ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL BENEFITS
Computer Access
The Office of Information Systems is located in Webb Hall. This
department provides administrative systems for processing of University
related data, academic systems for access by faculty, staff, and students,
support for the University computer network, as well as University-wide
access to the Internet. Information Systems has six distinct functions: 1)
Planning, 2) Equipment Setup, 3) Analyst and Programming Services, 4)
Equipment Maintenance, 5) Operations, and 6) Networking. The I/S department
maintains network servers to provide users with individual accounts
necessary to access Internet resources. Any faculty or staff member who
wishes network access must complete a request form in the Office of
Information Systems. Any registered student who wishes network access must
visit www.uwa.edu/myaccount to
set up their username and password. Faculty, staff, and students are
provided with web portal accounts that include TigerNet email, Blackboard,
and WebAdvisor. Network accounts are removed upon termination of employment
(faculty and staff) or enrollment (students). More detailed information on
computer services can be found at the Information Systems web site
http://infosys.uwa.edu.
Leave and Financial Assistance for
Professional Development/Research
The University of West Alabama encourages scholarship in the form of
research and creative activity among its faculty, understanding that such
activity generally enhances the performance of the faculty member in the
classroom as well as the faculty member’s overall contribution to the
University.
Thus, the University strives, within the constraints of budget and program
demands, to provide time and financial assistance for professional
development/research activities by faculty and staff.
Release time, as well as financial support, is available in specific
situations for faculty and staff.
Each academic area has modest funding budgeted for professional development.
In addition, grant awards of up to $1,000 annually are available through the
University Research Grants Program for approved research projects.
The University also provides a Sabbatical Program to facilitate scholarly
and creative activities. Details about eligibility and application
procedures can be found in the Sabbatical Policy in the Handbook
for Faculty and Professional Staff.
Other forms of professional leave, such as reduced teaching loads, are also
available. Requests for such must be approved by the chairperson, the dean
of the college, and the Provost.
The Julia Tutwiler Library
The Library offers the following:
- Provides a fully automated library environment.
- Provides orientation for new faculty and staff.
- Allows faculty and staff to check out books for one semester, with
renewal for two additional semesters.
- Provides full image/full text delivery to articles in over 4,000
newspapers and journals.
- Provides over thirty subscription databases.
- Provides a wide range of reference services online and CD Rom.
Livingston Press
The Livingston Press of the University of West Alabama currently
publishes ten books annually, usually works of fiction and local history. As
a service to faculty and staff it will provide information concerning
copyright procedures, potential publishers, and similar matters. It will
also consult with University faculty and staff who have written publishable
works in any field. Livingston Press publications are available to
University faculty and staff for half price. For more information, contact
the Director of the Livingston Press.
Institutional Effectiveness
The Office of Institutional Effectiveness provides the following
services:
- Collects, analyzes, and reports data for administration, faculty,
and staff.
- Coordinates college-wide assessment activities to support strategic
planning.
Office of Sponsored Programs
The Office of Sponsored Programs is located in the Media Center in Bibb
Graves Hall. The Office is service oriented, providing assistance in
developing funding sources for programmatic and research ideas. The mission
is to support the faculty, administration, and staff with all phases of the
external funding process. Services offered to the faculty include the
following:
- Researching and locating funding opportunities.
- Creating and developing programmatic and research ideas.
- Developing teams, intra- and cross-discipline.
- Development of community resources and partnerships.
- Hands-on assistance in developing grant applications.
- Assistance in the electronic submission process.
- Conducting grant writing workshops.
- Negotiating grant awards.
- Assistance in grant management.
- Maintaining university and area demographics.
- Serving as the UWA center for grant applications.
ATHLETIC AND RECREATIONAL BENEFITS
Athletic Training and Sports Medicine Services
The Athletic Training/Sports Medicine staff and the Athletic Training
Room are available as a service to the faculty and staff. Services include
treatment, rehabilitation, and education. These services exist primarily for
the varsity athletic program, but are available upon request to the
University community. There is generally no charge for these services unless
supplies and equipment are used. Faculty/staff desiring the use of these
services should make arrangements with the Director of Athletic Training and
Sports Medicine located in the James P. Homer Fieldhouse.
Campus Activities Board
Faculty/staff members are admitted for free to all lectures, dances and
other special events sponsored by the Campus Activities Board (CAB), with
the exception of major concerts. Children of faculty/staff members are
admitted to CAB events (except major concerts) for free, if accompanied by
the faculty/staff member. Faculty/staff members and their children are
admitted to major concerts that are presented by CAB for half price. The
tickets must be purchased by 12:00 noon on the day of the concert at the
Office of Student Affairs.
City of Livingston Recreational Program
The City of Livingston sponsors a year-round recreation program that is
available to the faculty/staff and their families. This program involves the
use of the Jaycee Park. Included, but not limited to, are youth basketball
and baseball leagues and adult basketball, softball, tennis, volleyball
leagues, and swimming activities. For further information, contact the
Director of Parks and Recreation at the City Hall in Livingston.
Gymnasiums
Gymnasiums in Pruitt and Foust Halls may be used by faculty/staff when
the facilities are available. For Pruitt Hall, contact the Director of
Athletics and the Chairperson for Physical Education and Athletic Training.
For Foust Hall, contact the Director of Student Activities.
Jogging/Hiking/Nature Trails
There are several jogging and nature trails around the campus. All are
available to the University employees at no charge. The trails are located
primarily in the Lake LU area and around the “Loop Road.”
