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Did you know that as many as 15% of adults have some type of disability? Disabilities may be permanent or temporary. They may be mild or debilitating. Because of the range of differences in severity, some individuals with disabilities are able to continue working with no problems arising. In some cases, however, they may need assistance. For employees who have disabilities and need accommodations, Kentucky State University provides support in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The university assists employees with disabilities whose conditions impact their ability to perform their jobs by providing reasonable accommodations as required by the ADA. Using official documentation from physicians and other health professionals, eligibility for accommodations is determined. The types of accommodations provided to employees are determined based on their individual needs. Examples of common accommodations may include, but are not limited to: temporary reassignment of work duties; assistive technology; training for new responsibilities; job restructuring; providing special seating or desk equipment; and allowing alternate work schedules to allow for doctor appointments or therapy.
The university also provides reasonable accommodations to students and campus visitors with disabilities through the Disability Resource Center (DRC) in room 220 of the Student Center, and the Office of Human Resources in 429 Academic Services Building. Employees, supervisors, and program coordinators who would like more information on services available to individuals with disabilities should contact Corlia Logsdon at 502-597-6863 or corlia.logsdon@kysu.edu. Students with disabilities are invited to contact Kendis Smith in the DRC at 502-597-5076 or Kendis.smith@kysu.edu for information on eligibility, required documentation, and available services.
Human Resources
Kentucky State University has contracted with the firm of Fox Lawson & Associates, a division of Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., to conduct a comprehensive study of the faculty and staff classification and compensation systems. Fox Lawson has been in the compensation consulting practice since 1981 with 90% of their business conducted with public employers and 40% of their business conducted with colleges and universities including HBCUs and land grant institutions.
The project will require the active participation of all faculty and staff and should be completed within ten or eleven months. Formal kick-off, to include a project overview from the consulting firm, is anticipated for December 2013.
The Office of Human Resources will provide project updates through the university's website, this newsletter, as well as the daily Campus Announcements.
In March 2010 President Obama and Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act (PPACA or ACA). In compliance with provisions contained in the Act, prior to October 1, 2013 KSU mailed to employee home addresses a mandated notice. The flyer reproduced on the following page, prepared by our broker, Assured NL Insurance Agency, Inc., enhances the information that was contained in the mailed notice.
Another important provision of the act is the requirement that individuals obtain health coverage for themselves and their family members, effective January 1, 2014, or pay a penalty. This requirement is known as the “Individual Mandate.”
In order to comply with the “Individual Mandate” of the Act, individuals will have four options to obtain coverage: The “Marketplace” (also known as “Exchanges”); Medicaid, CHIP, or other government sponsored program; Employer health plan; Spouse’s employer health plan (if applicable).
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