Meeting Minutes 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

December 5, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by President Boe

Attendance: Boe, Stoner, Gussin, Mitros, Polumbaum, Menninger, Levin, Johnson, Sharp, Clinton, Flanigan, Kuntz, Donham and Wanat

Remembrances: Frank Kohout, Dentistry, 11/22/16

The Minutes of the 11/07/16 Meeting were approved (Menninger 1st/Johnson 2nd).

Committee Reports:

Faculty Council meeting 11/15/16 (Previously submitted by Menninger)

FRIC, 12/2/16 – Clinton

TENTATIVE AGENDA 12/2/2016 1130 AM

Introductions – Garfinkel and Davin

1. Approval of Nov. 2016 minutes – Garfinkel and Davin

Presentation: UIeCare Dr. Patrick Brophy - UIeCare is a direct care/virtual clinic staffed by physicians & NPs; Co-pay $5.00; there is no cost to UI employees or those on UI Choice. Strategy is to decrease ER & Quick Care visits. Can be accessed via smart-phone, laptop or tablet. To download app go to https://uiecare.com/#/home

Post-election ACA update: Olson - Pre-existing conditions and coverage of dependents up to age 26 likely to continue; could see changes as early as 2018 more likely 2019.

Health Insurance Metrics: UI CHOICE – Troester - data provided of quarterly statistics such as utilization, UI membership, which is growing, and cost. She will bring this to the Committee for consideration on a regular basis.

2. Level One Providers: UI CHOICE – Troester - Carried over to February meeting

Plan Design 2018

A. Office visits: Co-Pay/Co-Insurance - These will be first order of business for February meeting. Co-pays have not been reviewed for a number of years. These topics will be reviewed and discussed Feb/March/April in order to make recommendations at the May meeting

B. ER visits: Co-Pay/Co-Insurance

Old Business No discussion. New Business No discussion. Next Meeting: Feb 3

Discussion:

Clinton reported that the December meeting discussion set the stage for meetings Feb-April regarding changes to the UI health care plan(s) and which metrics to use.

UI eCare will communicate with the primary physician on the results of the “visit.”

Suggest a link on the AEF web site and/or send an email to members with information.

EFC Lecture Series (tentative spring schedule) - Gussin

Jan. 17 Constance Berman (History) 101 BBE, 4-5 pm Murder and Mayhem in Twelfth and Thirteenth-Century France.

Feb. 21 Carol Scott-Connor (Surgery) 101 BBE, 4-5 pm Mission to Mars: Healthcare Issues Surrounding Interplanetary Travel

Apr. 13 Paul Muhly (Mathematics) 101 BBE, 4-5 pm Mathematics as Art

May XX Paul Greenough (History) 101 BBE, 4-5 pm

Old Business

1. Senior College

Consideration of the following statement which was developed by Boe, Johnson and B. Ferner (of the Sr. College):

EFC has a longstanding association with the Senior College and encourages EFC members to be involved with the Senior College. The EFC has had the practice of naming member(s) of the council as a liaison to the Senior College. However, the Senior College Committee feels that is counterproductive in that everyone on the committee is a working member with full responsibilities.

The Senior College Committee makes the appointments to their committee. When there is a vacancy, they will inform us and we will poll our members and suggest those who are interested in serving on the Senior College committee as working members. People who are invited to join the committee should expect a long-term relationship with the committee. The Senior College Committee will consider prospective candidates from EFC along with any others the Committee has identified, considering representation across disciplines and between faculty and staff.

The EFC will be kept informed of the activities of the Senior College by biannual visits of the chair of the Senior College Committee to the EFC. The EFC will also, when possible, name an EFC member who is on the Senior College Committee as liaison to the EFC.

Discussion:

The Sr. College Committee seems to do its work independently of any UI administrative entity. Having biannual visits of the chair with the EFC, including a report of their budget, expenses and balance, is desired. The SCC seems to work “in association with” the EFC/AEF. Menninger has not been able to find a copy of the SCC Bylaws. Johnson noted that the SCC makes an annual report to the Regents.

At question is whether EFC’s involvement on the Sr. College Committee should be liaison or full committee member(s). Currently Johnson, Donham and Mitros are full committee members.

Motion by Sharp 2nd by Menninger: the statement regarding the relationship between the SCC and the EFC be approved and entered into the minutes. Motion passed. It was also noted that the statement would be considered for inclusion in our Bylaws as they are revised and approved. Meanwhile, we will continue to seek the SCC Bylaws as both should have the same statement included.

Donham mentioned that sometimes the SCC needs volunteer help with program oversight. He will let the SCC know that they can put out the word to members of AEF and UIRA.

2. Texas State Letter – Menninger received a copy of a letter from his daughter who is a faculty member at TSU. The letter was sent by their university president. Menninger was considering sending the letter on to President Harreld but asked the EFC if they wanted to send the letter. No decision to do so was reached.

Discussion:

Gussin – the local ACLU reports that all but 2 universities are sanctuary universities. UI is one of the two. The UI policy is to not be involved with immigration issues – no round-up of undocumented individuals. Immigration is a Federal issue, not a local one.

Boe asked if the Faculty Senate has discussed becoming a sanctuary university. As Menninger had departed the meeting, we have no answer to this question.

Gussin – the AAUP should also make a statement.

Polumbaum – Could we have Iowa City Mayor, Jim Throgmorton and a foreign-born student speak to us about their positions and concerns with the issues of bias, carry guns, sanctuary? Polumbaum, Boe and Menninger will work on a program for February’s meeting.

3. Meeting with Provost – Johnson & Flanagan met with Provost Butler and Assoc. Provost Kreigel on November 16th. Discussion included parking concerns (working from Boe’s letter) and the confusing announcement made to emeritus faculty 8 months into the year. The Provost praised the administrative tax expert for all the money he has saved the University. Johnson reminded Provost Butler of all the contributions that emeritus faculty make to the University using data from the EFC survey of two years ago. Also discussed was the UI Health Care “carve-out.” Butler was not aware of this issue.

Discussion:

Gussin pointed out that emeritus faculty are the only group with an increasing “carve-out” to their health coverage.

Gussin and Boe will work on an email regarding the newly-established parking regulations. This email will be sent to all emeritus faculty.

Other/New Business

Johnson noted that the committee to select a new VP for Health is active and mentioned that Dr. Kathleen Buckwalter (an emeritus faculty) is on the committee.

Boe will be meeting with Nancy Hauserman, President of UIRA. UIRA will be conducting a survey of its members. Boe shared our survey. Both groups are concerned about computer services.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Minutes by Jamie Sharp

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

November 7, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by George Johnson for President Boe

Attendance: Gussin, Johnson, Mitros, Weingeist, Menninger, Stoner, Wanat, Flanagan, Kuntz and Donham

Remembrances: Ingeborg Solbrig, German, 10/12/2016; Shih-Yen (Sam) Wu, Economics, 9/15/2016; Norman Williams, Biology, 10/24/2016; Richard Runge, German, 10/20/2016.

New AEF Members: Ellen Cram, Nursing; Joel Gordon, Medicine; Richard Johnston, Medicine; Nancy Rosenthal, Medicine; David Wacker, Medicine

The Minutes of the 10/04/16 Meeting were approved.

Committee Reports:

Faculty Council meeting 10/04/16 (Previously submitted by Menninger)

After the usual formalities were concluded there were several items of new business:

1) Report by the Director of University Counseling Service: There has been a 12% increase in students seeking counseling this past year. Same-day counseling, whether self-referred or walk-in with faculty, is being phased in. Group counseling sessions are increasing. U/IA is the least staffed service in the Big 10 (1 staff per 2800 students); hiring of six additional counselors is planned. A designated fee (or increase in the health services fee) for mental health services will soon be proposed to the regents [currently, tuition is used to finance the service].

2) Report by University Treasurer: President Harreld has introduced an explicit budget process, visible to all, based on four principles: student success, benchmarking (comparisons with comparable institutions), U/IA values (e.g., stressing highly visible successes like the Writer's Workshop), U/IA Future (continual improvement). Besides a base budget, strategic initiatives are solicited and will be financed subject to available funds. Last year 23 were funded (of 66 proposed) -- e.g., faculty cluster hiring, dual career hires, increased CLAS academic advisors, restored building maintenance and energy conservation budgets. Tight and fast timing are part of the package. Deans will (presumably receive and) submit proposals; if more than one, in priority order, in two categories: Operational (< 18 months to complete) and Strategic (> 18 months). Similarly, two teams, composed partly of faculty, will evaluate and prioritize the submissions. {It wasn't clear to this reporter whether Departments will need to justify replacing positions due to retirement, etc., as part of the base budget or as a strategic initiative.}

3) Report by Senate Past President on Academic Freedom, Inclusion, Free Speech, etc.: Meetings with students, undergraduate and graduate/professional, are underway. The perception is that undergraduates have a limited understanding of academic freedom and free speech and their place in the university. A "module" on this subject might be included in "Success at Iowa", presented to all incoming students.

