Available University Employee Benefits
Vacation
Full-time (non-faculty) employees earn vacation on a pro rata basis throughout the year of employment. The rate of accrual per year varies with the individual’s length of employment at UM. During the first year, employees earn vacation time at the rate of 10 days per year, or 6.666 hours for each month worked. The rate of accrual increases by one day for each year of employment for years 1 through 11, at which time the maximum rate of 20 days per year, or 13.333 hours per month is attained. Part-time employees earn vacation on a pro rata basis.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn sick leave at the rate of one day per month for each month worked.
Sick Bank
The purpose of the Sick Leave Bank (SLB) is to provide eligible UM employees with an emergency pool of sick leave days and to mitigate the impact of lost wages during a time of catastrophic illness or injury.
Holidays
Employees receive declared holidays provided by law or designated by the president of the University. Legal holidays include Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, two days at Thanksgiving, and eight days between the fall and spring semesters which includes Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Bereavement Leave
Employees may be given up to three days leave with pay due to the death of a member of the immediate family. Immediate family includes spouse, son or daughter, foster child, grandchild, parent, foster parent, grandparent, brother or sister, foster brother or sister, guardian, and ward. Also included are step-, half-, and in-law relationships.
Bereavement and funeral absences in excess of three days will be charged to accrued sick leave. Faculty and staff should notify the supervisor or department head as soon as possible to request leave.
Tuition-Free Courses
Changes to Tuition and Fee Waiver Policy
If any employee terminates employment or is separated from the University during the semester, the tuition waiver for the employee and spouse/dependents will be prorated based on the last date of employment. Effective Feb. 16, 2024, regular, full-time faculty and staff employees hired Jan. 1-June 30 will be eligible for the educational benefit the spring semester of the following calendar year. Benefit eligible employees hired July 1-Dec. 31 will be eligible the fall semester of the following calendar year. Regardless of the employee’s hire date, tuition and fees associated with doctoral programs are not eligible for an education benefit.
Graduate Tuition Benefits
Regular full-time faculty and staff employees hired on or after Feb. 16, 2024, are eligible for a tuition and fee waiver on a space available basis. Each semester, one graduate course will be allowed at 100% tuition waiver and any additional graduate courses taken will be eligible for 50% tuition waiver. Fees are covered at 100%. Existing employees hired before Feb. 16, 2024, are eligible for 100% graduate tuition and fee waiver.