Lake LU and Picnic Area
At Lake LU, fishing is available without charge to faculty and staff upon
presentation of a UWA identification card and a valid Alabama fishing
license, according to the specified schedule for Lake operations. Dependents
may also obtain a Lake pass in the Financial Affairs Office, Webb Hall, Room
203. Picnicking facilities, including pavilions, are also available. A
faculty/staff family may host one family; however, picnic shelters for
groups may be reserved by calling the Lake Manager at (205) 652-9266. The
shelter rental fee for 25 people or less is $10.00. There is a charge of
$.50 for each additional person. The maximum capacity for each picnic
shelter is 50 people.
University Tennis Courts
The University maintains tennis courts which are available to students
and faculty/staff. These courts may be used on an as-available basis.
Varsity Athletic Program
The University of West Alabama offers a full varsity athletic program
that competes in the Gulf South Conference on the NCAA Division II level.
Faculty/staff and their families are welcomed at all athletic events.
Currently, the University charges admission for football, men’s and women’s
basketball, volleyball, softball, and baseball. Men’s and women’s cross
country and men's and women's tennis events are free to the faculty/staff
and the general public. The University also competes in Varsity Rodeo.
Faculty/Staff passes are good for entry in any home rodeo event with the
exception of a fundraiser. Football tickets may be purchased at regular
price and All-Sports Passes are available at reduced prices to the
faculty/staff and their family members. Passes and tickets can be purchased
in Room 5, Foust Hall. For further information, contact the Director of
Athletics.
Wallace Union Building (SUB)
The Union Building houses the University Wellness Center which includes
the swimming pool, game room, weight room and dressing room facilities. The
guidelines for use of these facilities by faculty/staff are outlined in the
Handbook.
The basement of the Union Building is often used for University aerobics and
other fitness activities, in addition to other programs. Facility passes are
available at the Office of Student Activities in the top of the SUB.
Union Building Hours
School in Session:
Mon. - Fri. -- 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. - Sun. -- 1:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Between Semesters and Vacation:
Mon. - Fri. -- 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Pool Hours
(Monday - Sunday)
Fall Semester ------------------- 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Spring Semester ---------------- 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Summer Semester------------ 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
During Semester Breaks:
Mon. - Fri.------------------------ 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
FINANCIAL/RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Insurance
- *Medical coverage, including major medical payable at 80%/20% after
$200 deductible, up to $1,000 out-of-pocket expenses; afterwards, 100%
of covered charges payable with a lifetime maximum of $1,000,000.
- Dental coverage
- Disability Income Protection
- Term life coverage with accidental death/dismemberment rider for one
times salary, not to exceed $50,000 coverage
- $15,000 life coverage provided by the State Legislature for active
members of the Teachers' Retirement System
* A portion of the premium for family coverage is paid by the
University, as well as all of the above insurance being provided for the
employee at no cost.
Flexible Benefits Plan
This plan allows employees to pay pre-tax for medical and dental
insurance premiums, dependent care expenses, and other medical expenses not
paid by health insurance. Refer to plan document for more details.
Tax Deferred Compensation Plans
Payroll deductions have been approved for several insurance companies.
For a list of these companies, contact the Supervisor of Payroll, Insurance
and Personnel. Also, the RSA-1 plan, with the State of Alabama Retirement
Systems, is available for payroll deduction.
Retirement
The retirement plan for UWA employees is with the Retirement Systems of
Alabama, and it offers the following:
- After completing ten years of creditable service, a member has a
vested interest in the program.
- A member who has at least ten years of creditable service may apply
for monthly retirement benefits at age 60.
- A member who is in service and has at least ten years of creditable
service at the time a disability occurs may apply for disability
retirement benefits.
- A member who has at least 25 years of creditable service in the
program may apply for service retirement at any age without a reduction
in benefits.
Tuition Remission
All full-time members of the faculty and staff are eligible immediately
upon employment for remission of one-half of the University of West Alabama
tuition for themselves, their spouses, and their children.
After six years of full-time service--i.e., at the end of the sixth full
academic year or, for those originally employed at some time other than the
beginning of the academic year, an equivalent amount of time--the tuition is
waived in full. This waiver of tuition is also available for any former
full-time employee and/or the employee's spouse and children if he/she has
retired, become disabled, or died while in active service.
This tuition waiver applies only to the general tuition fee, SGA fee,
medical fee, audit fee, and yearbook charge, and does not affect other
required fees, such as special course fees, laboratory fees, and online
course fees which must be paid in full. For online courses offered through
the University of West Alabama/Columbia Southern University programs,
students must pay the cost of the instructor fee, the Columbia Southern
University fee, and any special course fees and laboratory fees.
Faculty/staff dependents who qualify for tuition waiver plans and a
scholarship may accept both awards up to the point that the combination of
the two covers the student's financial liability to the University's student
accounts receivable. No cash payment will be made to the student. Dependents
receiving benefits from a pre-paid tuition plan will receive tuition waiver
in addition to these benefits. A qualified person must apply formally to
receive this benefit. Forms for this purpose are available from the Student
Accounts Office.
For more information regarding financial benefits available for employees of
The University of West Alabama, or the services provided, please contact the
Office of Financial Affairs, Webb Hall, Room 203. (Financial benefits are
subject to change without notice.)
Revised March 2008