4) Report on course evaluations results being open to students: This student-led proposal was justified as allowing students to make informed choices among possible courses. The evaluations would resemble current ACE forms and remain anonymous. There was much discussion about customs at other universities: who would have access, etc. Disadvantages with student evaluations were pointed out. The discussion will continue.

5) Report on the AAUP Sanctions Committee (created recently by Faculty Senate to explore how to get the sanctions lifted): A membership of five to seven is anticipated. Membership nominations are solicited.

Faculty Senate- Gary Gussin reporting; Health care discussed by membership; membership undertook discussion re strategic planning

FRIC – Patricia Clinton reporting; Presentation by UIHC personnel on ongoing efforts to improve access and capacity by unified Patient Scheduling Center (PAC). Discussion of which metrics to use for UI choice members; Clinical Risk Group Scores (CRGs) include low, moderate, chronic and ongoing more severe chronic to determine trends and strategies to reduce costs associated with risk. Data coming in December. Initial discussion of levels of co-pay/co-insurance/deductibles and Level One providers

Presentation by Jessica Wade from UI Benefits

Questions on University health insurance:

1. Does the Health Alliance HMO provide any out of network payments? Yes for emergency/urgent conditions or when there is no available service

2. Are there any network facilities in Iowa City other than U of I facilities for either of the Health Alliance plans. No

3. Could you provide some sample payments for common health care items for Emeritus faculty such as Hip or knee replacement, cataract surgery, heart bypass or stent surgery, or similar items for each of the health care plans that are available to us.

Inpatient surgery HMO $280/day for days 1-7; PPO 10% billed
Outpatient surgery HMO $275; PPO 10%

4. The cost of UI choice insurance has increased but the carve-out has not. Therefore, we are faced with larger cost for next year. Is this likely to happen again in future years? Possibly

5. Do any of the plans provide payments for medical costs while traveling other than emergency room and quickcare? PPO has full coverage

6. How do we best compare the drug plans between UIchoice and the Alliance PPO? Differences is in drugs included in formulary

7. Does Alliance accept a letter from your doctor if you need to be on a special drug not listed by Alliance in their formulary? Maybe

8. How can we be sure that Health Alliance (or any other plan) might provide an obstacle to needed care?

9. Many Medicare advantage programs including Health Alliance have over-billed the government. Is UI benefits concerned about this problem? https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/08/29/20148/medicare-advantage-audits-reveal-pervasive-overcharges

Old business: Meeting with Provost November 11

The purpose of the meeting with the Provost on November 11 (rescheduled to Nov. 16 by Provost's office) was to address issues raised in the letter to the Provost by Warren Boe. George Johnson and Doug Flanagan will attend the meeting in Warren's absence.

New Business: No discussion on Senior College statement

The meeting was adjourned

Minutes by Patricia Clinton

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

October 4, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by President Boe

Attendance: Boe, Clinton, Flanagan, Gussin, Johnson, Levin, Menninger , Mitros, Polumbaum, Schantz, Sharp, Stoner and Wanat,

Remembrances: Joseph Szertics, CLAS, Spanish and Portuguese, 9-16-16; Jo Eland, Nursing, 9-27-16

The September 12, 2016 minutes were approved as corrected (Walter Foley in Remembrances; AEF not AES; Westefeld - spelling).

Reports

Faculty Senate, 09/20/16 – Menninger (previously submitted)

This was an unusual meeting, begun by a motion to revise the agenda to place "Report on AAUP Sanction (Lois Cox, Katherine Tachau, Mirian Wilson-Kimber, UI Chapter of AAUP)" as the first item of new business. The motion was approved with one dissenting vote.

The usual housekeeping occurred. There was then a vote not to hold the aforementioned discussion in Executive Session, as called for by the original agenda. Among supporting statements was the observation that deliberations in secret had got us to where we are now and there was no need to do more of it. The motion to open the discussion to all was passed by acclimation.

The subsequent conversation was wide-ranging and ended in a motion to form an ad hoc committee of the Senate to develop a policy that would lead to lifting of the AAUP sanction; it was passed with broad support. Although one speaker suggested that this was the AAUP's job, not the faculty's, supporters of the motion made clear their intention that the committee members would be closely consulting local AAUP officials.

Following are some of the points raised (especially those given by voices reproduced sufficiently well by the suboptimal acoustics of the Senate Chamber that your reporter could understand them):

One senator observed that an "AAUP list of censured (sic) institutions" was found on job listings at a professional meeting. An important distinction: U/IA was "sanctioned" for failure to uphold standards of faculty governance. "Censure" is reserved for transgressions concerning academic freedom, tenure decisions and the like. AAUP has separate lists.

Much was made of the manifest injustice of sanctions being levied against the university instead of the guilty regents; the national AAUP representative present (and others) noted that there is no extant policy to sanction governing boards (although one is presently under consideration). In any case we cannot expect AAUP not to recognize problems when they are brought to its attention; it is unfair to blame AAUP for sticking to its principles. In this connection it was pointed out that the search committee and interim university leadership were not completely innocent in what happened.

The co-chair of the UNI Presidential Search, a member of their faculty and former leader of their AAUP/United Faculty Union, was present and portrayed their process, so far, as much more respectful of faculty opinion than we experienced. His posture is trust but verify.

As to what faculty can do to get sanctions lifted, the national AAUP representative suggested that a formal change in regents' policy concerning presidential searches would be helpful. Encouraging the regents to address this issue could include informing students, their parents, alumni, members of the state legislature and the general public as to the damage done to the institution and its reputation by being formally sanctioned. [The negative public reaction to the recent firing of the president of the University of Virginia was widely credited for her reinstatement by their board of governors.] Local AAUP officers said that of course they would assist in any way they could in this effort.

A point was made that the AAUP report on the presidential search did not identify what wrong-doing was done and by whom. The claim by a senate officer that mistakes were made did not specify what mistakes and who made them. Several senators leapt to the defense of the senate officers.

Remaining items from the original agenda have been postponed to future meetings.

Discussion:

Senate officers seem to want to downplay sanctions (not to be confused with censure). AAUP is chastising the wrong people.

The Senate Committee will investigate ways of getting out from under sanctions.

The presidential search at UNI wants to avoid the problems that occurred at the UI.

Robillard is stepping down from his two positions at UIHC/Med School. Does Rastetter want to privatize UIHC? There needs to be a strategic discussion about the future (to include who owns the hospital; should the medical dean also be VP for Health Sciences).

EFC Lecture Series – Gussin (Polumbaum and Kuntz)

Historically, speakers have been chosen from emeriti faculty who have pursued “rigorous scholarly activity.” Clinton asked if a speaker could be chosen who is involved in “scholarly work” that was not their primary research area while an active faculty. Or, perhaps, submit an abstract(s).

Upcoming speaker(s):

Arthur Bonfield – “…60 Years of Rare Book Collecting” 101BBE, 4-5 p.m., Oct. 27th.

EFC Speakers - Stoner

11/7 meeting – Jessica Wade from Benefits will meet w/ the Council. She will be asked to comment on topics such as health insurance (Alliance, Advantage plans). Please send any questions to Stoner so that he can forward them to Ms. Wade prior to the meeting.

Suggestions for other future speakers/topics: Live Well; cost-cutting/centralizing – what is happening and what are the effects?

Parking – Gussin (two letters herein are for historical and background purposes)

The letter to UI administrators: Associate Provost Kevin Kregel (May 20, 2016), David Ricketts, Thomas Peifer,

Dear Colleagues,

At the annual meeting of the Association of Emeritus Faculty on May 9, I explained possible changes in the Emeritus Faculty Parking Tag policy and distributed a survey asking for the opinions of those present with respect to various options that we have discussed previously (and a couple that weren’t explicitly considered). Subsequently, the survey was sent by e-mail to all the emeritus faculty who did not attend the meeting. I’m including a summary of my explanation and the combined responses of 190 faculty. The way the survey was structured, faculty could check as many boxes as they wished, so the total number of “votes” in any column could be greater than 190.

A few faculty made additional comments that I’m also including.

It’s clear from the summary that implementation of options #1, 2, 3, and 6 would provide the greatest opportunity for faculty to make a reasonable choice, though a large number don’t regard any of the choices to be completely satisfactory. Two possibilities that we have considered previously were not directly included in the survey:

1. We assume that those emeritus tag-holders currently employed by the University (and paid for their services) would be exempt from IRS reporting. It would be useful to know what minimum number of hours employed and amount paid, would be sufficient to qualify for the exemption.

