Benefits

Faculty Benefits

Employee Benefit Summary

Admission to college events/Rowenhorst Student Center

• Employee ID cards admit employee and dependents or employee and one accompanying guest to college-sponsored events and the RSC athletic facilities.

Adoption assistance/leave

• Full-time and three-quarter-time faculty eligible after one year of employment. Northwestern provides reimbursement up to $2,000 per adopted child or up to $3,000 for a special-needs child. Employees who adopt, whether male or female, can receive 7 days of paid adoption leave.

Bookstore discount

• 15% discount on non-sale items of clothing and books in stock (except textbooks).

Employee Assistance Program

• Employees who work 1,000 or more hours—and their dependents—are eligible to receive 1 to 3 confidential pre-paid professional counseling sessions for a wide range of problems.

Facility rentals

• 50% discount on rental rate for campus facilities (excluding housing facilities) when rented for own personal use.

Family Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA)

• Unpaid leave for medically required FMLA absences or military exigency. Faculty on health-related leaves of absence receive pay based on years of service starting at 4 weeks to a maximum of 12 weeks.

FLEXible benefits

• Employees can defer pre-tax dollars to pay for unreimbursed medical and childcare expenses.
• Maximum of $2,500 for medical and $5,000 for dependent care.

Food service Flex Dollars

• Purchase $50 in Flex Dollars and receive 25% discount on every purchase at the Hub or cafeteria. Flex Dollars must be used during academic year while food service is in operation.

Group health insurance — High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

• Single and family coverage for full-time and three-quarter-time faculty. Effective the 1st of the month coincident with or following the date of hire. Employees contribute a portion of the premium cost for single and family coverage.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Full-time and three-quarter-time employees participating in the High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). College contributes monthly amounts for single and family coverage. Employees can contribute pre-tax dollars up to annual IRS limits to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses..

Jury duty

• Regular salary is maintained, minus any amount paid by the court for the employee’s services.

Library services

• Available at no cost to employees.

Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment

• Full-time and three-quarter-time faculty are eligible. Effective the 1st of the month coincident with or following the date of hire. Northwestern pays 100% of premium. Death benefit is $50,000 and is reduced for employees over age 65. Northwestern also provides dependent life coverage of $2,000 for spouse and child.

Long-term disability

• Full-time and three-quarter-time faculty are eligible for benefits payable after 180 days of disability as defined until Social Security normal retirement age. Amount of monthly disability is 60% of earnings, with a maximum of $5,000 per month. Northwestern pays 100% of premium.

Moving assistance

• The college provides reimbursement for moving expenses for full-time faculty moving 50 or more miles. Moving policy
• This reimbursement is considered a taxable fringe benefit by the IRS. Expenses to be reimbursed include standard truck rental and fuel expense for transporting furniture and household goods to new residence, plus lodging and gas for new employee and family. Self moves reimbursed at 100% and commercial moves reimbursed at 80% up to specified amount based on location from which new faculty member is moving. Half of reimbursement will be repaid to Northwestern if employee leaves after 1 year or less of employment.

Retirement plan

• Northwestern contributes 4% of employee’s base salary to a 403(b) plan through TIAA-CREF, provided one’s work schedule exceeds 1,000 hours annually. The college will match additional employee contributions of up to 2% of eligible compensation.
• No waiting period. Part-time employees working less than 1,000 hours annually are eligible to make elective deferrals to the plan but are not eligible for employer contributions.

Short-term disability

• Full-time and three-quarter-time faculty are eligible for benefits payable beginning the 90th day of disability to the 180th day of disability. Amount of monthly disability is 60% of earnings, with a maximum of $5,000 per month. Provided at no cost to the employee; self-funded by Northwestern.

Supplemental insurance

• Employees pay full premium cost for these supplemental products:
  • AFLAC Personal Accident Expense Plan
  • AFLAC Personal Cancer Protection Plan
  • AFLAC Personal Recover Plus
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Voluntary life insurance

Travel to conferences

• Tenure-track faculty have an allowance for conferences and development. Non-tenure-track faculty can apply for travel funds, subject to availability.

Tuition benefits

Graduate education tuition loans (for non-Northwestern programs)

• Forgivable loan program for graduate tuition for full-time and three-quarter-time faculty where there is mutual benefit for the college and employee. Loans are forgiven 25% per year of full-time employment following receipt of tuition funds. Assistance limited to 50% of tuition costs up to $5,250 per year and $21,000 lifetime. Loan approvals are subject to the availability of funds.

Seminary tuition

• Sioux Falls Seminary offers tuition reduction of 25% to college employees only. Western Theological Seminary offers tuition waiver to college employees, spouses and their children eligible for the benefit.

