3.9 Employee Benefits
3.9.19 Other Benefits
Ithaca College employees may take advantage of various cultural, educational,
and recreational activities. Many faculty colloquia and presentations
by guest speakers are open to employees. Employees may also enjoy concerts,
theater productions, and art exhibits presented on campus, often at a
reduced admission fee. College facilities, including the library, pools,
fitness center and gymnasium are available for use by the employees. The
College Bookstore offers employees a discount on purchases. While many
of these benefits are explained in the materials given to new employees
as part of their orientation, employees should watch for special mailings
announcing various events or they may contact the Benefits Department
for information.
3.9.19.1 Recreational Facilities
Employees are invited to use the indoor pool during open swim hours,
as well as the outdoor pool during the summer months by presenting their
Ithaca College ID Card. In addition, employees may obtain facility identification
cards for their eligible dependents for use during the summer by contacting
the ID Office. The identification cards will allow eligible dependents
who are 16 years and older access to the pool and Fitness Center during
the summer months and break periods. Employees' dependents may use the
facilities beginning after Commencement until 1 week prior to the start
of classes as well as during other break periods.
For additional information on use of campus recreational facilities,
please contact the Office of Recreational Sports or refer to their website
at www.ithaca.edu/recsports.
3.9.19.2 ID Express
College ID cards can also serve as "ID express" cards for members
of the campus community. The ID express option allows participants to
deposit money in a special "ID express" account and then use
their ID card to pay for various campus services. The ID express account
is automatically debited each time the card is used, provided there are
funds available in the ID express account. A minimum deposit of $20.00
is required to activate an ID express account and can be made by mail
or in person through the Office of the Bursar. Please contact the ID Office
or the Office of the Bursar for more information.
The ID card and any ID express dollars are the responsibility of the
individual cardholder until the ID office or Office of Public Safety is
notified that the card is lost or stolen.
3.9.19.3 Tower Club
The Tower Club is a dining facility located on campus on the 14th floor
of the East Tower. All employees of Ithaca College are encouraged to meet
their friends and colleagues for lunch at the Tower Club.
3.9.19.4 Dining Plan Option
Ithaca College has made arrangements with our dining services contractor,
to make a "meal plan" available to all Ithaca College faculty
and staff who may wish to take advantage of this opportunity. This plan
allows faculty and staff to eat in our dining halls. This option enables
faculty and staff to interact with students over meals, and expand their
dining options, especially for those faculty and staff who are here during
the evening hours. The plan enables staff and faculty to purchase a block
of 10 meals for the price of $50. The cost of each meal will be $5.00
(sales tax is included). The meals can be used for any meal at any of
the dining halls (except for lunch in the Campus Center Dining Hall; Mondays
- Thursdays). A faculty/staff member's I.D. card will be encoded with
"10 meals". Each time they swipe their I.D. card at a dining
hall, one meal will be deducted. The block plan can be purchased at the
dining services office. The meals have no expiration date so they can
be used during the summer months as well. There will be no refund on unused
meals if someone were to leave their employment at Ithaca College. Because
this reduced price meal plan is considered a "benefit" to Ithaca
College employees, meals are only for the personal use of the individual
purchasing the block plan. Meals cannot be used for guests, family members,
or others.
3.9.19.5 Ithaca College Bus Pass/Parking Permit
The Ithaca College Bus Pass/Parking Permit Program allows staff and faculty
to choose whether to drive and park on campus or to ride the TCAT bus.
The bus pass/parking permit program went into effect in 2002. If you drive
to the College, the program calls for you to receive from Parking Services,
a bus pass/parking permit with a see-through cardholder for the pass/permit.
The pass/permit is a single card with a TCAT bus pass imprinted on one
side and an Ithaca College parking permit on the other. Directions will
be provided regarding where the holder is to be positioned in the front
windshield of your vehicle. If you don't register a vehicle with the College,
you will get the pass/permit only.
Your options would then be:
- If you decide to drive to the College you would put the pass/permit
in the pouch with the parking permit side showing to the outside for
the parking enforcement officer to see.
- If you decide to take the bus to the College instead of driving your
registered vehicle, you would take the pass/permit with you on the bus
and swipe it through the card reader on the bus for the free ride, leaving
your vehicle at home.
- Even if you don't register a vehicle with the College, use option
2 and get a free ride.
The pass/permit will be made available to all faculty, staff, and administrative
personnel who request one. The purpose of the program is to encourage
use of public transportation and thus reduce the increasing demand for
infrastructure to support traffic and parking. The College currently picks
up the cost of the bus rides as an employee benefit in order to encourage
such use and employees get the additional benefit of saving money on the
operating costs of their personal vehicles. The primary intent of this
program is to provide public transport to and from work. For additional
information contact the Traffic Bureau.
3.9.19.6 Employee Recognition
Each year, the College holds a special employee recognition luncheon
to recognize the contributions of retirees and long-term employees in
benefits groups I, II, and III. Faculty, staff, and administrators are
invited after the completion of ten years of service and every fifth year
thereafter. The Office of Human Resources issues the invitations to the
employees and their supervisors. |