2. The Emeritus Faculty Council urges you to develop and implement a plan whereby emeritus faculty who contribute significantly to the ongoing activities of the University could be considered volunteers, whose cost of parking (as reported on the IRS form 1099) would be reimbursable, and therefore make them exempt from the reporting provision.

Thank you for your consideration. Many emeritus faculty continue to render extensive and important assistance to the University's missions. This ongoing service is actually acknowledged (expected) in the University Operations Manual. It’s important to make it as convenient as possible for them to make these contributions, especially for those who become physically less able to do so with advancing age. And people will feel less imposed upon if it’s clear the University is searching for creative options to help ameliorate the problem.

Sincerely yours, Gary Gussin, President. Emeritus Faculty Council

Change in Emeritus Parking Tag Policy

Certain provisions of the Federal Tax Code require the University to report the “free” parking tag as income based on its imputed benefit. At a current parking rate of $62/month, the imputed benefit would be $744 per year. This would be reported to the University on a 1099-misc form.

The reporting requirement is triggered only if the imputed benefit exceeds $600.

If you are an emeritus faculty member who still is employed part time by the University, you would not be affected. You could still receive an emeritus parking tag without being subject to federal tax.

During discussions with the University tax officer (Thomas Peifer) and the head of the parking office (Dave Ricketts), we have explored various possible ways of dealing with this requirement. The EFC would like to suggest alternatives as well. Here are several options (some have been discussed with Peifer and Ricketts, some are new ideas from the EFC):

1. Don’t worry about the change; you consider the parking privilege important enough that you are willing to pay tax on the additional $744 a year.

2. You would accept instead of the current system, a 9-month academic year tag; the total imputed benefit would be less than $600 a year, so there would not be a 1099-misc.

3. You would be willing to pay $150 for a 12-month tag. The imputed benefit would be less than $600, so there would be no 1099-misc and the $150 might be less than the additional income tax you would pay for option #1.

4. You would apply for a Hancher parking lot tag, good only at that lot. Again, this would avoid the University’s having to submit a 1099-misc form, but if the cost of the Hancher tag to current faculty and staff went up, it’s likely that the $600 limit would be exceeded.

5. You would accept instead of the current tag, a tag good for evening and week-end parking only. Again, imputed benefit would be less than $600.

6. The University could provide you with a free magnetic key card good at University lots with cashiers. The limit on your “free” use of the card would be $600. Beyond $600, you could use the card, but would be charged for parking.

Please tear off the survey below, to indicate your preference. Assuming all of options 1-6 were available and you had to choose one of them, how would you feel about each option.

This Option Satisfied with this My first choice

Sucks Option if it were the if it were available

Only one available

Option 1 ( 96) ( 55) (30) Table combines:

Option 2 ( 85) ( 73) ( 23) Responses from meeting = 59

Option 3 ( 74) ( 75) ( 39) Responses to e-mail survey = 131

Option 4 ( 168) ( 11) ( 2)

Option 5 ( 163) ( 16) ( 1)

Option 6 ( 50) ( 55) ( 82)

Please indicate here if you’re not concerned about the change because

( ) Having the parking tag isn’t very important for you. 2

Or ( ) You’re not bothered by the possible increase in your income taxes. 4

Written comments in response to survey:

This all very disappointing.....few benefits.....and now this after a lifetime to U of Iowa....unbelievable!

Thank you so much for navigating this for us.

I'm choosing the $150 option. My second choice would be to accept $744 as income. the other options don't work for me, especially since I use a wide variety of lots [law school lot which has no cashier; library lot which does...]

Gary, some of us now live out of town, but visit the university and our colleagues at various times for collaboration and other reasons. Would it be possible to be able to request short-term parking privileges when we know we will be there?

Gary, Do you offer an Iowa City or Coralville bus pass option for emeritus faculty? I believe that the imputed value of $744 per year is inappropriate. My parking pass is very important to me despite the fact that I only use it about twice per month. That's about $30 per parking event. Without a pass, lack of parking would have a substantial impact on my activities. I don't believe that a pass for me should be valued at $744. It should be valued much less than that. Probably many other users also park infrequently. I think there should be an option for less frequent users.

For me, it is important to be able to park close to work, because I work most days of the week in my office. I kept my key card and privileges in Lot 13 because the Dean affirmed that I was still working in my office.

Professor S. also kept his. It is just a little expense for the University, relative to the huge investment in time I put in, and the "imputed" benefits to the university in scholarly work, which I am happy to do. I hope you can succeed in getting the policy to remain as is. Back to working on my lecture and paper for an international meeting.

In your discussions regarding Emeritus Faculty parking and the new IRS regulations, it seems important that consideration be given to a solution that does not create obstacles for the continued important voluntary academic and other contributions that the Emeritus Faculty make to the overall mission of the University of Iowa.

I am an emeritis faculty member who is very concerned about my "free" UI parking pass-

I use the pass ONLY to park for an hour or so on weekdays while I exercise at the University's Recreation and Wellness Center. I see there is a suggestion that I pay tax appropriate for parking all day, every day. I presently pay $372 per year to the UI wellness center for use of the facility. However, I live near two commercial exercise facilities that provide free parking, and could easily switch to membership at one of them.

We try to be generous, within our means, with annual gifts to the Colleges of Engineering and Music through the U of I Foundation. However there are many financial needs other than the University and University students in Iowa City.

All of these options “suck”. Many retirees continue to support the University in many ways. Is this an appropriate way to reward faculty for their continuing loyalty? It makes little sense.

The loss of lot #2 next to Seashore Hall will be very significant. It is a “ground level” lot close to many Pentacrest buildings. It is not a casual thing to lose this lot. Hopefully there will be advocacy to locate a lot to replace it.

Best—no change. Check with IRS regarding what the ruling is. (This person indicated that having the tag is very important and that he is bothered by the possible increase in his income taxes.

Reduce charge for parking for EM faculty.

What about asking parking to come up with a senior rate that comes to less than 600/year.

Please push for the reduced fee option for emeritus so that the imputed benefit falls below the magic number of $600.

I bike about 9 mo/yr. Did this for 20 years as UI C of M faculty and paid full fees for ramp parking. Not keen to pay now. It’s also important that those of us who are “paid employees” (eg, I serve on IRB and get a small stipend) be exempt.

And, Gussin’s 9/19/16 email to emeritus faculty:

Dear colleagues,

Attached is a letter I sent to administration officials last May 20 summarizing the results of last May’s discussion of the parking tag/tax issue at the annual meeting of the Association of Emeritus Faculty. In the letter, we offered several alternatives to the options that are currently being offered by the University. We never received a response to our letter, although we have been told that the options we suggested were considered. If you preferred one of the options we suggested which is not one of the two options we are being offered, the only way to get reconsideration would be for you to express your views to the Provost or President of the University. Of course if you are satisfied with the two options offered in the e-mail from David Ricketts (sent Sept. 3), then there’s no need for you to send a letter. Please note that the choice to change your parking tag to option 2, the Emeritus NW tag, is due by Sept. 15th, 2016.

Some of you may fall into a special category and might wish to contact the Parking Office, or Thomas Peifer, to see if one of these exceptions applies to you:

First, If you are still a University employee, you may be able to keep the traditional parking tag (Option 1 in Dave Ricketts’s letter) without any tax consequences.

Second, if you recently became an emeritus faculty member (ie., July 1), then you can keep the traditional tag without tax consequences, but will have to make a decision about whether to choose Option 1 or Option 2 at the beginning of January.

If you know of an emeritus faculty member who did not receive the Sept. 3 e-mail, that person should contact the Parking Office immediately.

The e-mail informing faculty of the nature of Options 1 and 2 and the reasons for them, can be found on the Parking Office’s Emeritus Parking Web Site. https://transportation.uiowa.edu/emeritus-parking-options

Discussion:

Gussin stated that the May 20th letter to Kregel, Piefer and Rickets was not acknowledged. The UI’s position has not changed since last April and places blame for slowing things down at the EFC. In the future, the EFC should work through the Provost’s office (which failed us on this matter). Emeritus faculty were notified by email that parking regulations were changing and only had 12 days to respond/take action.

Issues on the table for discussion with the Provost include: Live Well; Benefits (giving AEF and new Emeritus Faculty timely information); Parking; an elected member on the Faculty Senate.

Polumbaum noted that we have an existential dilemma at the UI. We don’t have a culture of inclusiveness for emeritus faculty.

Flanagan suggested a “grass-roots” campaign of having conversations with our respective deans about the value of the emeritus faculty, the parking issues, donations to the UI and our interest in future teaching/research.

EFC officers will meet with Provost Butler but first, a letter expressing concerns will be sent. Boe will draft a letter, circulate it to the EFC, and then send the letter to Provost Butler. Subsequently, Boe will request a meeting.

