Topics
Employees may purchase a monthly T Pass or pay for parking expenses through the Qualified Transportation Benefits Program (QTBP) administered by Benefit Strategies. The QTBP is a pre-tax benefit program that includes both Parking and Transit expenses. All benefitted employees are eligible to enroll in either or both plans. The monthly fee for this program is $1.50 and will be taken on a pre-tax basis. There is only one fee even if you enroll in both plans.
If you wish to purchase a monthly pass on a pre-tax basis, you must enroll through Benefit Strategies. Once you have completed and submitted the online election form, you will receive a set of 2 flex VISA debit cards from Benefit Strategies which you will use to purchase your T Pass. If you have a Charlie Card, you may continue to use the same card. Just take the debit card and the Charlie Card to the purchasing agent to transfer the funds from the debit card to the Charlie Card. When you receive your 2 flex VISA debit cards, you can then register for your member online account. Under New User select Create Your New Username and Password link, and follow the steps from there with your full name, home zip code, full SSN# or UMass Employee ID#.
Benefit Strategies Transit and Parking Reimbursement Accounts Services
Employee Discount Platform
The President’s Office offers a Voluntary Benefits and Discount Program Platform called UMass Compass! Please visit the HR Systems page and access the UMass Compass to see the offers awaiting you.
The portal will allow you to take advantage of some new benefits like:
- The enhanced Auto Insurance Quoting Tool - helping benefited employees get the best price and maximum value on Auto insurance through Travelers, MetLife, and Liberty Mutual
- MetLegal plan — giving benefited employees peace of mind if you need help with a legal issue
- Allstate Identity Protection (formerly InfoArmor) - an identity theft protection and credit monitoring program; $9.95 per month for individual plan and $17.95 per month for family plan. Employees may enroll at any time during the year
- Long-Term Care Insurance through Mutual of Omaha-provides a policy to help pay for assisted living facilities or in-home care services such as bathing, dressing, feeding if unable to care for one self; this benefit is offered during an open enrollment each year
- UMass Employee Discount Program, with deep discounts on products that you use every day
- 24/7 Support (855) 990 - 3300
Should you set up payroll deductions for Auto/Home and Legal, the deductions will all appear under the one deduction code “Corestream Voluntary Benefits” on your biweekly paycheck. A breakdown of your deductions will be available on the UMass Compass website and Corestream will be able to assist 24/7 with any deduction question.
This purchasing program, originally conceived and launched in 2002, takes advantage of the volume purchasing power of all five University campuses and returns substantial discounts to the purchaser. U$ave, while designed primarily to serve the computer purchasing needs of the campuses, also extends its benefits to personal purchases by University students, faculty, and staff.
Tuition Benefit
As described below, the University offers tuition discounts at the UMass campuses in the form of Student Tuition Credits to University Employees and retirees, and the Spouses and Dependent Children of University Employees, retirees, and certain deceased University Employees.
Student Tuition Credits
For continuing education classes taken at UMass, tuition credit is offered at 50% to eligible employees.
A terminated University Employee (or the Spouse or Dependent Child of a Terminated University Employee) may complete a semester or course for which a Student Tuition Credit was previously applied.
| Relationship to University | Course Type | Percentage Covered | Eligibility Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current/Active University Employees | Undergraduate and Graduate Courses or Programs | 100% | Part-time University Employees are eligible for up to seven (7) credits per semester. |
| Retired University Employees | Undergraduate and Graduate Courses or Programs | 100% | One (1) program of study. |
| Spouses and Dependent Children of Current/Active University Employees | Graduate Courses or Programs | 20% | |
| Spouses and Dependent Children of Current/Active University Employees - University Employee w/ 2+ FTE Years of Service | Undergraduate Courses of Programs | 60% | |
| Spouses and Dependent Children of Current/Active University Employees - University Employee w/ < 2 FTE Years of Service | Undergraduate Courses of Programs | 15% | |
| Spouses and Dependent Children of Retired University Employees | Undergraduate Courses or Programs | 60% | One (1) program of study; undergraduate only |
| Spouses and Dependent Children of Deceased University Employees | Undergraduate Courses or Programs | 60% | With at least five (5) years of FTE University Service; one (1) program of study; undergraduate only |
Note: All fees, books and other course materials are the employee's responsibility.
Please review the Tuition Waiver Policy for more information.
Tuition Benefit at other State Colleges and Universities
Employees with six (6) months or more of full-time benefited service (or equivalent benefited part-time service), their spouses and dependent children, who are enrolled in a full-time state supported program at any Massachusetts university or community college, are eligible for tuition benefits. If you are enrolled in courses through the Division of Continuing Education, the tuition benefit is 50%. Please check with the other Massachusetts public college's student financial services or bursar's office for the tuition benefits which might be available.
Forms and Other Information
All forms should be completed and sent to the Human Resources Office for approval. Once approved, you will be able to submit it to the respective campus for proper credit.