MSU FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
October 16, 2002
MEMBERS PRESENT: Young, Gipp, Sherwood for Giroux, Engel, Kommers,
Schlotzhauer, Linker, Leech, Taylor, Howard, Jones, Nehrir, Bradley,
McMahon, Amend, Ashley for Locke, Levy, Cherry for Bogar, Bond,
Jelinski, Idzerda, Pratt, Lynes-Hayes, Prawdzienski.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Morrill, White, Anderson, Stewart, Chem Engr, Comp
Science, Conant, Engl, Lynch, Fisher, Kempcke, Knight, Hoffman.
OTHERS PRESENT: Bandyopadhyay, McKinsey, Dooley, Fedock, Mathre.
The meeting was called to order at 4:10 PM by Chair Rich Howard. A
quorum was present. The minutes of the October 2, 2002, meeting were
approved as distributed.
Chair's report - Rich Howard.
- After discussion of a draft memo regarding the football coach's
comments on October 5, Wayne Gipp moved shredding the memo and
considering the matter closed. The motion was seconded and
carried.
- The Strategic Planning Committee distributed the SWOT analysis
at UPBAC.
- Chair Howard would like to use meetings in November to
brief Faculty Council regarding UPBAC and the process the
committee will use to reach budget decisions. Individuals
invited to discuss these topics with Faculty Council will
most likely include Provost Dooley, SPC Chair Morton, and a
faculty member from the SPC committee. Someone will also be
invited to Faculty Council to discuss the Morrill Act and
its implications for today.
University Governance Council Nominating Committee report.
- There is a mid-term vacancy on the Athletics Committee.
Faculty nominations are being solicited and may be submitted to
the Chair of the UGC Nominating Committee chair, Vicky York
([email protected]).
- Two faculty members on the Computer Fee Allocation Committee
are Gary Bogar and Shawna Lockhart. They are willing to continue
on the committee through the current term, which ends in June,
2003.
- Jack Jelinski moved Gary Bogar and Shawna Lockhart's names
be forwarded to the Provost for appointment through the end
of the current term. The motion was seconded and carried.
- There will be a vacancy on the Salary Review Committee
beginning January 1, 2003. Susan Capalbo's name has been
submitted as a nominee for a second 3-year term. Others may be
nominated, with their approval. Nominations may be submitted to
Vicky York.
Faculty Affairs Committee report.
- A proposed post-tenure review policy has been forwarded to
Faculty Council by Faculty Affairs and is attached to today's
agenda. It will be discussed by Faculty Council October 30.
- There will be a general announcement inviting comment
after the policy has been discussed by Council. In the
meantime, faculty may comment through their Faculty Council
representatives.
- Warren Jones moved the draft be made available to all
faculty before Faculty Council discussion. The motion was
seconded and carried.
NCAA visit and the Athletic Committee.
- In response to a question, the Chair stated that until about
three years ago, the Athletics Committee functioned as a policy
committee, as was intended. At that time, there was discussion
within the committee of whether it should serve as an advisory or
policy committee.
- The NCAA accrediting body sees the committee as a monitoring,
advisory committee which includes broad participation of
individuals outside the Athletics Department.
- It is the President's responsibility to charge the committee,
and he appears ready to do that.
- Greater interaction between the committee, the Athletic
Director, and Faculty Council is expected.
MSU Benefits Committee report - Don Mathre, Chair of the Committee.
- MSU's benefits plan is self-insured and statewide (Montana
University System). About 7,000 employees and 8,000 dependents
are covered. The plan includes life, basic medical, dental,
major medical, and long-tem disability insurance.
- The plan is required to maintain a $3 million reserve, and it
has been able to do this over the past 10 years, by increases in
premiums and reductions in cost by reducing coverage.
- Medical costs have been increasing 10-20% per year, so
continuing decreased benefits or increased costs are anticipated.
It is Don's understanding that MPEA plans to request increases in
the amount provided for state employee coverage from the
legislature of $50/month in the first year and $45/month in the
second year of the biennium.
- Procedures implemented last year, to reduce costs, include
direct contracting with hospitals in communities where there is a
choice of hospital (does not include Bozeman Deaconess Hospital)
and self-funded HMO's. There were also increases in premiums.
- Changes are taking place nationwide and statewide to keep
medical insurance plans viable.
- In the Montana University System, the number of retirees
using the university program is dropping. It appears that
some individuals cannot afford it, and other insurance
programs are becoming more competitive.
- Some large companies and the University of Minnesota are
implementing a consumer driven health care plan. A
"personal care plan" allots a specified amount of money for
an individual's medical expenses. Any money left over in an
individual's plan at year end may be carried over but may
never be received as a cashout. If an individual spends
more than the available amount in a year, the person is
responsible for a deductible and then is covered by
catastrophic insurance. The idea is to make individuals
more responsible for monitoring their health care costs.
- The pharmacy plan provider (Eckart) has suggested
replacing the dollar amount co-pay with a per cent amount.
It would save about $1.5 million per year but is problematic
for individuals using expensive drugs.
- The Wellcheck is scheduled for November 13 and 14, 7-11 a.m.
Free flu shots will be available, as well as the usual tests.
- Discussion followed.
- It was suggested consideration be given to extending the
hours of the spring Wellcheck. They were shorter last
spring than they had been in previous years.
- The philosophy of the MUS health plan has been that is
provides against catastrophe, if there are large medical
costs. The plan is attractive because there is no cap on
catastrophic care.
- The State of Montana now pays $4400/employee each year for
health care coverage.
- Regarding the "personal care plan", it was argued that if
individuals do not do preventative health maintenance
because they are over their allottment, this may lead to the
need for catastrophic coverage. In addition, many pharmacy
costs are preventative.
- Doug Young is also a member of the Benefits Committee. Don or
Doug may be contacted with questions or concerns.
The October 23 Faculty Council meeting is cancelled so members may
attend the town meeting on higher education that day.
The meeting adjourned at 4:55 PM.
Joann Amend, Secretary Richard Howard, Chair