New Business

Boe requested that there be a review of the Bylaws. Sharp, Clinton and Levin will be on a sub-committee to do this. Sharp will attempt to get the existing document into Word and begin the review process. Ultimately, any changes will go before the AEF and then to the Provost for approval.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Minutes by Jamie Sharp

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

September 12, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by President Boe

Attendance: Boe, Gussin, Johnson, Mitros, Weingeist, Menninger, Stoner, Wanat, Flanagan, Levin, and Schantz

Remembrances:

Rex Montgomery, 7/31/16, Medicine, Peter Nathan, 5/8/16, Public Health, Rita Franz, 9/7/16, Nursing, Sherwood Wolfson, Dentistry – Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 5/23/16, Harold Hammond – Dentistry – Oral Path, Radiology & Medicine 6/11/2016, Gene Spaziani, CLAS - CLAS – Biology, 6/30/16, Walter Foley, late August, CoE.

New AEF Members:

Robert Staley, Dentistry; Sally Mason, CLAS; John Westefeld, Education; George Boynton, CLAS; Nicholas Colangelo, Education, Gerald Denehy, Dentistry; Joann Eland, Nursing; Ellen Gordon, Medicine; Jed Hand, Dentistry; Tim Lowe, Business; Lawrence Karniski, Medicine; David Lubaroff, Medicine; Royann Mraz, Medicine; Marilynne Robinson, CLAS; Gerry Suhanek, Business; Micheal Todd, Medicine; John Whiston, Law; H. John Yack, Medicine; Arthur Bonfield, Law; Jill Gaffney-Valdle, Nursing; Frederick Dietz, CCOM.

The Minutes of the May 16 EFC Meeting and the May 9th AEF Annual Meeting (Distributed by email from Jamie Sharp on 5/29/16 and 9/6/2016 and redistributed last week.) were approved.

An election was held for the Vice President of the EFC. Nominees were Flanigan, Menninger, and Johnson. Johnson was elected.

Jamie Sharp has offered to continue as Secretary of the EFC. This offer was gratefully accepted by all present.

EFC Committee Assignments for 2016-2017 are as follows:

Program (EFC and AES meeting) - Clinton, Levin, Wanat, Stoner
Emeritus Faculty Lectures - Gussin, Polumbaum, Kuntz
Elections - Weingeist, Mitros, Donham, Schantz
Communications/Website - Flanigan, Johnson, Boe
Campus Planning - Levin, Schantz
Faculty Senate/Council - Menninger
FRIC - Clinton
Hancher - Weingeist
UIRA Liaison - Sharp
Rec. Services - Donham
Research Council - Gussin
Senior College - Johnson, Mitros, Donham
University Library - Wanat, Kuntz
Parking and Transportation - Flanigan, Stoner

Gary Gussin discussed the current Emeritus Faculty Lectures. Speakers are still needed for March and April 2017. Michael Lewis-Beck will give the next lecture on 9/20/16 at 4:00p.m. in 101 BBE. Constance Berman will speak on January 17, not February 9 as previously scheduled.

The Association of the Emeritus Faculty meeting will be held on May 15, 2017 at 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m. in 2520D UCC. University President Harreld will speak.

Some emeritus faculty did not receive the parking memo from the University. Gary Gussin will send a reminder letter to the emeritus faculty with a URL to the memo and include a letter to the administration summarizing the parking survey taken at annual emeritus faculty meeting.

Mr David Ricketts, Director, Parking and Transportation was the invited guest at 10:00a.m. to our meeting. Mr Ricketts answered questions about the new emeritus parking policy from the EFC members. The discussion was extensive. The EFC expressed its appreciation to Director Ricketts for coming to the meeting and talking with us.

The meeting was adjourned

Minutes by George Johnson

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

May 16, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 9:33 a.m. by President Gussin

Attendance: Boe, Johnson, Mitros, Clinton, Lim, Polumbaum, Weingeist, Menninger, Dorfman, Stoner, Wanat, Jepsen, Sharp, Flanagan, Gussin and Kuntz

The May 2, 2016 minutes were approved as corrected (Kregel spelling).

Retiring members Dorfman, Jepsen and Lim were thanked for their years of service. New members Polumbaum, Wanat and Mitros were welcomed.

The primary purpose of this special meeting was to discuss results from the EM parking tag survey and to decide on future directions.

The survey that was distributed at the annual meeting and subsequently distributed to emeritus faculty who did not attend the annual meeting resulted in 175 responses.

There was a wide-range of responses however, options 1,2,3, & 6 were collectively the most acceptable.

Option 1: Willing to pay tax on $744/year
Option 2: Accept a 9-month academic year EM tag with no tax implications as long as the imputed value is less than $600.
Option 3: “fined about $2K for each of the 400 extant parking tags if the benefit is not reported to the IRS.”
Option 6: Accept a tag w/ an RFID card usable at cashiered lots. When $600 limit is reached, pay charges for added parking. No tax implications.
Another possible option not included in the survey would be to reimburse emeritus faculty that volunteer in some way (lectures, committees, etc.) thus they would be paid employees and not subject to the “gift tag tax.”

The chief problem is that the University’s “tax guy” is potentially taking action because of a recent audit. He is concerned that the University will be fined at ~$2K/400 EM tags. The imputed value is $62/month or $744/year.

The UI’s parking rates are higher than those of ISU and UNI. Thus, the situation at the UI.

Mark Schantz and/or Pat Clinton will try to reach Shelley Kurtz regarding employee benefits.
The University’s leverage is the tax code. The emeritus faculties’ leverage is potential future donations to the UI Foundation.

Clinton noted that she is uncomfortable saying that emeritus faculty won’t still work or donate money to the UI

Polumbaum suggested sending a letter stating how emeritus faculty are still contributing to the mission of the university.

Mitros mentioned the corollary benefit of financial worth of the emeritus faculty contributions.

We should take a fresh look at our last survey of emeritus faculty contributions to the UI. Boe will send to the EFC; Polumbaum will review with her “journalistic eye.”

Decision(s):

Gussin will draft a letter to be circulated to the Council

Mention of EF’s contributions to the University
Include the survey/results
Highlight the options that are acceptable to EF (1,2,3, & 6)

Letter to be transmitted to the Provost and Parking before fall. Transmission may occur much sooner pending interim meeting(s) and/or information gathering and/or vacations.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Minutes by Jamie Sharp

Subsequent to the 5/16 meeting, two year-end reports were submitted:

FRIC (Clinton) 5/6/16

1. UIHC specialty drugs – Brownlee & Mascardo

Purpose of presentation was informational only to discuss trends and potential impact; specialty meds were covered under pharmacy benefits as of 1/1/16. This will allow for closer tracking of costs
Specialty drugs are those used to treat complex, chronic or rare conditions; require special handling; very costly, can be greater than $750 per treatment; predicted by 2020 9 out of 10 medications will be specialty drugs
Only certain pharmacies can dispense; requires more hands on service to clients, teaching and monitoring
Impact: Employers have increased cost; hospitals have increased costs and formulary decisions; patients have higher out of pocket costs and more self-care

2. Premium rate setting – This will be the first agenda item for the fall meeting. Council members reviewed documents but there was no discussion due to time. Costs are expected to increase; council assumes 5% increase but the actual increase was closer to 7.5%

3. Value Based Benefit Design – Guiding Principles - Subcommittee; Discussion only. Decisions based on employee perspective and factors not under committee’s control. Will guide fall’s discussion of premium rate setting

4. Old business – BoR approved transgender care; no implementation date as of yet

5. President Harreld was unable to meet with committee and will reschedule

UIRA (Dorfman) 5/10/16

The meeting consisted of a number of reports from Board members. President Beverly Robalino announced a meeting on May 12 with UI Foundation to discuss promoting the new UIRA student scholarship. She also asked members if they had received the second TRAIL (Tools and Resources for Active Independent Living) survey and said she would forward the link for members who had not received it. Options are full, sustaining and social memberships for TRAIL which is expected to begin next year.

Ken Starck reminded the group of the annual picnic at Terry Trueblood Park on June 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. People are to bring side dishes.

Upcoming tour: Hancher Auditorium on June 24.

Association of Emeritus Faculty Minutes

May 9, 2016, Room 2520OD UCC

The meeting was called to order at 10:03 a.m. by President Gary Gussin.

85 emeritus faculty registered to attend the meeting; 69 actually attended (18.8% no show).

A memorial moment honored those members who passed during the year (memory list provided in the program). Gussin announced that Professor Peter Nathan died over the weekend of a sudden illness.

Gussin introduced the Emeritus Faculty Council members (list provided in the program):

Boe, Clinton, Donham, Dorfman, Flanagan, Jepsen, Johnson, Kuntz, Levin, Lim, Menninger, Shantz, Sharp, Stoner and Weingeist.

