Designed with You in Mind

Excelsior offers comprehensive benefits from paid time off to tuition reimbursement so our employees can be their best in and out of the workplace.

Medical Insurance
Option #1 – Empire Total Blue Plan (HRA)
The HRA plan utilizes a high deductible, Health Reimbursement Account that is funded in part by Excelsior.

Option #2 – Empire Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan
This is a traditional PPO plan that provides provider-based coverage and outside the network coverage.

Vision Insurance
Vision coverage is offered through Empire Blue View Vision. Coverage is effective on the date of hire.

Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is offered through Delta Dental. Coverage is effective on the date of hire.

Excelsior University Retirement Plan – 401(a)
After one year of employment, new employees are eligible to participate in the Excelsior University Retirement Plan. Excelsior will contribute seven percent (7%) of eligible compensation and the contributions are deposited on a monthly basis to TIAA.

Supplemental Retirement Plan – 403(b)
A tax-deferred 403(b) arrangement provides the opportunity to save a designated portion of your salary through payroll deduction on a pre-tax basis. Excelsior offers a 1% Auto Enrollment feature to our 403(b) plan which is a valuable benefit intended to help you build your savings.

Roth Option on the 403(b)
A Roth 403(b) is funded with after-tax dollars and withdrawals are tax-free during retirement.

Designated Holidays
Excelsior University will observe thirteen designated holiday closures including:
New Year’s Day
Dr. King’s Birthday
Presidents Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (Day After)
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve

Paid Time Off (PTO)
PTO combines all types of short-term paid leave time into one bank. New employees who work full-time, will start their PTO accrual after their first full two weeks of work. With each pay period, employees accrue additional PTO based on their completed years of service.

Extended Illness Bank (EIB)
Extended Illness Bank (EIB) is accrued time that is set aside for hospitalization, long-term illness (longer than 3 days,) or bereavement. Beginning with the one year service anniversary date and on all subsequent anniversary dates, an allocation of 37.5 hours will be added to your EIB. Please note that EIB accruals are pro-rated for part-time employees based on the percentage of time worked.

Professional Development/ Volunteer Time Off (PVTO)
PVTO is time designated for use for professional development and volunteer activities purposes. Professional Development includes activities such as soft-skills training, professional certification-related classes/webinars and other similar activities that assist in furthering the development of career and professional skills that enhance learning and employability for staff. Volunteer Time Off helps employees to volunteer while getting the Excelsior University brand out there. Some example volunteer opportunities are (but not limited to): cancer walks, Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, etc.

Research Time Off (RTO)
The Research Time Off (RTO) policy enables Faculty Program Directors (FPD’s) and other designated academic roles to focus on research. Designated Academic Roles (DAR)’s with 1-2 years of service will receive 15 hours (2 days) of RTO yearly; DAR’s with 3-4 years of service will receive 22.50 hours (3 days) of RTO; and DAR’s with 5 years and above of service will receive 37.50 hours (5 days) of RTO.

Short-Term Disability Income Insurance
Your paycheck helps you maintain your current way of life. If you find yourself unable to work, Aflac short-term disability insurance will provide cash to help ease the financial stress of a covered illness or injury.

Cancer Care Specified Disease Insurance
Aflac cancer insurance is here to help you and your family better cope financially—and emotionally—if a positive diagnosis of cancer ever occurs. Added comfort and protection means the freedom to focus on more important things.

Personal Sickness Indemnity Insurance
Aflac offers supplemental accident insurance that helps with what your health insurance plan might not cover. We pay cash benefits directly to you (unless assigned otherwise) to be used however you choose.

24 Hour Accident Indemnity Insurance
Aflac offers supplemental accident insurance that helps with what your health insurance plan might not cover. We pay cash benefits directly to you (unless assigned otherwise) to be used however you choose.

Lump Sum Critical Care
Use our critical illness insurance to help with the treatment costs of life-changing illnesses and health events, so you can stay focused on recuperation.

Basic Group Term Life Insurance
A life insurance policy, valued at two times the employee’s salary (minimum of $25,000/maximum of $150,000) is available to you at no cost. Every Employee will be eligible for this Life Insurance policy free of charge. This coverage is effective on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment.

Supplemental Term Life Insurance
You may also elect to purchase additional supplemental term life insurance coverage for yourself, your spouse or domestic partner, and/or children through MetLife Insurance.

Supplemental Whole Life Insurance
You may also elect to purchase additional supplemental whole life insurance coverage for yourself, your spouse or domestic partner, and/or children through MassMutual Insurance.

Extra Perks

  • Tuition Assistance Program for employees and dependents
  • Extensive in-person and online training and professional development programs
  • Paid jury duty (up to 10 days)
  • Free parking at the Albany headquarters
  • On-site cafeteria, catered by Mazzone Hospitality
  • Discounted movie tickets
  • Subsidized gym memberships
  • Cell phone and computer purchase discounts