College Assistants
College Assistants ("CAs") are temporary employees appointed/reappointed on a fiscal year basis. Appointments may not exceed 1,040 actual work hours.
Salary
The current salary range for CAs: $8.72/hour - $19.13/hour
Benefits
The following benefits are available to College Assistants who meet eligibility requirements (see below for eligibility details):
Health Insurance
Health insurance is available to College Assistants (CAs) who work a regular schedule of 20 hours per week and whose appointments are expected to last for more than 6 months. Eligible dependents and registered domestic partners may be covered. These benefits begin on the first payroll date after the CA has completed 90 days of employment and a NYC Health Benefits Application. Health insurance coverage will be terminated if work hours fall under 20 hours per week or if an employee separates from service at The Graduate Center. Employees will be eligible for continuation of health coverage under COBRA (the Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985). Employees are to contact the Office of Human Resources to receive a COBRA package. Eligible persons electing COBRA continuation of coverage must forward directly to the health plan a COBRA-Continuation of Coverage Application and make premium payments on a monthly basis. For more information visit the website http://www.nyc.gov/html/olr.
New York City Employees Retirement System.
All College Assistants may join the pension plan NYC Employees Retirement System (NYCERS). For more information visit the website www.nycers.org. Contact the Office of Human Resources for applications.
Union Welfare Fund Benefits
Other benefits are available if the College Assistant consistently works a minimum of 171/2 hours per week. Included are dental, optical, prescription drug coverage, disability, podiatry, audiology, education, personal services, and legal benefits through the District Council 37 (DC 37) Welfare Fund. These benefits begin on the first day of employment provided the employee will work 70 hours during the month. Otherwise, benefits are effective the first of the following month. The DC 37 Health & Security Plan enrollment card must be completed and forwarded to the Welfare Fund for processing. Coverage will be terminated if work hours fall under 17 1/2 hours per week or if an employee separates from service at The Graduate Center. College Assistants will be eligible for continuation of welfare fund coverage under COBRA. College Assistants electing COBRA continuation of welfare fund coverage must contact the Welfare Fund directly for current rates. For more information on welfare fund benefits please visit the website www.dc37.net.
College Assistants pay agency shop fees or union dues on a bi-weekly basis. Current rates are available in the Office of Human Resources or the Payroll Office.
Annual Leave (Vacation Time)
Annual and Sick leave is earned after working 500 hours during the current fiscal year.
Annual Leave: 1st-4th* year of service= accrue 1 hour for every 15 hours worked
5th year of service = accrue 1 hour for every 11 hours worked.
*In the beginning of the 4th year of service, the 500–hours threshold requirement shall not apply to CAs. Permission is granted to use annual leave as accumulated if a CA had worked for at least 500 or more hours per year in the previous 3 years.
Use of Annual Leave requires prior approval by the supervisor. Please complete and return a "Request for Leave" form to or have supervisor email the Office of Human Resources. Any unused annual leave is paid to CAs at the end of the fiscal year.
Sick Leave
Accrue 1 hour for every 20 hours worked.
Sick Leave may be used for personal illness. A physician's note is required for illness extending for more than three consecutive work days. Excessive pattern of sick leave use will be reviewed by the Office of Human Resources. Unused sick leave is carried over from fiscal year to fiscal year without limitation.
Pre-Tax Benefits
The City of New York offers benefit programs designed to save employees money by offering pre-tax savings through payroll deductions, as follows:
TransitBenefit Transportation Spending Account (TSA) Program
The transit benefit program allows employees to save on transportation expenses through pre-tax payroll deductions. For information visit the website at www.cuny.edu/transitbenefit.
Tax Deferred Annuities (TDAs)
The tax deferred annuity plan is a voluntary retirement savings program. An employee may elect to defer a percentage of salary through payroll deduction before taxes towards savings. Employees have two plan options:
- Metlife - Contact Ms. Rosa Morales at (800) 492-3553 x28242 or visit the website at www.metlife.com.