Gussin provided a handout which lists EFC committees and liaisons to University committees. If anyone has questions or concerns, they should contact the appropriate representative. All relevant minutes and committee reports are posted on the AEF website: www.uiowa.edu/emeritusfaculty/

Gussin reminded attendees of the upcoming Emeritus Faculty Lecture: May 19th - The Global Crisis Due to Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: Why Is It Still Being Ignored? Douglas LaBrecque, Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine

Election results:

Judy Polumbaum will represent Liberal Arts
Carolyn Wanat will represent Education
Frank Mitros will represent Medicine

Senior College – George Johnson

The Senior College began in the Spring of 2002 and has no paid staff. The cost to take a course still runs around $30. For the 2015-16 year, there were 1,241 registrants.
Course topics for the Fall, 2016 will include:

Writers Workshop
Infectious diseases humans share with animals
A music topic - Timothy Hankewich
German History in Iowa
Climate Change
Dance
Ragtime music
Cancer overview
WWI
Post-caucus campaign

Emeritus Faculty Council - Gussin reported on activities of the EFC; in particular advocating for IT services, Live Well benefits and voting status on University committees for the EFC representative. Many meetings were held with various University officials including the President, the Provost and Associate Provost. Explanations are offered as to why things are as they are but solutions were not offered.

Parking policy/Emeritus Hang Tags – Gussin provided some history and info about the tags:

About 400 emeritus parking tags have been issued
Historically has been a requirement to report the value of the parking “gift” as income when the imputed value exceeded $600, but the imputed value did not exceed that amount
When the EM tags were instituted, fees were lower than they are now
The imputed value of the parking pass is $744/year.
A 1099-Misc. would potentially be issued for the full imputed value as income, if the value of the benefit exceeds $600
The UI could potentially be fined for each issued tag in the range of $1-2K if the benefit is not reported to the IRS, but no report is necessary if the benefit is less than $600
Emeritus faculty are considered 0.01% FTE by the University

Discussion covered the following topics:

The University’s preferred option is for EF’s to accept the status quo, which would require reporting of the value of the tags as income to the IRS
Will the University let us know what decisions are made on the proposed options?
Couldn’t there be a parking discount parking for EF’s? (probably not)
The importance of the parking tags allow EF’s to continue to serve the UI
Jepsen (rep to Parking) feels that Mr. Rickets isn’t the “bad guy.” Displeasure should be directed toward the “tax guy.”
Can we convince parking to have a senior rate?
When will the new policy(s) be instituted? Possibly in the fall.

Proposed solutions were provided on a handout. Gussin urged everyone to turn in the handout survey and to also write emails to department heads, Provost Barry Butler and President Harreld.

The meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.

Minutes and notes by Jamie Sharp

Highlights of Chuck Swanson’s presentation: Our New Hancher Auditorium is for Everyone!

Highlights of last 8 years since the 2008 flood

Statewide collaborations

2/2009 Hancher deemed damaged greater than 50% of value. 59 applications for architects narrowed down to 11 then to 4.
2010 Pelli was named as architecture firm and Mortinson as the Construction firm
2011/30 months the design process and collaboration
6/2013 ground blessing and beginning of construction
Last beam signing

The new Hancher

Intimate theater, lobby is stunning, Terrazzo floors, wood, balance of form and function
Keys on June 1st after which testing, hiring, training, and “commissioning” the building
Concert grand Steinway piano has been purchased with 100% donated dollars
Commissioned art in the lobby

Upcoming events

6/11 Alumni Awards ceremony; 6/25 donor event; 6/26 “Hard Hat” performance and a wedding in August
9/9 Ribbon cutting; 9/9 and 9/11 open houses where everyone can see everything
9/16 UI President Harreld will be installed

Performances

Opening event: Steve Martin & Martin Short
Broadway shows will return to Hancher
There will be commissions and creative campus collaborations
Thursday nights at Hancher: Stanley Café open 5-7:30; 4 times a year there will be a full meal provided by local restaurants

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

May 2, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 9:32 a.m. by President Gussin

Attendance: Boe, Clinton, Dorfman, Flanagan, Gussin, Jepsen, Johnson, Kuntz, Lim, Menninger, Sharp, and Stoner

The April 4, 2016 minutes were approved as corrected.

Life Milestones: the EFC noted the passing of members Lowell Schoer and John Hoak

Reports

FRIC (Lim/Clinton) President Harreld will speak at the upcoming meeting.

Research Council (Gussin) no report

Emeritus Faculty Lectures (Gussin) May 19th - The Global Crisis Due to Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer: Why Is It Still Being Ignored? Douglas LaBrecque, Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine

Elections (Boe) Voting is on-going. 190 votes so far with two contested elections and two single-candidate elections. Voting deadline is May 8th. Results will be announced at the Annual Meeting on the 9th.

Program Committee (Menninger) May 9th Annual meeting – Chuck Swanson, Hancher

Parking and Transportation Committee (Jepsen – report previously submitted)

April 26, 2016 - Of particular interest to EFC is that Dave Ricketts, Administrative Services Director, has no further information about the status of Emeritus Parking permits.
A visit from Pres. Harreld took up the majority of the meeting time. The President asked for concerns and ideas. He assured us that UI would not outsource the parking ramps as has Ohio State University. He has experience on both sides of outsourcing and has learned that most contracts do not include all the service details. An example is the graduate student housing project Aspire where rents have escalated.
He urged the P & T Dept. to consider what he called “test wells,” small pilot projects to gather data before taking on large projects. Committee members agreed that P & T does a lot of this, e.g., small scale projects to test an idea before wide scale adoption. Also, P & T committee benefits from Urban and Regional Planning faculty and student expertise on the committee.
Discussion: Gussin provided a one-page handout with talking points for upcoming meetings he and Boe have with Associate Provost Kregel and UI Foundation President Lynette Marshall. The focus of discussion at these meetings will be the emeritus parking hang-tag issue.

Annual Meeting

80 people are registered so far and extra seating will be needed in the conference room. Gussin asked that Council members arrive early to help set up extra seating.
Sharp requested time to make a brief report on UIRA activities and provide membership applications. This request was denied following a lengthy discussion about the distinction between the two groups. All or some faculty go to Staff Benefits and/or go to programs about retiring where they would have learned about UIRA. It was felt that people would be confused about the two groups if an announcement was made.
Gussin will highlight all of the UI committees that the Council members participate in and that reports from these committees are contained in the EFC minutes on the web site.

EFC Officer Transition

The next scheduled EFC meeting is 9/12 but pending results of discussions at the Annual meeting, a Council meeting may be scheduled in June. Election for President Elect will take place at the next meeting. Official transition to the new council will be July 1st.

The meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

Minutes by Jamie Sharp

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

April 4, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 10:17 a.m. by President Gussin (Guest speaker, Ms. Lynette Marshall, spoke prior to the meeting. A report on her remarks follows the meeting minutes.)

Attendance: Clinton, Donham, Dorfman, Flanagan, Gussin, Jepsen, Johnson, Kuntz, Levin, Lim, Menninger, Sharp, and Stoner

The March 7, 2016 minutes were approved as corrected.

Life Milestones: the EFC noted the passing of members Margaret Keyes, Robert Baird, John Northrup, James Carter, William Murray and Albert Talbott

Reports

FRIC Report - 04/01/2016 (Lim - report previously submitted)

First item was on “Out of Area” Medical Coverage (for people whose primary residence is in Iowa): Data showed that only 3% of enrollees hit the “out of pocket” level 1 and 2 coverage.

Dental Plan coverage: Currently, there is 3.9 % enrollee had more than 2 cleanings per year, 5.2% more x-rays and 2% more periodontal care. There were long discussions about how to justify the extra visits and procedures.

Cadillac Tax: The ACA (Affordable Care Act) imposes an annual 40% excise tax on plans with annual premiums exceeding $10,200 for individuals or $27,500 for a family (to be paid for by the insurer). Employer-sponsored health insurance is considered part of the employees' compensation package, but is not taxed as wages. This is thought to be essentially a government subsidy that encourages employers to offer, and employees to enroll in, more expensive plans that cover more of the cost of medical care, and then the employees use that subsidized medical care excessively because they are insulated from its full cost. This policy was originally scheduled for 2018, but is now postponed till 2020.

Guiding Principles for the Flex Benefit System (distributed during the meeting): From Employee Perspective: That it is equitable and fair, that it provides flexibility and choice regarding their health care needs, that it is competitive, relative to both Big 10 peers and large area employers, that it is family friendly and finally, that it encourages positive behavior and self-responsibility relative to their own health and well-being.

From Institutional Perspective: That it reflects health as an investment in productivity and excellence and not solely as cost, that it is value driven, that it supports UI as a healthcare provider and finally, that it targets health care expenditures below Big 10 median.

