Benefit Plans and Resources

Pitzer College believes that happy employees are also engaged employees. For that reason, we offer a robust benefits package that provides excellent healthcare choices, a comprehensive retirement plan, work/life balance resources, and more. The information and resources provided here, in summary, can help you understand what is available for you and your eligible dependents.

Pitzer College, as a member of The Claremont Colleges, offers health insurance plans to its benefits-eligible employees through The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS), Benefits Administration Office.

You can obtain additional health benefit information by visiting TCCS’s Benefits Administration page or by contacting them at (909) 621-8151 or [email protected].

Benefits Information for 2024: Benefits at a Glance

Benefit Guides/Presentations

Benefit Summaries

Introducing Pitzer’s New Dependent Care Support Program!

Pitzer College is excited to introduce a new dependent care benefit for benefit-eligible staff and faculty beginning January 2022!

Review the Dependent Care Support During Professional Development Policy for benefit details and to learn how to submit your reimbursement request using our also new Professional Development & Travel Request Form.

Pitzer’s Transportation Reduction Incentive Program

Designed to encourage employees to use alternative modes of transportation whenever possible in order to reduce the number of vehicles arriving on our campus. Incentives are provided to eligible participants in the program.

Participation is easy! Simply complete a T.R.I.P Participation Form for each month you participate in rideshare.

Questions

For questions on the Core benefit plans (medical, dental, vision, group life, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, etc.), please contact our Benefits Representatives at (909) 621-8151 or [email protected].

For questions regarding Pitzer benefit plans such as Back-Up Care, Tuition Remission, Computer Loans, Rideshare, and Dependent Care Support, please contact the Pitzer Human Resources team at (909) 621-8254 or [email protected].

Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act

  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

    The FSA administrator for Pitzer College is PayFlex. If you are contributing to a Healthcare FSA, the annual contribution amount you elected will be available to you for qualifying expenses as of your benefits effective date. However, if you are contributing to the Dependent Care FSA your contributions will be available for reimbursement only after your contributions are deducted from you pay.

    PayFlex Forms and Informational Materials

    FSA Contribution Limits for 2024 Healthcare FSA: $300 minimum to $3,200 maximum Dependent Care FSA: Up to $5,000 maximum ($2,500 if married and filing separate tax returns)

    Note: You have until March 15 of the following year to incur expenses for the plan year. You have until June 30 of the following year to submit a claim form and receipts for a plan year.

    Health Savings Account (HSA) + Limited Scope FSA for Healthcare Expenses

    Important: If you are enrolled in the Blue Shield of CA PPO (HDHP) and a Health Savings Account (HSA), you are only eligible to enroll in a Limited Scope Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Restrictions apply using a Health Savings Account AND Flexible Spending Account for healthcare expenses.

    Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts: We realize that your situation may be unpredictable at this time. For assistance understanding how the dependent care flexible spending account can be used in 2024, please read the Dependent Care FSA – FAQs. For additional assistance, please contact a Benefits Representative at (909) 621-8151 or [email protected].

  • Medical Insurance

    If you need assistance, please contact the Benefits Administration Office staff at (909) 621-8151 or [email protected].

    Our Medical Plans:

    • Blue Shield Trio HMO
    • Blue Shield Access+ HMO
    • Blue Shield PPO HDHP
    • Kaiser Permanente

    For coverage details, visit our 2024 Benefits Guide.

    Out of State Coverage for College Students – Information Sheet:  English | Espanol

    VOYA Supplemental Medical Plans for:

    • Hospital Indemnity: Provides supplemental payments that your medical plan may not cover during a hospital stay to offset copays, coinsurance or deductibles and lost time from work.
    • Critical Illness: Helps protect against the financial impact of certain illnesses such as a heart attach, stroke, cancer or a major organ transplant.
    • Accident: Provides cash benefit in case of accidental injuries for uncovered medical expenses (coinsurance, medications) and living expenses (mortgage/rent).
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)

    Participation in an HSA requires enrollment in the Blue Shield PPO HDHP medical plan. Payroll deductions can be set up if you elect to establish your HSA with Health Equity. Contributions paid by Pitzer are available for employees who had an annual compensation of less than $150,000 in 2023.

