS has continually collected the mitigating contribution rate, which is currently 3.5 percent.  

Is the mitigating rate impacted by the increased employer and member contribution rates?
No.  While the increase in employer and member contribution rates reduces unfunded liability, which ultimately should reduce the mitigating rate collected from the ARPs, there is no immediate impact.

What’s a dependent?
IRS Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deductions, and Filing Information (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf) defines dependents in great detail. 

In general, a dependent child is a U.S. citizen, national, or resident alien who is not married and who cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.  In addition, a dependent child must:

• Be under age 19 at the end of the calendar year OR be under age 24 at the end of the calendar year and a student OR be permanently and totally disabled,
• Not provide over half of his or her own support,
• And live with the taxpayer for more than half of the year.  Temporary absences such as time living at college counts as living with the taxpayer. If you have additional questions, your individual tax preparer can help determine if your child is a dependent.

Are scholarships included in calculating a child’s support?
Scholarships received by full-time students should not be included in calculating their support.  See IRS Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deductions, and Filing Information (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p501.pdf) for more information.

Who else is covered by OU’s policy?
Ohio University’s education benefit extends to the following individuals who do not qualify as recipients of a qualified tuition reduction:

1. Spouses and dependent children taking classes at the graduate level 
2. Domestic partners taking classes at any level
   
3. Non dependent children taking classes at any level 

When will taxes be withheld?
Taxes will be withheld once per quarter, and the schedule may be obtained from Payroll at http://www.ohio.edu/finance/payroll/employee.cfm.

Taxes will be withheld at the flat rates of 25% for Federal and 3.5% for State.  In addition, Medicare will be withheld along with the appropriate city and school district income taxes.

Who should be contacted with additional questions?
Please contact University Human Resources at 593-1636 with additional questions.

I do not understand “Include these details” section for telephone, home address and spouse name, what do I need to do?
The current setting’s is highlighted in the BLACK box.  If you want to change the setting’s you need to circle Y or N.
 N (no) = do not print in directory
 Y (yes) = print in directory

My title is incorrect. How do I change it?
Department head or Budget Unit Manager must verify correct title and send correction to University Human Resources, Compensation Dept.

My name has changed.  What should I do?
Notify Human Resources or Payroll Office.  A new W4 (tax card) must be completed and forwarded to Payroll.  Also, notify the appropriate retirement system.

Also, notify the appropriate retirement system.
OPERS – 1-800-222-7377 or www.opers.org
STRS – 1-888-227-7877 or www.strsoh.org      

W4 tax cards are available from the Payroll website: http://www.ohio.edu/finance/forms/payroll.cfm

 
How can I list my degree in the directory or the correct degree?
Fill in “Highest Degree” section of information form with:

          - School attended

          - Degree

          - Major

          - Year degree obtained

(NOTE: all degree information must be provided or the degree can not be added to employee’s record)

My email address is not listed or is incorrect?
Email addresses will be automatically updated with Ohio University assigned email address and CANNOT be changed.

What is the deadline to return my form?
September 27, 2007 

Where do I return my form?
University Human Resources, Human Resources & Training Center, 169 West Union Street
 

Can I email my changed information to Human Resources?
No.  We need to have ALL forms returned with changes made.
 

Do I need to return the directory form if I don’t have any changes to make?
Yes, all forms need to be initialed and returned to University Human Resources.
 

I lost my form, what do I do?
Information forms for the 2007-2008 Campus Directory were mailed to all faculty and staff September 12, 2007, at their campus address.  Blank forms may be downloaded from the Human Resource website http://www.ohio.edu/hr/forms.cfm

When will this be effective?
Beginning July 1, 2006 Anthem will administer medical, dental, vision and flexible spending benefits; Envision Rx will administer the prescription plan.

Can I change my enrollment choice?
You may make changes to your benefits during the annual Open Enrollment period in May. Our current plan year and coverage with Medical Mutual ends June 30, 2006. Anthem and EnvisionRx will be the new insurance carrier effective July 1, 2006.