President Harreld will be attending the FRIC Meeting in May. The committee asked attendees to arrive early and they are figuring out how to inform and educate him on their mission and work.

Research Council (Gussin)

President Harreld Spoke and Answered Questions. The budgetary process is underway. Colleges/units are being asked to prioritize their financial needs/requests.

Emeritus Faculty Lectures (Gussin)-

Tuesday, April 5 - Professor Emeritus Stephen Hendrix (Biology) Global Status of Pollinators: Why They Are Worth Saving And How We Can Help (101 Biology Bldg. East)

Elections – (Gussin for Weingeist) Candidates are still being recruited.

Program Committee - (Menninger) May 2nd regular meeting – no speaker

May 9th Annual meeting – Chuck Swanson, Hancher

Library Committee Meeting - March 7, 2016 (Dorfman - report previously submitted)

Sue Julich, head of library information technology, reported that InfoHawk for library catalogue will no longer be available when a new system and Smart Search go live on June 30. This will replace the old system in place since 2000. Communication about the new system will start in the next few weeks.

John Culshaw updated the committee on the budget picture for next year, which does not look good. He anticipates a flat year for 2017, so there would be no inflationary increase. He noted that 20% of the library budget goes to the law library; this was a long time decision that appears to have a political basis.

President Harreld will speak to the library committee at next month’s meeting. Culshaw would like the committee to stress the importance of the libraries for faculty research and for students, and that there is a need for physical space as well as electronic access. Culshaw also noted that the libraries are important for faculty retention.

The committee then toured the new One Button Studio in the Learning Commons; this is a venue for practicing presentations by seeing a video of yourself. It was a pretty impressive place!

UIRA Board Meeting - March 8, 2016 (Dorfman - report previously submitted)

The new UIRA student scholarship was discussed. After $5,000 has been donated to the fund, $5,000 will be added from the UIRA reserve fund. Further discussion involved how best to promote the new scholarship; suggestions included an article in the Daily Iowan, pledge forms to be distributed at the annual meeting, and contacting department chairs as a way of honoring their retiring faculty members.

The April UIRA meeting will be the annual luncheon and meeting, to be held at the Radisson Hotel in Coralville. Winners for the travel photo contest (109 entries), President’s award, and community and university service awards will be made. Recipients of the service awards have been selected.

UI retiree email migration: a meeting between UIRA officers and ITS is scheduled for March 11.

Upcoming programs include a tour of the Hansen football performance facility (725 people have signed up for the tour), a speaker on the Iowa Land Trust at the Coralville Library, and a TIAA-CREF speaker in September.

Parking and Transportation Committee - March 29, 2016 (Jepsen - report previously submitted)

Of particular interest to EFC is the discussion of Emeritus Parking permits as possibly being reported to the IRS as earnings for tax purposes. Dave Ricketts, Director of Parking and Transportation, introduced the topic last among the agenda items. He reported that the Office of General Counsel and the Tax Office (under Controller) had initiated discussions with him about the possibility of a tax on Emeritus Parking Permits. About 450-460 tags have been issued and the value of each is estimated at $62/month. The University could be subject to IRS fines of $1,000/permit if not in compliance.

Mr. Ricketts invited EFC representatives Prof. Warren Boe and Prof. Gary Gussin to discuss the matter earlier this month. Profs. Boe and Gussin offered proposals that are under consideration. Several questions remain and are being investigated by the General Counsel and Tax Office.

An additional item about Emeritus Parking permits was the difficulty in informing widows and widowers of Emeritus Faculty that the permit was not property to be passed on as an inheritance. The Committee agreed to give widows/widowers use of the permit for at least three months after the death of spouse.

Campus Project Updates – (Jepsen - report previously submitted)

1. UI and City of Iowa City continue to discuss a bicycle rental plan but no progress to report.

2. Construction project updates included the Hawkins Drive Reconstruction to start this spring, the Gateway project (raising of Dubuque Street and Park Road bridge) now in early phases, the Grand Avenue project now in late phases and the West Campus Energy Plant project has been cancelled.

3. Electric Vehicle Charging stations are being explored.

4. Bus shelters will be constructed this summer on commuter lots without loss of parking spots.

Mr. Ricketts reported on meeting with Staff Council and the questions they raised.

Pres. Herrald will visit the P & T Committee meeting in April.

Faculty Senate – 3/8/16 (Menninger - report previously submitted)

After the usual formalities were concluded there were three items of new
business:

1) Instructional Faculty Policy. The refined draft was presented for approval. Expressions of gratitude for all the hard work by many parties were offered. One councilor noted a difference between the
grievance procedures available to P&S Staff and the proposed policy -- the former limits initiation of challenges to review items to 10 business days after acknowledging receipt of notice of administrative
action; the proposed policy for instructional faculty allow 10 university days following the notice of the administrative action (acknowledgement of receipt not required). The point was made that
instructional faculty may be appointed only on nine-month contracts and that notice sent in May or December, just before teaching holidays longer than 10 days, might not in fact be received promptly. A lengthy discussion of rights and responsibilities ensued with little resolution. It was noted that there is a body of law concerned with issues of notice and response and the Senate Officers will look into
appropriate language and refine the policy before it comes before the Faculty Senate for a vote. With this proviso the policy was voted unanimously as recommended to the Senate.

2) Proposed Committee on Academic Values. This would be a Senate Committee charged to explore the principles and history related to core academic values in higher education -- for example, academic freedom, free speech, tenure and shared governance (it was pointed out that "academic integrity" was missing from the list; the response was that the list is not exhaustive). Proposed policies affecting such values would be counseled by this committee. Further, members could provide timely input to Senate officers and others about campus events, and reaction to them, that might negatively affect core values (for example, the 2014 brouhaha about a purported Ku Klux Klan statue on the Pentacrest). There seemed to be confusion between policy consideration duties, which take time and research, and fast consultation of committee members by Central Administrators in the event of a crisis involving the
values [apparently there is in place already a rapid-response system for such events]. Since the deadline has passed for appointing members by the Committee on Committees, the Senate President would appoint the initial committee membership. Among recommended members were at least one Law faculty, an Education faculty specializing in higher education and an Ombudsperson. The Council voted to recommend the formation of such a committee to the Faculty Senate.

Subsequent discussion of Strategic Planning and Communication was held in executive session, requiring departure of the EFC representative, John Menninger

Hancher Committee – Kuntz- Work is progressing on schedule and programs are lined up.

Next meeting May 2, 2016

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

Minutes by Jamie Sharp

Special Presentation – Ms. Lynette Marshall, The University of Iowa Foundation

The University’s Comprehensive Campaign, Iowa for Evermore, will conclude in 9 months.

The campaign has been focused on creating a culture of philanthropy on campus.
To date, $1.7B has been raised.
The money goes to support student scholarships, faculty teaching and research efforts and enriching Iowa communities.
550 new scholarships and 64 new faculty chairs/professorships have been established.
70% of emeritus faculty have contributed totaling $18M
Active faculty participation has increased from 13% in the past to 17% for this campaign
Student involvement has been fostered with various activities including a “pay-it-forward” event and “I am Phil” buttons

Philanthropy is more important than ever with the decline in State Support.

There are 266,000 living alumni.

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

March 7, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by President Gussin

Attendance: Clinton, Donham, Dorfman, Flanagan, Gussin, Jepsen, Johnson, Kuntz, Levin, Lim, Menninger, Sharp, and Weingeist

The February 1, 2016 minutes were approved as circulated

Life Milestones: the EFC noted the passing of members Jim Jakobsen, Charles Read, Pete Knapp and John Montgomery

Reports

Meeting with UI President Harreld – Gussin

Topics of discussion included use of emeritus faculty in teaching in lieu of adjuncts; IT – Mr. Harreld suspects that licensing issues are probably difficult to change; EF continuing to serve the University – Mr. Harreld wants to see the results of last year’s survey (check w/ Boe/are the results on our website?)

Gussin will consider sending email to EF seeking interest in service to the UI. Individuals could send CVs to Central Administration for review.

Special report – Retiree Health Care Choice Report - Lim (report submitted previously)

Patricia Clinton, George Johnson and I visited Jessica Wade at the University Benefits Office for a chat regarding “medical insurance for retired faculty members and their families” on 02/09/16 and the following summarizes the gist of our conversation.

* There are two major health insurance policies for Medicare-eligible faculty retirees: UI Choice and Health Alliance. The latter has two further options –Medicare Advantage PPO and Medicare Advantage HMO. Premium for the three choices are respectively $576, $279 and $35 per month. The university contributes 50% to the UI Choice for faculty retirees, so the premium is actually $288/month in 2016. We do not recommend the HMO option because its coverage is scarcely satisfactory, so we focused our comparison between UI Choice and Health Alliance PPO.

