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Benefits Summary
Human Resources
A variety of benefits have been established by Northwest Florida State College to meet the needs of our full-time employees and their families. Basic descriptions of each are indicated in this summary section but are not intended to replace formal policy statements or plan descriptions. Please contact Human Resources at 850-729-5365 for more detailed information.
- Group Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Retirement
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Care
- AFLAC
- Tax Sheltered Annuities
- Employee Assistance Program
- Tuition Assistance
- U.S. Savings Bond
- Credit Unions
- Direct Deposit
- Leave
- Cultural Events
- Use of Facilities
- I.D. Cards
- Parking
- YMCA
Group Health Insurance
is a member of the Florida Community Colleges Risk Management Consortium and provides group health care through BlueCross/BlueShield. Full-time employees may choose between four plans:
- Plan A - BlueOptions (PPO);
- Plan B - BlueCare (HMO);
- Plan D - HRA (Health Reimbursement Account);
- Plan C – Hospital Indemnity, Dental, Vision, for those employees who already have adequate health insurance.
The premium for single-rate coverage is paid by the College. Employees may add dependent coverage at their expense through payroll deduction. Visit www.bcbsfl.com for more information regarding BlueCross/BlueShield.
Life Insurance
The Florida Community Colleges Risk Management Consortium governs our life insurance policy. The College pays Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) premiums for each full-time college employee. Insurance is for two times the employee's annual salary. At the time of retirement, coverage is reduced to $5000.00.
Retirement
Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan: This defined benefit plan provides a fixed benefit at retirement based on years of service, salary and FRS membership class. The College makes monthly contributions to pay for this benefit. Vesting requires 6 years of creditable service.
Florida Retirement System (FRS) Investment Plan: This defined contribution plan allows employees to decide how to invest their money. The Investment Plan directs contributions to individual member accounts and employees allocate contributions and account balances among various investment funds. The employee's retirement benefit will be based on those contributions AND how well they grow when invested. Employees are vested after 1 year of service.
Community College Optional Retirement Program (CCORP): Certain employees (faculty and administrators) may elect to participate in the CCORP in lieu of membership in the Florida Retirement System (FRS). The College pays a percentage of the employee's salary to an annuity company approved by the College. Members of CCORP are fully and immediately vested in the program.
Retirement Incentive Plan: Eligible full-time employees can receive incentives to include up to 100% sick leave payout and 10% of annual salary. Contact Human Resources for additional information.
Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP): This program allows a full-time employee to retire and begin accumulating retirement benefits, without terminating employment, for up to 60 months from the date of reaching normal retirement. While participating in DROP, monthly retirement benefits remain in the FRS Trust Fund, earning tax-deferred interest, while the employee continues to work. Once the DROP period ends, the employee terminates all employment with any FRS employer. At that time, the employee receives payment of the accumulated DROP benefits, and the normal monthly retirement benefit begins. Contact Human Resources for further details on the plan.
Visit www.myfrs.com for additional information on retirement plans.
Dental Insurance
Dental Insurance is offered through Assurant Employee Benefits. Assurant has two plans available to employees at their expense: Freedom Advance-PPO and Freedom Basic-PPO. Information brochures are available in Human Resources concerning enrollment periods and cost.
Website: www.assurantemployeebenefits.com
Vision Care
offers vision coverage through the Vision Service Plan. Information/brochures are available in Human Resources concerning enrollment periods and cost. Go to www.visionhealthcare.com to view their plan.
AFLAC
American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC): Plans to include cancer insurance, intensive care, hospital indemnity, and accident/disability that may be purchased at the employee's expense through AFLAC. Visit their website, www.AFLAC.com.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Full-time employees are eligible to participate in a FSA program. This plan is designed to allow employees to put aside dollars tax-free into an account used to pay for eligible out-of-pocket un-reimbursed medical expenses and/or dependent care. The plan year runs from January 1 to December 31 and requires re-enrollment each year.
Click here to download the Flex One Request for Reimbursement Form.