    2024 Maximum Health Savings Account Contribution Amounts (including any Pitzer contribution for eligible employees)

    • Employee Only: $4,150 maximum
    • Family: $8,300 maximum
    • Catch-Up Contribution for 55 and Older: up to an additional $1,000

    To view a guide on the Blue Shield PPO (HDHP) and the Health Savings Account, go to the TCCS Benefits Administration website. You can also visit the IRS website for additional information about Health Savings Accounts. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Benefits Administration Office at (909) 621-8151 or [email protected].

  • Education and Professional Development

    Computer Loan Policy and Form: This policy offers benefits-eligible employees a one-time interest-free personal loan of up to $2,000 for the purchase of one computer to be repaid over 18 months through payroll deductions.

    Staff Training and Professional Development (STPD) Funds:  Funds are available to provide staff the opportunity to attain new skills or knowledge in a manner that will enhance a staff member’s performance and be a specific benefit to their department and the College. Funds are administered by the Staff Council. For more information and an application form please contact Staff Council by email at [email protected].

    Tuition Remission Program: Benefits-eligible staff and faculty members who satisfy the waiting period, are eligible for tuition remission with The Claremont Colleges. Please refer to the policy in the Staff Handbook for program details. You must complete and submit a Tuition Remission Form before the start of the semester of requested coverage. Complete either the Tuition Remission Form for an Undergraduate Degree or the Tuition Remission Form for a Graduate Degree. In addition, the Taxability Determination Form must be submitted for graduate-level tuition remission (submit it only once at start of a new program).

  • Legal Assistance Insurance

    You have the option to elect Legal Assistance Insurance coverage through ARAG®. You pay the cost for coverage through after–tax payroll deductions. Coverage through ARAG lets you work with a network attorney to address a variety of legal situations you may encounter in life. This insurance is not just for serious issues, either. It is for addressing everyday legal needs, such as creating a will, transferring property, or purchasing a home. For more information and assistance, including the access code for ARAG’s online legal center, please contact the TCCS Benefits Administration Office at (909) 621-8151 or [email protected].

  • Life Insurance: Basic and Supplemental

    Basic Life Insurance

    All benefits-eligible faculty and staff receive Basic Life Insurance benefit paid 100% by Pitzer College, at the rate of one times their regular annualized income, with a minimum benefit of $20,000 and up to a maximum of $50,000. The benefit begins to decrease at age 65 as follows:

    • Age 65:      Benefit decreases to 65% of regular benefit amount
    • Age 70:      Benefit decreases to 50% of regular benefit amount
    • Age 75+:    Benefit decreases to 30% of regular benefit amount

    Supplemental Life Insurance

    Coverage is available for employee, spouse/domestic partner and children Insurance is through UNUM on an after-tax basis from one to four times your annual base salary to a maximum of $1,000,000 (a combined total with the Basic Life Insurance provided by Pitzer). The employee can purchase insurance for their spouse/domestic partner in increments of $10,000 up to maximum of $250,000 or 50% of own combined basic and supplemental life insurance coverage, whichever is less. For children, the employee can purchase coverage of $5,000 for ages 6 months and older, or $100 for birth to 6 months.

    The premium cost is based on the employee’s age per thousand dollars of principal coverage selected. The benefit begins to decrease at age 65 as follows:

    • Age 65:      Benefit decreases to 65% of regular benefit amount
    • Age 70:      Benefit decreases to 50% of regular benefit amount
    • Age 75+:    Benefit decreases to 30% of regular benefit amount
  • Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance

    Benefits-eligible faculty and staff, who are regularly scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week and and are a citizen or resident of the United States or Canada, are automatically enrolled for long-term disability coverage on their first day of employment. This benefit is 100% paid for by Pitzer College and provides 66 2/3% of monthly earnings on the date of the disability (up to $15,000 per month) for a disability lasting beyond 180 days. For more details, click to see the  LTD Benefits at a Glance sheet for long-term disability insurance. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the TCCS Benefits Administration Office at (909) 621-8151 or [email protected].

