This section of the Academic Staff Handbook briefly describes the benefits currently available to academic staff members of the Medical College at Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM). These benefits are frequently reviewed and are subject to amendment, as appropriate. Academic staff members are strongly urged to visit the Benefits Office online at https://hr.weill.cornell.edu/benefits or call the HR Solutions Center at 646-962-9247 for the most up-to-date details of all Medical College benefit plans (Weill Cornell Medicine Benefits Guide). In addition, benefits may vary for employees who are age 65 and over or may change in case of leave of absence, sabbatical leave of absence, retirement, resignation or termination of employment.
While every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, the legal documents, policies, or certificates pertaining to these benefits prevail in the event of any discrepancy. This Handbook does not constitute a legal document. The Board of Trustees of Cornell University reserves the right to modify this or any other benefits program at the Medical College.
Eligibility for Benefits
Eligibility for a particular benefit may be determined by certain factors like salary level, position held or time in rank. Academic staff members who are not salaried by the Medical College, such as Clinical Associates or Senior Clinical Associates on the payroll of The New York Presbyterian Hospital, are not covered by the benefit plans of Weill Cornell Medicine. Academic staff members with Assistant level appointments (as defined in Appointment and Promotion of Non-Faculty, Academic Staff, Introduction, Titles (Assistants) are considered students and may be covered by policies available for students. Individuals with adjunct, visiting, courtesy or emeritus appointments are not entitled to all Weill Cornell Medicine benefits; entitlement or lack of entitlement is so noted at https://hr.weill.cornell.edu/benefits.
Departmental Policies
Certain benefits are administered at the departmental level. Each academic staff member should be informed of the administration of policies concerning leaves, vacation, holidays, etc., by his or her department administrator.
Plan Administration
The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, at its meeting of January 24, 1980, approved the creation of a Plan Administration Committee for the Medical College. The Committee is composed of designated Medical College employees, and its appointment was effective March 1, 1980. The duties of the Plan Administrator are outlined in all Summary Plan Booklets of the Medical College.
The Committee administers the following Medical College plans:
- Retirement Plan for Faculty and Exempt Employees
- Non-Exempt and Frozen Retirement Plan
- WCM Employee Health and Welfare Benefit Plan
- Children’s Tuition Scholarship Plan
- Voluntary Employee Retirement Plan
- Flexible Benefits Plan
The Plan Administration Committee’s address is:
Weill Cornell Medical College,
Plan Administration Committee
c/o Benefits Office
Human Resources Department
Weill Cornell Medical College
1300 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Chairperson: Managing Director of Human Resources