Tax Sheltered Annuities (403b Accounts)
Employees can start/end/change payroll deductions for annuities at any time. Click here for a listing of companies and representatives.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Employee Assistance Program is a benefit that is provided to all full-time employees, their spouses and dependent children. The EAP encourages employees to seek prompt, professional help to resolve personal problems. has prepaid the cost of initial evaluation plus three additional counseling sessions. Select a document type below for more information.
Tuition Assistance
To encourage educational growth among employees receiving college-approved full benefits (i.e. health, life, and retirement), and their dependents, an award equivalent to the value of six in-state college credit hours per term is available to eligible employees, their spouses and dependents, and to retirees who were employees receiving college-approved full benefits. Legal dependents are those as defined by IRS standards. The employee must certify his/her spouse and all eligible dependents by completing an Employee Tuition Benefit Course Request card to the Financial Aid Office. Spouses and dependents of eligible employees must enroll in college credit, vocational credit, or college preparatory courses to qualify for this benefit. Spouses and dependents of retirees are not eligible for this benefit. A minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 grading scale is required in order to receive the tuition benefit. The benefit does not cover book or supply costs, or courses that are repeated that were previously charged against the Employee Tuition Benefit. Select a document type below to apply for Tuition Assistance.
U.S. Savings Bonds
Series EE Bonds and Series I Bonds are available through payroll deduction. While Series EE Bonds are sold in the amount of $100, $200, $500 or $1000 at half the face value, Series I Bonds are sold at face value in denominations of $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1000, $5000 and $10,000 denominations. Information and enrollment forms are available in Human Resources. Their website is www.savingsbond.gov.
Credit Unions
Employees are eligible to participate in both the Eglin Federal Credit Union (www.eglinfcu.org) and the Okaloosa County Teacher's Federal Credit Union. The college provides deductions for such participation.
Direct Deposit
All employees are encouraged to complete a direct deposit agreement for the electronic funds transfer of their paychecks. It is convenient for the employee and a cost-savings for the college. Click here to download a form.
Leave
Annual Leave: Twelve month employees earn 8 hours of annual leave for each month of service. After five and ten years of service, this increases to 10 and 12 hours per month, respectively. Annual leave is payable at the employee's hourly rate upon termination, resignation, retirement or death.
Closed Days: is closed on the following days: Martin Luther King's birthday; Spring Break (determined by the College); Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Holidays; and an extended Christmas Holiday period (based on College's discretion) to include New Years Day. Observation of these holidays follows the pattern established by the Federal government when such days fall on weekends. Go to the upper left menu for payroll calendars.
Personal Leave: Thirty-two hours of accrued sick leave may be used per fiscal year of personal reasons not attributable to sickness.
Sick Leave: Full-time employees accrue 8 hours of sick leave for each month of service. There is no limit to the number of hours that may be accrued. Payment for accrued sick leave is given only upon death or normal retirement.
Sick Leave Pool: The College offers voluntary participation in a sick leave pool. The Sick Leave Pool is an insurance policy in case of catastrophic illness. Certain eligibility requirements apply for membership. Click here for Sick Leave Pool Procedures.
Cultural Events
All employees are invited to attend cultural activities sponsored by the College. Most activities are free (employee plus one guest), but occasionally a particular function may be presented for which a nominal charge is made.
Website: The Arts Center
Use of Facilities
The tennis courts, handball courts, golf course, jogging trail, and outdoor playing fields are available to full-time employees, college retirees, and their guests during times when these facilities are not needed for the educational activities of the College.
I.D. Cards
I.D. Cards are available to all employees. The Raider Card is an official Northwest Florida State College identification card. It is necessary to check out books and other materials from the Learning Resources Center and for admission to various events and performances sponsored by the college. In addition, it may be used as a debit card for discounted prices on photocopies.
Parking
Parking is available to all employees displaying a parking permit. The parking permits are free and available in Human Resources. The permit authorizes parking in yellow-lined, reserved spaces. Blue-lined spaces are reserved for the handicapped and white-lined spaces are for students.
YMCA
We are a YMCA Corporate Partner. NWF State College employees pay $38 per month, with no membership joining fee.