  • Retirement: Academic Retirement Plan (ARP)

    Setting Up Your TIAA Account Online: visiting this web site for The Claremont College Academic Retirement Plan and select the yellow button labeled “Register Now”. You will be asked to provide your social security number, date of birth and the access code should auto-populate. Then follow the prompts to finish setting up your account.

    Questions and Assistance: For assistance with your individual retirement account please contact our plan administrator, TIAA, at (800) 842-2252. For general questions about the ARP, please contact our Retirement Analyst at (909) 621-8805, or the Pitzer Human Resources Office at [email protected] or (909) 621-8254.

    Retirement Contribution Limits per the IRS The Internal Revenue Service sets the contribution limits for 2024 for elective deferrals at $23,000 and for age 50+ catch-up contributions to $7,500. For information on the 5 years of service catch-up contributions, defined contribution limit, annual compensation limits, and the social security taxable wage base, please visit the IRS website and search under Retirement Topics – 403(b) Contribution Limits.

    Voluntary Retirement Contributions Employees of Pitzer College may make voluntary contributions to the Academic Retirement Plan (ARP) or Roth after-tax retirement plan at any time during their employment. To start voluntary contributions log on to Workday and process a Benefits Change.

    Retirement Counseling One-on-one retirement counseling is available with a TIAA financial advisor every month, usually located at the ACC building of TCCS. To schedule an appointment on-site please call (800) 732-8353 and ask for dates and times available at The Claremont Colleges. To see available dates and times for November and December click here.

    Ayuda en Espanol: Programe una consulta con un consultor financiero de TIAA para hablar sobre sus planes y ahorros para su retiro. Para mas informacion haga clic aqui.

    Financial Education Live Webinars Presented by TIAA

    TIAA provides these informative, interactive workshops to provide Pitzer staff and faculty members strategies and information to boost their financial knowledge and work toward better outcomes with retirement planning.

  • Rideshare: Transportation Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP)

    In compliance with regulations of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Pitzer has this rideshare program, TRIP, for benefits-eligible staff and faculty members. The plan is designed to encourage employees to use modes of transportation other than driving alone to work whenever possible, in order to reduce the number of vehicles arriving on our campus. Incentives are provided to eligible participants in the program. Note: Employees who live on-campus are not eligible for this program.

    Incentives

    Daily Pay Rate: For every day you participate in the TRIP program, you can apply to receive $1.75 per work day (up to 5 days per week).  Participation is easy—simply complete the corresponding TRIP calendar form and submit it to Human Resources no later than the first day of the month following your month of participation.  Your pay is processed with the next possible pay cycle. To submit for your participation, complete the online TRIP Participation Form.

    Movie Tickets: Participants are also entered into a monthly prize drawing for four movie tickets to your choice of AMC, Edwards or Laemmle theatres.

    Reserved Parking: Participants who commute to Pitzer’s campus by carpooling are eligible, on the days they drive a carpool, for reserved parking spots on campus. To request a carpool parking permit, please contact the Human Resources.

    For more information about the program, contact Human Resources at (909) 621-8254 or [email protected].

  • Work-Life Balance Resources

    BACK-UP CARE PROGRAM

    When you have work, family, and personal responsibilities competing for your time, there’s no need to stress. Instead, rely on Bright Horizons®. Explore all your enhanced benefits today and start making your life easier. Click to see an overall informational sheet on FAQs for Back-Up Care Program benefits.

