Postdoc Employee Benefits

Owned by
Stephen K Jones Jr
Last updated: Sep 22, 2017
6 min read

Information provided here about university policies and benefits may not always be complete and is subject to change. We encourage postdocs to refer to official university webpages and resources, and to seek clarification or counsel from relevant university offices or departmental sources, when appropriate. If you see something in this handbook that should be changed, please let us know.

Benefits for Postdoctoral Fellows

  • Health
    • There is one insurance option available for all UT employees: UT Select, offered by Blue Cross, Blue Shield. From what I’ve heard, most people are happy with it. It is a PPO, meaning that you can choose any doctor, but it is cheaper if you stick with people within the network. Many doctors around Austin are in the network, but it's always a good idea to check and make sure.
    • Costs
      • UT pays the entire monthly premium for full-time benefits-eligible employees, including all full-time postdoctoral fellows. (Information for Research Affiliate Postdocs - postdocs supported by individual fellowships - can be found here.)
      • Most copays are $30 or $35, while preventative care is $0.
      • You pay an extra $30 per month if you are a smoker.
    • Dependents
    • Making changes
      • Typically you can only make changes during annual enrollment (July 15-31st, subject to change) that will go into effect September 1st. However, getting married, having a baby or other qualified changes would allow you to make changes to your insurance coverage.
    • Health Center on Campus - University Health Services
      • If you’re like me, you liked the convenience of the on-campus health center as a graduate student. Unfortunately, it’ll cost you as a postdoc. To use the health center, you have to pay a service extension fee of $50 each semester ($150 total a year). But this fee is not required for employees who want to use the center for physical therapy appointments, appointments with the registered dietician, or for lab services or radiology services (https://healthyhorns.utexas.edu/facultyandstaff.html)
    • Flu vaccines
      • UT usually holds flu vaccine clinics for students, faculty and staff during the fall, at minimal or no cost. I know you ‘don’t need it’, but all the children, ill, and older people you contact in your life will appreciate you not being a carrier
  • Dental
    • There are currently three dental insurance plans to choose from, and all require out-of-pocket monthly premiums. (Enrollment in a dental plan is optional.)
      • UT Select Dental PPO
      • UT Select Dental Plus PPO
        • The summary of covered services for the PPO plans can be found here.
      • Delta Care Dental HMO (Lowest cost - but you must select and receive services from a DeltaCare plan dentist to get the benefits of this plan.)
  • Vision
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance and Group Term Life Insurance
    • The basic coverage package includes $40,000 in AD&D and Group Term Life insurance at no cost for employee only.
  • Prescription Drugs
    • UT uses Express Scripts – the copays range from $10-$50, and your yearly deductible is $100. This is built into the health plans, so you don’t have to do anything
  • Other health related benefits available:
    • FLEX spending account (for health-related expenses or child care expenses), additional term life insurance, and additional AD&D insurance.
  • Retirement
    • Teacher Retirement System (TRS)
      • This is the default retirement plan (if you don't actively choose between the two plans when you start your employment). It requires five years of UT employment (or other Texas state employment) in order to be vested. If your employment ends before 5 years, you get to keep your contributions to your retirement, but not the university's contribution to your retirement. To do that, try following this guide.
    • Optional Retirement Plan (ORP)
      • This plan requires employment for one year and one day to be vested.
      • ORP is like a 401k plan, where you choose how to invest your (and UT’s) retirement contributions.
      • UT actually contributes more to this plan than TRS (8.5% vs 7.7%, subject to change).
      • You must be proactive in order to elect this retirement plan, as you have to select it within your first 90 days of employment.
        • You pick an investment company on the site to work with. Some have simpler set up processes than others.
        • Fill out and submit “TRS Form 28” to the benefits office (in North Office Building A, or by mail).
    • If you want to put more into retirement than the above plans allow, there are some additional UTSaver voluntary retirement programs that you can use, which are also detailed on the benefits website.
    • You can meet with the university's retirement staff on the 2nd floor of the North Office Building A (NOA).
  • Transportation
    • Buses: The CapMetro bus system is free for all UT students, faculty, and staff - anyone with an active UT ID card.
    • Motorcycles: Motorcycles/mopeds park for free at all Austin on street parking. This is great, especially if you are going downtown.
    • Parking Permits: “A” permits are the easiest to get and cost ~$155/year. You park in the big surface lots around campus (they're marked), and it typically requires early arrival to secure a spot.
      • You can build a carpool group with others to receive discounted permits and better parking spots.
      • Depending on your location, it can be closer to just park in neighborhoods for free (such as north of campus – pay attention to signs).
      • You can also get a permit for parking on campus on the weekends and after hours during the week. N permit (surface parking only) is $40/year. N+ permit allows for garage and surface parking and is $67/year.
      • There are more coveted types of permits (for example, parking garages), but seniority rules, and waitlists can be long. Here is a list of faculty/staff parking options, and current availability: http://parking.utexas.edu/parking/availabilityF.html
    • Bicycling: There are plenty of bike racks around. UT also offers registration and repair services for bikes.
  • Leave for full-time employees
    • Paid Leave
      • Vacation (annual) leave - starts accruing right away, but you can't take vacation hours until you've worked for 6 months
      • Sick leave - can start using right away, also can be used to care for a sick family member (immediate family)
    • Unpaid
      • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for those who have been employed for at least 12 months: Allows you to take up to 12 weeks of leave for medical reasons, including for the birth/adoption of a child. Your insurance continues to be paid.
      • Parental Leave for those who do not qualify for FMLA: Allows you to take up to 12 weeks of leave for new babies or adoption of a child under three. There is no insurance premium-sharing when you are on parental leave.
      • Leave of Absence
      • All types of unpaid leave include job restoration after the designated amount of time
      • For confidential leave management information contact 512-475-8099
  • Classes
    • After 12 months of employment, UT employees are allowed to take one class per semester for free. However, you must be admitted to UT as a degree seeking or non-degree seeking student in order to receive this benefit. (Because of the work/cost of the admissions process, I'm not sure how many postdocs actually take advantage of this.)
    • There are informal classes going on at UT which you can take. For example, I’ve taken a night programming class that was offered specifically for training grad students and postdocs.
    • Online learning – These websites offer free education for UT employees:
      • Lynda, Enthought
  • Other free/reduced cost UT stuff
    • Longhorn Auto Assistance Program (LAAP): If you are on campus and either lock yourself out of your car or have your battery go dead, call UT Police and they will assist you for free.
    • Blanton Museum (free admission for faculty, students and staff)
    • Discount event tickets. These special offers should arrive in your email box for various events.
    • UT Dine-In Dollars: This currency is loaded onto your ID card, and can be used at UT food vendors. You receive a 10% discount over standard prices.
    • Notary services
        • The human resources team (North Office Building A) has members who are notaries. They will notarize stuff for you at no cost.

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