SCC offers early retirements for limited time [The Hawk Eye, Burlington, Iowa]

July 10--MOUNT PLEASANT -- A limited-time offer approved by the Southeastern Community College Board of Trustees Monday allows administrators, faculty and support staff to voluntarily retire early.

In the past, the board of trustees has used early retirement as a tool to create savings in the general fund.

The program can help create immediate savings and prevent positions and programs from being cut.

"We have offered early retirement in the past, and we found that it's a way to reduce faculty costs, because normally you are taking a person with more experience and replacing them with someone who is less expensive," Trustee Dave Walker has said in the past.

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"Anyone who is looking to retire can look at this option and have their health insurance taken care of between now and the time you qualify for Medicare."

SCC administrators, faculty and other licensed staff who are 55 years or older and have worked at least 10 consecutive years at the college can apply to retire early.

Bill Meck, vice president for administrative services, said there are 49 people eligible for the plan.

If an employee decides to take early retirement, their single-deductible health insurance premiums will be paid monthly until the retired employee becomes Medicare eligible or until their death, whichever comes first.

An employee taking early retirement will be paid for accumulated vacation days in one installment.

Those seeking early retirement must apply before Dec. 7.

Trustee Moudy Nabulsi asked Meck if the college is putting too much of an incentive on people to retire early.

"At this point, we have been able to replace the people who have retired," Meck said in response. "In the areas of support staff and faculty, we have been able to replace the positions for those who have elected to take early retirement. It's a little more difficult, however, to fill the administration positions."

Walker asked if any employee has retired and decided to come back to SCC.

"I can name three people who have done that," Michelle Foster, director of human resources, said in response.

"That is in the last five or six years so it doesn't happen very often. They are not eligible for benefits because they are already receiving them."

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