    • Additional Family Supports: Do you need a night out of the house? Are you looking for an after-school caregiver or someone to watch your pet while you’re away on vacation? Get free membership to a comprehensive database, where you can find support that meets your needs: nannies, sitters, elder caregivers, pet sitters, housekeepers, and more. Click to see FAQs for Additional Family Support or finding Pet Care under this program.
    • Full-Time Child Care: You can jump ahead on the wait list at select Bright Horizons centers, or enjoy exclusive discounts at participating partner centers that make child care more affordable.
    • Tutoring & Test Prep: Get discounted tutoring resources for SATs/ACTs, standardized tests, Common Core subjects, and general help for your student.
    • Back-Up Child Care: Next time school’s closed, the sitter’s on vacation, or you’re between child care arrangements, high-quality back-up care is just a click or call away. Register for free, and we’ll secure reliable care for you when and where you need it.
    • Back-Up Adult and Elder Care: When Mom gets injured, Dad’s recovering from surgery, or the regular caregiver calls out sick, we’ll arrange high-quality back-up care in their home. Click to see an informational sheet on Adult & Elder Care options available to you. Learn more about your benefits by watching this short video.

    EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

    Pitzer makes available to benefits-eligible faculty and staff, their dependents and all the members of their immediate household, a variety of counseling services, including in-person, telephone and web-based counseling and referral services – at no cost to the employee. The services are provided by our Employee Assistance Program through OptumHealth and are completely confidential. Employees, the members of their immediate household and their dependents have five free counseling sessions per calendar year.  The Pitzer employee receives an additional benefit of five free sessions per issue per calendar year. Click below to see details regarding the available services:

    PRIMARY CARETAKER LEAVE POLICIES (STAFF & FACULTY)

    These policies are designed to provide time off with pay to regular, benefits-eligible staff and faculty who are responsible for the primary care of a child immediately following birth, adoption or the placement of a foster child.  Please refer to Staff Handbook web pages for details.

    PET INSURANCE – NATIONWIDE

    Pet Insurance helps you meet the cost of caring for your pets. You pay for the coverage directly to Nationwide and not through payroll deductions. My Pet Protection℠ plans from Nationwide® offer coverage for vet bills, with 90% reimbursement for accidents, illnesses, and more. When your covered pet needs care, you have the freedom to visit any veterinarian you choose. For more information, visit www.petinsurance.com/claremont

  • Short-Term Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave

    The short-term disability and paid family leave benefits are managed for Pitzer College by the TCCS Disability Office. NOTE: The federal government has issued new leave options due to COVID-19. For more information please visit the COVID-19 Q&A web page of the Department of Labor. If you wish to apply for a leave under these new regulations, contact the Human Resources team at [email protected] or (909) 621-8254.

    Short-Term Disability (Self-Insured Plan of The Claremont Colleges) California law permits an employer to implement a self-insured short-term disability program as long as the rights and benefits provided by the program equal or exceed the benefits provided by the state plan. Also, the self-insured short-term program must provide at least one right or benefit that is greater than what is provided by the state plan. The Claremont Colleges’ short-term disability plan, known as the Voluntary Disability Insurance (VDI) plan is equal to the state plan in all areas and is greater than the state plan in the following:

    1. VDI benefit payments coincide with the regular payroll schedules, which means payments are received sooner.
    2. VDI benefits can be paid via direct deposit.
    3. You have the option to redirect your health benefit premiums from your VDI benefit payments.

    The VDI Plan incorporates the Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits. The VDI benefits are designed to provide partial compensation for wages lost if you are unable to work because of a non-work-related illness or injury. VDI benefits can be supplemented with an employee’s accrued leave hours according to each institution’s supplementing policy.

    Paid Family Leave Benefits Plan The PFL benefit provides partial compensation for wages lost if you require time off work to care for a qualifying family member who becomes ill or if you want to bond with a qualifying child. PFL benefits can be supplemented with an employee’s accrued leave hours according to each institution’s supplementing policy. For a booklet with the plan information and the short-term disability benefits application form, please visit the Benefits Administration website, and look under the Workers Compensation and Disability section. Or contact the TCCS Disability Office at [email protected] or (909) 621-8847. To receive the claim packet for VDI or PFL and discuss your leave of absence options, contact Human Resources office at (909) 621-8254 or [email protected].

  • Summary Annual Reports for Benefit Plans

    The Summary Annual Report provides you with basic financial data for the benefit plans of The Claremont Colleges in a format required by the United States Department of Labor and includes instructions on how you may obtain additional information about the plan.