Tuition waiver/tuition exchange

• Available to eligible employees, spouses, and dependent children under age 24 for Northwestern College undergraduate programs
• Waiver limited to actual tuition costs. Excludes:
  • Room and board
  • Private lessons
  • Lab fees
  • Summer directed study
  • Off-campus tuition costs
• Available after 1 year of employment; pro-rated for three-quarter-time faculty. Employees eligible for Northwestern’s tuition waiver program may participate in tuition exchange programs of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC).

Staff Benefits

Employee Benefit Summary

Admission to college events/Rowenhorst Student Center

• Employee ID cards admit employee and dependents or employee and one accompanying guest to college-sponsored events and the RSC athletic facilities.

Adoption assistance/leave

• Full-time and three-quarter-time staff eligible after one year of employment. Northwestern provides reimbursement up to $2,000 per adopted child or up to $3,000 for a special-needs child. Employees who adopt, whether male or female, can receive 7 days of paid adoption leave.

Bereavement leave

• Up to 3 days of leave with pay may be granted upon the death of an immediate family member which includes: parents, stepparents, husband, wife, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, siblings, stepsiblings and in-laws. Up to 2 days of leave with pay may be granted upon the death of grandparents.

Bookstore discount

• 15% discount on non-sale items of clothing and books in stock (except textbooks).

Employee Assistance Program

• Employees who work 1,000 or more hours—and their dependents—are eligible to receive up to 3 confidential pre-paid professional counseling sessions for a wide range of problems.

Facility rentals

• 50% discount on rental rate for campus facilities (excluding housing facilities) when rented for own personal use.

Family Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA)

• Unpaid leave for medically required FMLA absences or military exigency. May use accumulated paid leave (vacation, personal and sick leave) during leave.

FLEXible benefits

• Employees can defer pre-tax dollars to pay for unreimbursed medical and childcare expenses. Maximum of $2,500 for medical and $5,000 for dependent care.

Food service Flex Dollars

• Purchase $50 in Flex Dollars and receive 25% discount on every purchase at the Hub or cafeteria. Flex Dollars must be used during academic year while food service is in operation.

Group health insurance — High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

• Single and family coverage for full-time and three-quarter-time staff. Effective the 1st of the month coincident with or following the date of hire. Employees contribute a portion of the premium cost for single and family coverage.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Full-time and three-quarter-time employees participating in the High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). College contributes monthly amounts for single and family coverage. Employees can contribute pre-tax dollars up to annual IRS limits to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses.

Holidays

• Full-time and three-quarter-time staff receive 11 paid holidays.

Jury duty

• Regular salary is maintained, minus any amount paid by the court for the employee’s services.

Library services

• Available at no cost to employees.

Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment

• Full-time and three-quarter-time staff are eligible. Effective the 1st of the month coincident with or following the date of hire.
• Northwestern pays 100% of premium. Death benefit is $50,000 and is reduced for employees over age 65. Northwestern also provides dependent life coverage of $2,000 for spouse and child.

Long-term disability

• Full-time and three-quarter-time staff are eligible for benefits payable after 180 days of disability as defined until Social Security normal retirement age. Amount of monthly disability is 60% of earnings, with a maximum of $5,000 per month. Northwestern pays 100% of premium.

Moving assistance

• The college provides reimbursement for moving expenses for full-time staff moving 50 or more miles. Moving policy
• This reimbursement is considered a taxable fringe benefit by the IRS. Expenses to be reimbursed include standard truck rental and fuel expense for transporting furniture and household goods to new residence, plus lodging and gas for new employee and family. Self moves reimbursed at 100% and commercial moves at 80% up to specified amount based on location from which new staff member is moving. Half of reimbursement will be repaid to Northwestern if employee leaves after 1 year or less of employment.

Retirement plan

• Northwestern contributes 4% of employee’s base salary to a 403(b) plan through TIAA-CREF, provided one’s work schedule exceeds 1,000 hours annually. The college will match additional employee contributions of up to 2% of eligible compensation. No waiting period. Part-time employees working less than 1,000 hours annually are eligible to make elective deferrals to the plan but are not eligible for employer contributions.

Short-term disability

• Full-time and three-quarter-time staff are eligible for benefits payable beginning the 90th day of disability to the 180th day of disability. Amount of monthly disability is 60% of earnings, with a maximum of $5,000 per month. Provided at no cost to employee; self-funded by Northwestern.

Sick leave

• Full-time and three-quarter-time staff receive paid sick leave based on their status or work schedule.