What if my provider is not in the new network?
Anthem has a very strong PPO network in Athens county. However, if you are currently receiving treatment from a provider who is not listed or are currently pregnant and scheduled to deliver after July 1, 2006 please contact the Benefits Office at (740) 593-1651 or 593-4395 for assistance.

To detemine if your provider is in the network visit http://provider-directory.anthem.com/awp/nat/po/Begin.asp  and follow these steps:

Did implementing Position Information Management change the way we recruit and hire people?
Absolutely not!  Positions are merely assigned a number so that a history can be accumulated in Oracle HRMS. You will continue with your current internal processes for approving and recruiting positions.

What positions are “benefits eligible?”
A working definition is that the person is current, active in Oracle and has a "People Group" (The first part is "BENEFIT_PROGRAM" and the second part is "BENEFIT_PROGRAM_LEVEL") entry that matches one of the following:

- AFSCME|Full
- AFSCME|PT Full
- Class NBU|Full
- Class NBU|PT Full
- FOP|Full
- Faculty|Full
- Faculty|Retiree
- Other Appt|Full

What criteria are used to decide who is eligible for Full, Part Time Full or Retiree Benefits?

The employee must be one of the following:
- A Full Time Regular or Full Time Term Classified
- A Part Time Regular Classified
- A Full Time Regular Administrator (9,10,11 or 12 months) aka Group I Admin
- A Part Time Regular Administrator (9,10,11, or 12 months) aka Group II Admin
- A Re-employed retiree Admin (not healthcare bene)
- A Full Time Regular Faculty -- aka Group I Faculty
- A Part Time Regular Faculty -- aka Group I Faculty
- A Part Time Term Faculty -- aka Group II Faculty
- A Full Time Term Faculty -- aka "visiting" faculty Group IV Faculty

What does a position number look like?
ex. PN101377|VPADMIN|ADMIN|FT|AUX|000

What do all the segments mean?

When will I use the Position Number? Do I need to know my own number?
The only time a position number is needed is when a position is being filled, changed, or abolished. Budget unit managers have access to a report that lists the currently filled and vacant positions in their unit. The report is also used for budgeting processes. You do not need to know your position number for any reason, but if you are interested, please ask your budget unit manager to provide it to you.

How do I use the OU Campus Rideshare online system?
You will need to log into the system using your Ohio University Oak ID and password. Visit https://www.uhr.ohiou.edu/hrss/login.php and select the OHIO Employee Ride Share tab.

What is my Oak ID?
Your Oak ID is your Ohio University assigned email address. If you do not currently use Ohio University’s email system it will be necessary to activate your oak account. 

How do I activate my Oak ID?
Employee Oak accounts must be activated in person using a photo ID. You can visit one of the following locations to activate your faculty or staff account:
• Office of Information Technology Service Desk - 3rd Floor, HDL Center
• Computer Services Center - 1st floor test score office #117
• Computer Services Center - 3rd floor frontline helpdesk
• Eastern: Eastern Campus Lab Annex - 227 Shannon Hall
• Zanesville: Learning Advancement Center - Elson Hall
• Lancaster: Computer Lab, 215 Herrold Hall
• Chillicothe: Computer Lab, Bennett Hall
• Southern: Open Computer Lab, 210 Academic Center Building

Is this site secure?
Yes, employees will use their oak ID and password to access the Campus Directory and Employee Personal Information update system.

How can I make sure that I no longer appear on the ridesharing list?
The selection for "Want to Participate" must be marked “No” under “Set My Rideshare Preferences”. Be sure to save any changes.

Why can’t I input my home address or work location?
The OHIO Employee Ride Share automatically lists employees residing in the same city and working at the same campus. It is left to the employees to arrange further details.

How can I let other users know what my schedule is?
Once you have logged into the OHIO Employee Ride Share on-line system you need to select “Set My Rideshare Preferences” complete all the required fields and include your schedule and any other comments in the designated input box. Be sure you save your changes.

Can I email my changed information to Human Resources?
No. You can use the on-line OHIO Employee Ride Share system to update your preferences and to search for a ride.

Will I receive confirmation once I have completed the on-line process?
Yes, once you have updated your OHIO Employee Ride Share preferences you will receive a confirmation email letting you know that the process has been completed.

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