Why work at BCC?
BCC has the distinction of being the first community college established in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Nestled in the scenic Berkshire Hills, our nearly 2,000 students have access to a wide range of career and transfer programs on our renovated campus. Occupying a scenic 180-acre property, just minutes from downtown Pittsfield, BCC provides students from a broad range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds with an intimate learning environment, small class sizes, and faculty interaction.
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GIC Insurance Benefits (Health, Life and Long-term Disability)
The College offers medical, life and long-term disability insurance benefits through the Commonwealth's Group Insurance Plan (GIC).
View the GIC Benefit Decision Guide (PDF)
You must enroll in GIC insurance benefits within 21 days of your official hire date.
When enrolled, GIC insurance benefits become effective the first of the next month after your hire date or the same day if you are hired on the first of the month. (ex: If you are hired Sept. 1, benefits become effective Sept. 1; If you are hired Sept. 15, benefits become effective Oct. 1). Depending on the date of hire, you may be invoiced for the first month of coverage. See Benefit Coordinator for details.
Deductions for Health Insurance will be split between biweekly paychecks.
Please be aware of the following regarding GIC benefits: Wellpoint Total Choice is the only health insurance plan offered by the GIC that is available for members living outside of the US. Harvard Pilgrim Access America is the only plan offered by the GIC that is available for members living outside of New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT).For questions about enrollment, contact the GIC at 1-617-727-2310.
For questions about coverage, contact the provider.
Helpful information regarding Life Insurance:
Basic and Optional Life insurance rates
You may enroll in Optional Life Insurance for a coverage amount of up to eight times your salary (for a max of $1.5M)
- In order to enroll for Optional Life Insurance, you must be enrolled for basic life insurance.
- If you select coverage in an amount equal to a multiple of your salary, you will be enrolled in the Automatic Increase plan, and your coverage will increase automatically with increases in your salary.
- While you may elect Optional Life Insurance at any time during your employment with BCC, if you elect it within 10 days of hire, you will not be required to provide proof of good health.
- Deductions for Optional Life Insurance are taken once per month, in one lump sum.
The provider is The Hartford. Visit the Group Insurance Commission online or call 617-727-2310 ext. 1 for life insurance questions.
Helpful Information regarding Long-term Disability Insurance
- GIC provides up to 55% tax-free income replacement after a disability of more than 90 days.
UNUM is the provider, and can be reached at 1-877-226-8620.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
BCC employees are eligible to enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). FSAs allow employees to set aside money every paycheck on an income tax-free basis for eligible expenses.
You can enroll in the Health Care and/or the Dependent Care FSA.
The Health Care Spending Account covers expenses that diagnose, treat, cure, or mitigate an injury, illness, or condition.
The Dependent Care Assistance Program covers expenses such as day care; preschool, before- and after-school programs; and summer day camps.
New state employees enroll for partial-year benefits. For the Health Care FSA, benefits begin at the same time as other GIC benefits. For the Dependent Care FSA, benefits begin on the first day of employment.
Employees must re-enroll for FSAs every year during open enrollment to continue benefits.
Flexible Spending Information – GIC
Helpful Information on FSAs
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts employees save on average $300 for every $1,000 contributed in the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA)
- You pay a $1 monthly administrative fee for enrollment in one or both FSAs.
- Your elections will be withdrawn from your pay and placed in your account before federal or state income taxes, or federal payroll tax are applied.
- The IRS imposes a use-it-or-lose-it rule on FSAs. This means that you must use all the money in your account by the end of the plan year, or you lose that money, subject to a short grace period.
- The Provider is TASC. For questions regarding the FSA, please contact: 800-754-9202; or go to the website.
Dental/Vision Benefits
BCC employees are eligible for dental benefits through Metlife and for vision discounts.
You must enroll in GIC insurance benefits within ten (10) days of your official hire date.
For Non-Unit Professionals, GIC insurance benefits become effective sixty (60) days from the first full month of hire (ex: If you are hired Sept. 1, benefits become effective November 1; If you are hired Sept. 2, benefits become effective Dec. 1).
For MCCC and AFSCME members, these benefits become effective 180 days following date of hire.
Download Non-Unit Dental Plan Summary (PDF)
Download MCCC Dental Plan Summary (PDF)
Metlife VisionAccess is a discount program that helps you save and stay on top of your care. This flyer will provide discount information on vision care services.
Download VisionAccess Employee Information (PDF)
Retirement Savings
Employees must choose from one (1) of two (2) options for retirement contributions (in lieu of Social Security):
1. Massachusetts State Employee Retirement System (MSERS)
- MSERS is a defined benefit plan. New employees contribute 9% of gross salary, and 11% on salary over $30,000. These employee contributions are Federal tax-deferred. 1.45% is deducted for the Medicare portion of Social Security.
- Those who entered state service after April 2, 2012 are eligible for a pension at age 60 with 10 years of creditable service. State employees are eligible for a pension at any age with 20 years of creditable service.
- For more information, contact 617-727-2310 extension 2, or visit Mass Gov for an online contact form.
MSERS Retirement Guide for Active Members
OR
2. Optional Retirement Program (ORP) (For Non-Unit and MCCC Employees Only)
- ORP is an alternative to MSERS that provides flexible and portable pension benefits.
- You must enroll for ORP within 180 days of hire, or you will be automatically be enrolled for MSERS.
- This is an important decision because, once you make your election, it cannot be changed.
ORP Enrollment Guide and Online Enrollment
457 Deferred Compensation SMART Plan
BCC employees have options for additional retirement savings. You may opt for the 457 Deferred Compensation SMART Plan, a retirement “add-on,” for saving additional retirement monies.
- For 2020, anyone under age 50 can save $19,500 per calendar year, and $26,000 is you are 50 or over.
- You can enroll for the SMART Plan at any time.
- Prior to enrolling, contact your local SMART Plan office at 877-457-1900 to obtain a Plan Enrollment Code flier, which will include a specific code needed to enroll online. Then, click the button below to enroll.
- The minimum contribution is $10/pay period
Get more information about the 457 SMART Plan
Download 457 SMART Plan Highlights (PDF)
403B Supplemental Retirement Plan
BCC employees have options for yet more retirement savings.
Supplemental Retirement Plan Basics
Supplemental Retirement Plan Additional Information
If you choose to enroll in the 403B plan, you must fill out and return the Salary Reduction Agreement (PDF).
Tuition Remission
Tuition Remission forms must be presented to the Business office when responding to the tuition and fee bill.
Download the Tuition Remission Form (PDF)
Download Tuition Remission Policy (PDF)
Additional Benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Visit Mass4You for information on our Employee Assistance Program.
Download Mass4You Information (PDF)
Paterson Field House/Fitness Center
Employees of BCC get free access to the Paterson Field House where we offer use of an array of exercise equipment, a basketball court, a pool (open seasonally; available for a small daily fee), and offer exercise and wellness classes.