- New York State Deferred Compensation Plan - Contact 1-800-422-8463 or visit the website at www.nysdcp.com.
Enrollment packets are available in the Office of Human Resources.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program
The City of New York offers its employees a Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program, which allows employees to deposit a portion of their pre-tax income into accounts maintained for certain health and dependent care expenses. FSA elections do not roll over from year to year. Employees must re-enroll in the plan each year.
- Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA)
- Dependent Care Assistance Program (DeCAP)
- Medical Spending Conversion (MSC) Health Benefits Buy-Out Waiver Program
- Medical Spending Conversion (MSC) Premium Conversion Program
HCFSA allows employees, through pre-tax payroll deductions, to set aside money to pay for eligible health care expenses that are not reimbursable under their health and welfare fund insurance coverage.
DeCAP allows employees, through pre-tax payroll deductions, to set aside money to pay for qualified day care, child care or in-home care for a disabled spouse or parent enabling the employee to work.
MSC Health Benefits Buy-Out Waiver Program allows eligible employees who can obtain non-City group health benefits to waive their NYC health benefits in return for an annual cash incentive payment.
MSC Premium Conversion Program enables eligible employees to pay for their health plan premium deductions on a pre-tax basis, thereby reducing their gross income for tax purposes.
For information on flexible spending accounts please visit the website at www.nyc.gov/html/olr/html/flex_spending/flex_spending.shtml.
US Savings Bonds
Employees may purchase bonds through payroll deductions. For information please contact our Payroll Office.
Municipal Credit Union (MCU)
For information contact 1-212-693-4900 or visit the website at www.nymcu.org.
Voluntary Insurance Program (VIP)
Winston Financial Services provides the following supplemental benefits for DC37 members and their families:
- Member Life Insurance
- Parents & In-Laws Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Catastrophic Plan
- For information please contact VIP/Winston Financial Services 1-800-347-6071.
Evaluations
Evaluations are done after the first 2 months, during the probationary period. Thereafter, evaluations are done annually. Special evaluations may be done at any time.
Personnel File Review
College Assistants may review their personnel file maintained in the Office of Human Resources annually. A CA must request, in writing, to the Director of Human Resources an appointment to review his/her personnel file.
Time Cards
On a daily basis College Assistants sign in and out on a timecard kept in the College Assistant Timecard Book held in the Office of Human Resources which is submitted to the Payroll Office weekly for processing. College Assistants should notify the Office of Human Resources when they will be late or out from work. Use of Annual Leave requires prior approval by their supervisors.
College Assistants are paid bi-weekly on Thursdays. Paychecks are issued on the preceding Wednesday beginning at 3:00 p.m. Direct deposit is available immediately.
Tuition Reimbursement
Tuition Reimbursement*- The District Council 37 Education Fund administers a Tuition Reimbursement Program through which eligible members can receive financial assistance when they attend an accredited college, university or registered institution. *The Fund reimburses for courses on an undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate level. Presently, members may apply for reimbursement of up to $350 per term for up to a maximum of $700 per calendar year for tuition and/or consolidated or registration fees that are not reimbursed through other forms of assistance. To be eligible, a member must:
- Be a College Assistant or Sign Language Interpreter who works a minimum of 17 ½ hours per week (and a minimum of 70 hours per month) are covered.
- Be employed prior to the first day of classes, and remain in a covered title for the term.
- Receive course credit towards a degree in a college or university accredited by the Middle States Association of College and Secondary Schools (life experience, independent study and dissertation credits are not reimbursable).
- For college credit classes, receive a grade of "C" or better.
Holidays
College Assistants are not paid for holidays.
Miscellaneous
The shop steward for College Assistants is Ms. Anne Kanellopoulos.
Identification Cards serve as official CUNY identification. ID cards may be used in the Mina Rees Library and in the Information Technology department. ID cards are to be returned to the Office of Human Resources upon separation of service.
For CAs working a full day schedule, a courtesy coffee break may be scheduled for 20-minutes between 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. when office conditions permit them.