* The University of Iowa administers the UI Choice while the PPO is managed by private enterprise. In the PPO insurance, there is a difference of coverage depending on whether one uses “In-network” or “Out-of-Network” facilities; the latter tends to be more expensive. The Network designation is determined by Health Alliance. Medication coverage tends to be less generous.

* PPO covers urgent and emergency care worldwide at the in-network level. Outside of that, the plan will not cover services outside of the country. While there is an out of network benefit, the provider has to accept Medicare for us to cover the claim. Since providers outside of the US don’t work with Medicare, services wouldn’t be covered (from Jessica Wade).

* UI Choice: If you are in a state other than Iowa and require medical care, you may call Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa at (800) 810-BLUE (2583) for assistance in locating the closest participating provider in that state. You can also find providers in other states through the Wellmark website. Out-of-Country – If it is necessary to receive covered services in a country other than the United States, it is advisable to contact Blue Cross and Blue Shield for assistance in locating the closest participating provider in that country (from Jessica Wade).

* The details of coverage and the formula used to calculate Out-of- Pocket payments are quite complex and difficult to comprehend. For non-faculty retirees whom the university does not pay 50% of the cost, the cost of the premium is an extra $297/month. Is it worth it? It is a personal decision depending on financial issue and the desire to secure a peace of the mind.

* Because the choice between the two programs is somewhat personal, we have asked Jessica Wade whether she would be willing to attend one of our meeting session and answered questions and she graciously agreed. We need to consult John Menninger on an appropriate date. We also asked Ms. Wade to prepare a table comparing UI Choice and Health Alliance PPO with regard to out of state, out of the country coverage, deductible, co-insurance and out of pocket maximum in the in-patient and out-patient settings as well as medication coverage and others.

Additional discussion: Including emeritus faculty in the Live Well program was considered but was decided against due to the cost. Jessica Wade, Assistant Benefits Manager (335-2675), is willing to come to speak to our meeting – possibly in May.

Elections – Weingeist

Review of terms ending and eligibility for re-election:

1st Term ending/eligible for re-election

Flanagan/College of Pharmacy

Kuntz/College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Menninger/College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Jepson/College of Education – not running for 2nd term –need candidate(s) to fill this position.

Completion of fill-in term and now eligible for 1st term election:

Lim (for Summers)/College of Medicine

Clinton (for Craft-Rosenberg)/College of Nursing

These council members should let Weingeist know if she is willing to run again. Other candidates will also be encouraged to run.

2nd term ending and not eligible for re-election:

Dorfman/College of Liberal Arts and Sciences –need candidate(s) to fill this position.

Weingeist reviewed the election schedule:

4/14 E-mail request for EFC wishing to serve on Council

4/21 noon – Bio sketch from nominees to Boe/Weingeist. Bios should be between 100-150 words in length.

4/28 E-mail ballot & bio sketch to emeritus faculty who can vote for a particular candidate

5/5 noon – deadline for submitting electronic ballot

5/9 Annual meeting – announcement of elected Council members

Faculty Senate – Menninger (reports previously submitted)

Draft Report on Faculty Council meeting 3/8/16
After the usual formalities were concluded there were three items of new business:

1) Instructional Faculty Policy. The refined draft was presented for approval. Expressions of gratitude for all the hard work by many parties were offered. One councilor noted a difference between the grievance procedures available to P&S Staff and the proposed policy -- the former limits initiation of challenges to review items to 10 business days after acknowledging receipt of notice of administrative action; the proposed policy for instructional faculty allow 10
university days following the notice of the administrative action (acknowledgement of receipt not required). The point was made that instructional faculty may be appointed only on nine-month contracts and that notice sent in May or December, just before teaching holidays
longer than 10 days, might not in fact be received promptly. A lengthy discussion of rights and responsibilities ensued with little resolution. It was noted that there is a body of law concerned with issues of notice and response and the Senate Officers will look into appropriate language and refine the policy before it comes before the Faculty Senate for a vote. With this proviso the policy was voted unanimously as recommended to the Senate.

2) Proposed Committee on Academic Values. This would be a Senate Committee charged to explore the principles and history related to core academic values in higher education -- for example, academic freedom, free speech, tenure and shared governance (it was pointed out that
"academic integrity" was missing from the list; the response was that the list is not exhaustive). Proposed policies affecting such values would be counseled by this committee. Further, members could provide timely input to Senate officers and others about campus events, and reaction to them, that might negatively affect core values (for example,
the 2014 brouhaha about a purported Ku Klux Klan statue on the Pentacrest). There seemed to be confusion between policy consideration duties, which take time and research, and fast consultation of committee members by Central Administrators in the event of a crisis involving the values [apparently there is in place already a rapid-response system for such events]. Since the deadline has passed for appointing members by the Committee on Committees, the Senate President would appoint the initial committee membership. Among recommended members were at least one Law faculty, an Education faculty specializing in higher education and an Ombudsperson. The Council voted to recommend the formation of such a committee to the Faculty Senate.

Subsequent discussion of Strategic Planning and Communication was held in executive session, requiring departure of the EFC representative, John Menninger

Campus Planning Committee – Levin (report submitted; not reported orally)

Emerald Ash Borer – recently discovered on the UI campus. Landscape Services has a plan to address the infestation.
Bowen Science Building, Modernizing building systems – This project modernizes the heating, ventilation and AC systems at BSB requiring installation of Strobic Air style fan assemblies located external to the existing roof penthouses. These will be located in six locations on the roof and screening of the fan assemblies will not be used.
West Campus Energy Plant, construct facility – a west campus energy plant will supplement utility services provided by the main campus power plant. Original schematic designs were reviewed with the CPC in July, 2015 and have since been further vetted.
Osprey Nesting Platform – Athletics requests permission to install Osprey nesting platforms on the west side of campus. Two sites were considered in the 43-acre wetland area near the Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex and next to the pond to the east of the Hawkeye Softball Complex. Plans are to proceed with the Hawkeye Softball Complex site this year. Consideration for the Hawkeye Campus will follow an updated master plan.

Hancher Committee – Kuntz

There will be no senior discounts. The first show is scheduled for 9/20.

Special Presentation – Provost Barry Butler and Associate Provost Kevin Kregel

AP Kregel discussed the UI’s Proposed Instructional Policy (a design which is used country-wide):

Lecturers are hired for fixed terms which can be renewed. Lecturers can be promoted to Associate Professor of Practice/Instruction.
APPI – mid-level non-tenure track faculty; can be promoted to PP/I
Professor of Practice/Instruction – not a tenure-track position; can have longer contracts of 3-5 years
Individuals can be hired-in at any level.

Discussion: Adjunct/lecturer faculty vs. research faculty; distinctions between research universities vs. community colleges. Advantages of proposal include career opportunities not on tenure track; recognition; provides flexibility for university; doesn’t demean the university as it doesn’t change the profile of the institution; budgets must balance but not at the expense of hiring all lecturers.

Provost Butler discussed the UI’s Path Forward. The Strategic Plan Development Group consisting of faculty, staff and students are developing the Institutional vision, overarching goals, initial strategies and metrics. The overall plan should be fully implemented by 2021. Student success is the primary goal.

Next meeting April 4, 2016

The meeting & presentation adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Minutes by Jamie Sharp

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

February 1, 2016

The meeting was called to order at 9:30 a.m. by President Gussin

Attendance: Boe, Clinton, Dorfman, Flanagan, Gussin, Jepsen, Johnson, Kuntz, Lim, Menninger, Sharp, and Stoner

The December 7, 2015 minutes were approved as circulated & corrected (Johnson 1st/Dorfman 2nd)

Reports

Emeritus Faculty Lectures – Gussin

2/2 Bill Buss - Federalism, the Bill of Rights, and Marriage under the Australian and American Constitutions

3/3 Arthur Bonfield - The Freedom of Speech Guaranteed by the US Constitution

Research Council – Gussin

The UI needs a new drone policy. Questions such as who pays for insurance on the use of drones must be answered. The Research Council will work on this with input from relevant constituencies.

Faculty Senate – Menninger (reports previously submitted)

12/8/15 meeting

After dispensing with the usual housekeeping matters the Senate turned to a single item of New Business:
Graduate Dean, John Keller, gave an update on the Ph.D. Review Project. TF1.0, the Task Force on Graduate Education, followed the National Research Council review of 2008-09 and was the first ever comprehensive evaluation of all the graduate programs at the University. That Task Force included 20 faculty and one student. Its report was submitted in February 2010 and is available on the Provost's web site. Its recommendations included creation of new programs, closure of others (details not given at the Senate meeting) and changes in tuition and fellowship programs (e.g., phasing out the 'block grants'), among others. An emphasis on shortening the time-to-degree, as well as reduced admission of new Ph.D. students led to equal numbers of new Ph.D. students and degrees granted in 2010-11. Major improvements in times-to-degree were demonstrated by departments in the humanities and social sciences. A problem persists in the fraction failing to complete the degree: some programs have rates of only 30% (names not mentioned). An engineering faculty member asked about the counting of students who enter as Ph.D. aspirants but who switch to a master's program and get that degree; they are considered as not completing their degree.