Spring Service Project leave

• Staff members are encouraged to serve as advisers for student groups on Spring Service Projects. Maximum time away from campus is 10 calendar days. This time away is considered institutional service. Staff will be paid in accordance with their usual on-campus assignment.

Supplemental insurance

• Employees pay full premium cost for these supplemental products:
  • AFLAC Personal Accident Expense Plan
  • AFLAC Personal Cancer Protection Plan
  • AFLAC Personal Recover Plus
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Voluntary life insurance

Tuition benefits

Graduate education tuition loans (for non-Northwestern programs)

• Forgivable loan program for graduate tuition for full-time and three-quarter-time staff where there is mutual benefit for the college and employee. Loans are forgiven 25% per year of full-time employment following receipt of tuition funds. Assistance limited to 50% of tuition costs up to $5,250 per year and $21,000 lifetime. Loan approvals are subject to the availability of funds.

Seminary tuition

• Sioux Falls Seminary offers tuition reduction of 25% to college employees only.
• Western Theological Seminary offers tuition waiver to college employees, spouses and their children eligible for the benefit.

Tuition waiver/tuition exchange

• Available to eligible employees, spouses, and dependent children under age 24 for Northwestern College undergraduate programs
• Waiver limited to actual tuition costs. Excludes:
  • Room and board
  • Private lessons
  • Lab fees
  • Summer directed study
  • Off-campus tuition costs
• Available after 1 year of employment; pro-rated for three-quarter-time staff. Employees eligible for Northwestern’s tuition waiver program may participate in tuition exchange programs of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC).

Vacation and personal leave

• Full-time and three-quarter-time staff members earn vacation and personal leave based on their status or work schedule.

Diversity

Northwestern College values diversity and is committed to providing a Christian liberal arts education in the context of a diverse community of learners. That commitment finds expression in numerous ways.

Our student body

Despite its setting in a rural Midwestern community, Northwestern's student population is becoming more racially diverse. The number of student of color has doubled in the past 7 years. Approximately 10% of the freshmen who enrolled in the fall of 2016 were students of color.

A multicultural community

• Northwestern's stuent body includes students from 24 different countries.
• Among our faculty and staff are individuals from Argentina, Canada, South Africe, South Korea and Taiwan.
• A number of faculty and staff have lived, studies or served in more than 30 countries, including Argentian, Bahrain, China, Ecuador, Greece, Indonesia, Oman, Romania, South Africa, Spain and Thailand.

Bridge Scholarships for students from underrepresented populations

Scholarships of $2,500 are available to students from historically underrepresented populations who are accepted into Northwestern's Birdge Scholars program.

Global learning and living

• Northwestern offers semester-long study abroad programs in Oman, Romania and dozens of other countries around the globe. Learn more
• Spring Service Project trips offered each March give students cross-cultural experiences here in the U.S. and at three international sites. Learn more
• Northwestern's Summer of Service program gives students the opportunity to spend up to 10 weeks serving in an overseas hospital, school, refugee camp or other missions setting. Learn more

Multi-Ethnic Resource Committee (MERC)

A 10-member team of faculty, staff and students, the Multi-Ethnic Resource Committee promotes the biblical values of intercultural competence and racial reconciliation. The committee works to strengthen multicultural education and awareness through student progras, curriculum development, diversity training, and campus-wide structural change. It also supports the recruitment and retention of an ethnically diverse faculty, staff, Board of Trustees and student body.

Vision for Diversity

Guided by the biblical narrative of creation, fall, redemption and restoration, Northwestern College strives to pursue God’s redeeming work in the world by courageously and faithfully engaging the fullness of our similarities and differences in our learning and living together.

We embrace diversity in God’s creation, 

• valuing each person as created in the image of the triume God and thus intended for community
• respecting the complexity of human identities
• recognizing human differences as central to an educaiton that fosters critical thinking, empathy and dialogue

We lament human brokenness,

• grieving out thoughts, words and actions that diminish, caricature or isolate one another
• confessing our failure to hear and respond to marginalized voices on campus and in the world
• recognizing our past and current participation in unjust social systems
• repenting from any form of dehumanization that distorts God’s creation
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We reconcile with one another,

• bridging divisions that separate people from one another and from God
• partaking in courageous conversations where varied perspectives are welcome
• challenging unjust systems of power, privilege, and oppression
• building and sustaining social structures that foster the common good

 

We embody shalom,

• anticipating restored creation, where people from every nation, tribe and language worship God and live in harmony
• pursuing human flourishing in our relationships, curriculum, staffing, resource allocation and corporate actions
• affirming that all things hold together in Christ, to the glory of God