The current Ph.D. Review Project (TF2) is concerned with fostering 'successful students and distinctive programs'. Student success is evaluated partially on honorifics while still a student and career placement. The criteria include the 'AAU vision for graduate education'. A cursory search on the AAU web site didn't reveal much about that vision and Keller's remarks were not especially explicit. I did approach him after we were both thrown out of the meeting to see whether the influence of graduate education on faculty research and the defining characteristic of Research I Universities -- that teaching faculty do research in their areas, thus providing undergraduates with a different and valuable experience, when compared with community colleges -- and he assured me that he makes that point at every opportunity.

The current review is underway via Disciplinary Subcommittees; they will report to an Oversight Committee next month; that committee will formulate broad recommendations which will be reviewed by the Graduate Council before being forwarded to the Provost (with, presumably, commentary by the Graduate College Dean). There are four students currently serving on the Graduate Council.

The Senate then entered into executive session with our legislative delegation and your humble reporter left the room.

1/26/16 meeting

The Council met on 1/26/16 and after dispensing with the usual bookkeeping, went into an unannounced executive session for about an hour -- agenda item: "Instructional Faculty Policy Update", led by Senate President Bohannan.

When the meeting resumed the sole additional agenda item discussed was "President's Strategic Initiatives". Various governance constituencies have been solicited by President Harreld for suggestions on such initiatives and five dozen have been received. Each was summarized in a couple of lines (although the suggestions were about a page in length) in a table that was presented to Councilors.

The various proposals were placed in the table into nine groups (paraphrased here):

1) Study AAU criteria and explore gaps between them and U/IA faculty; 2) Develop enhanced faculty recruitment packages; 3) Review metrics for promotion and post-tenure productivity (incent mentoring); 4) Evaluate indirect cost recovery model; 5) Increase opportunities for interdisciplinary problem solving in research and teaching (course on Big Ideas, systems thinking); 6) Improve student communication skills; 7) Strengthen recruitment and retention of underrepresented faculty and students (including micro aggression training and micro-communities for various student categories); 8) Improve faculty benefits (e.g., parental leave, free tuition for family); 9) Expand external engagement (e.g., improving waste water treatment). The Senate Officers want them to be assigned to one of four broad groups: 1) Service to Iowa; 2) Improve knowledge creation and dissemination; 3) Improve teaching and student development; 4) Improve campus culture and faculty well-being. Cost and impact of implementing the various proposals forwarded to the president will need determined.

These suggestions for strategies will first be considered by planning groups: one for suggestions that could be implemented in less than 18 months; another for longer-term strategies (18 months - five years).

Discussion was wide ranging and largely inconclusive. One Councilor raised the issue of the suggestions and groupings seeming to ignore the primacy of research and teaching, another noted that these strategic initiatives could be changing the university's "brand." All agreed this was an important exercise, and possibly dangerous.

Some of the suggestions, although not discussed, are of potential interest to emeriti -- e.g., #35: "...modify policies and programs that provide more opportunities for aging faculty and staff to remain healthy and productive".

The agenda item "Board of Regents Strategic Planning" was not discussed, although apparently such planning is underway.

Discussion at EFC meeting: brief discussion of initiatives that potentially are of interest to emeriti. Gussin asked if we should try to meet with President Harreld (he is not available for our annual meeting in May). Menninger cited the UI’s aging faculty and staff initiative(s) and President Harreld speaking to the UIRA as reasons to request a meeting. Everyone was in agreement that, at least, Gussin, and Boe should request a meeting.

UIRA Board Meeting - January 12, 2016 – Lorraine Dorfman

There were a number of committee reports as summarized below:

Plans for UIRA Scholarship: A statement of gift intent to establish a non-endowed fund of $12,500 at the UI Foundation has been drafted. There will be a vote on this statement by email. The board would like the budget committee to determine how much of the UIRA reserve fund ($18,000) should be contributed to the scholarship fund.
President’s Award: Ken Starck suggested a new award for outstanding contributions to UIRA. This was adopted by the board on 1/12/16. The award will be $100 in cash.
Photo Contest Update: There have been eight contestants so far with 30+ images submitted. More submissions are expected.
Membership: There were two renewals last month and one new member. This year may set a record with 520 paid memberships.
Future programs: These include the Athletics Department and the Iowa Heritage group.

Election of Officers – Gussin

Review of terms ending and eligibility for re-election:

1st Term ending/eligible for re-election

Flanagan/College of Pharmacy

Jepson/College of Education

Kuntz/College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Menninger/College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Lim/College of Medicine

These council members should let Weingeist know if he/she is willing to run again. Other candidates will also be encouraged to run.

2nd term ending and not eligible for re-election:

Dorfman/College of Liberal Arts and Sciences –Please suggest candidate(s) to fill this position.

Interpretation of our Bylaws suggests that members, who have served previously, would be eligible to run if they were interested.

Program Committee - Menninger

President Harreld is not available to speak at our annual meeting. Chuck Swanson was suggested as a speaker for the annual meeting. There has not been a response from Lynette Marshall’s office about speaking at a Council meeting.

Membership – Gussin

Gussin has “done a re-audit of the membership list (from Bradley/Millsap) and found about 25 emeritus faculty that we weren’t aware of. Some were from a few years ago, but most were from the last 6 months. There were also several deceased members that we weren’t aware of. Current membership is approximately 806.”

Health Insurance – Gussin

Gussin reported that “his wife got a letter from the University describing, among other things, the Health Alliance Advantage Plan alternative to BC/BS carve-out (which is a supplement that is not the same as Advantage plan) for Medicare enrollees. The letter claimed that the PPO Advantage plan was similar in benefits to the BC/BS carve-out, which we determined last year is not true for people who choose to get health care some place other than in IC, and/or choose a provider who is not part of the “Alliance.”

Question: Do we want to do anything to inform our members? A sub-committee consisting of Johnson, Lim and Clinton was appointed to investigate with FRIC.

IT Services - Gussin

Gussin reported that “The issue of access to IT software downloads was raised again this time by UIRA members who are emeritus faculty. For some who make requests for access usually are still active in scholarship or in other activities that serve the University.”

As previously reported, licensing agreements for software does not include emeritus faculty. Two inquiries to the Provost’s office have yielded no response. The EFC wants to continue to pursue this and will seek a meeting with President Harreld to discuss this, among other issues.

Special Presentation: The Obermann Center – Dr. Teresa Mangum

The Obermann Center is now located at 111 Church St. It has admin offices, 6 fellows-in-residence offices and seminar space. There is a monthly e-newsletter which we can subscribe to at: www.obermann.uiowa.edu

The Center’s mission is to:

Advance disciplinary excellence
Inspire cross-disciplinary collaboration
Promote publically-engaged research
Network artists, scholars, researchers
Broadcast UI successes

The Center’s mission is accomplished through:

Obermann Humanities Symposium (this year: Germans in Iowa: Immigration Histories)
Fellows-in-Residence
Graduate Institute on Engagement and the Academy
Summer Research Seminar
Interdisciplinary Research Grants
Working Groups
HASTAC (The Humanities, Arts, Science, and Technology Advanced Collaboratory’s Scholars Program
Co-Sponsorship programs
Special opportunities funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Dr. Mangum encourage emeritus faculty to learn about and become involved in activities at the Obermann Center. She invited us to hold an upcoming EFC meeting there.

Next meeting March 7, 2016

The meeting & presentation adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Minutes by Jamie Sharp

Meeting Minutes 2016

December 5, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

December 5, 2016

November 7, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

November 7, 2016

Committee Reports:

Presentation by Jessica Wade from UI Benefits

Old business: Meeting with Provost November 11

October 4, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

October 4, 2016

Faculty Senate, 09/20/16 – Menninger (previously submitted)

Discussion:

EFC Lecture Series – Gussin (Polumbaum and Kuntz)

Upcoming speaker(s):

Parking – Gussin (two letters herein are for historical and background purposes)

Change in Emeritus Parking Tag Policy

Written comments in response to survey:

New Business

September 12, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

September 12, 2016

May 16, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

May 16, 2016

May 9, 2016 (Annual Meeting)

Association of Emeritus Faculty Minutes

May 9, 2016, Room 2520OD UCC

May 2, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

May 2, 2016

April 4, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

April 4, 2016

Special Presentation – Ms. Lynette Marshall, The University of Iowa Foundation

March 7, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

March 7, 2016

February 1, 2016

Emeritus Faculty Council Minutes

February 1, 2016