Minutes
EMERITUS FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING
9:30 a.m. Monday, September 5, 2023
(UCC 2520-C, With Zoom Connection.)
Chair Berman called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
Roll Call:
EFC Members Attending: Constance Berman, Warren Boe, Ana Diaz-Arnold, Minnetta Gardinier, Diane Huber, Sheldon Kurtz, Russell Lenth, , Jacob Odgaard, Bernard Sorofman, Shelton Stromquist, John Westefeld,
EFC Members Absent: Christopher Atchison, Mary Ann Rasmussen, Carol Scott-Connor, William Silverman, Tricia Zebrowski
Approval of Minutes. Approval of minutes from EFC Annual meeting held on May 15, 2023
Election of Russ Lenth as Vice President and Christopher Atchison as Secretary
New Emeritus Faculty
Name College Retirement Date
Jeanette Harrington CCOM 5/1/2023
Walter Vispoel CEDU 5/17/2023
Susane Assouline CEDU 7/3/2023
Daniel Berg CCOM 7/3/2023
George Achrazoglou CEDU 9/1/2023
Ann McCarthy CNUR 6/30/2023
Kerri Rupe CNUR 6/30/2023
Karen Gehrs CCOM 8/2/2023
Limin Yang CCOM 9/10/2019 !
Anthony Knight CCOM 9/9/2023
Eric Devor CCOM 6/30/2023
Mark Andersland CEND 6/30/2023
Audrey Butler CEND 6/7/2023
R. Eric Stone CLAS 6/30/2023
Mark Osiel CLAW 6/30/2023
Stephen Swanson CLAS 6/30/2023
Laura Graham CLAS 6/30/2023
Elizabeth Field CCOM 7/7/2023
Recently Deceased Emeritus Faculty
Name College Date
Mary Donahue CNUR 5/16/2023
George Judisch CCOM 5/29/2023
Norman Kallaus CBUS 5/19/2023
Hughlett Morris CLAS 6/13/2023
Russell Noyes Jr. CCOM 6/21/2023
William Belll CCOM 6/28/2023
Gary Hansen CEDU 7/1/2023
John Huntley CLAS 7/9/2023
Bor-Luh Lin CLAS 8/3/2023
Craig Kietzing CLAS 8/10/2023
Maureen Robertson CLAS 7/27/2023
Moment of Silence in Remembrance
EFC Committees
Berman thanked Gardinier for her work on this. Gardinier noted that she wanted to create actual committees
Elections – Diane Huber, Mary Ann Rasmussen, Bill Silverman (Berman, ex officio)
Election of Russ Lenth as Vice President and Christopher Atchison as Secretary
Program – Ana Diaz-Arnold, Sheldon Kurtz, John Westefeld (Berman, ex officio)
Lecture Series – Carol Scott-Conner, Shelton Stromquist, Tricia Zebrowski.
Webpage – Russell Lenth, Minnetta Gardinier, Bernard Sorofman
University Liaisons
Campus Planning: Jacob Odgaard – No Report
Faculty Senate and Council: Minnetta Gardinier & Mary Ann Rasmussen.
Gardinier announced that the next Faculty Senate meeting is September 12, 2023 at 3:30pm. She also stated that the policy regarding Instructional track faculty was revised has been revised and will be added to the Ops Manual.
FRIC: Sheldon Kurtz & William Silverman.
Sorofman reported that beginning January 1, 2024, WellMark BCBS will be requiring all health insurance plans/all plan members to designate a primary care provider in their system. This requirement impacts the UI Choice and UI Select health plans. However, this designation does NOT require that an individual first seek care through a PCP. Plan members may still seek care directly with a specialist as needed. Information on this change will be sent to plan members later this fall.
Discussion was held regarding the possibility of this change affecting those covered by the plans ability to reach out to specialist when needed.
Kurtz announced retirees on UI health plans will subject to a 1% increase for FY ’24. Discussion was held on the potential for the University to cover the cost of weight loss medication for persons with no underlying condition. It is not clear at this time if the University will offer this coverage. The earliest it may be available would be 2025.
Wellmark will be changing the name of the plans provided to Wellmark Blue HMO and
Wellmark Blue PPO. Those covered by the newly names plans will be asked to name a
primary care provider. Discussion was held regarding the possibility of this change affecting
those covered by the plans ability to reach out to specialist when needed.
The University subsidized its healthcare plans with 35 million dollars, zero of which went towards retirees. Discussion was held regarding EFC bringing this up with UI administration. A discussion ensued regarding the difficulty in obtaining appointments at UIHC and the extraordinary wait times at the UIHC ER. The question was then raised on the potential for bringing this to the attention of Faculty Council and/or Senate.
It was suggested inviting the new VPMA and Dean to an EFC meeting to discuss. A decision was made for a letter to be drafted on this topic for discussion at the next monthly EFC meeting.
Hancher and Art Museum: Ana Diaz-Arnold & Bernard Sorofman – No Report
Libraries: Russell Lenth & Diane Huber – No Report
Parking and Transportation: Warren Boe & Carol Scott Conner – No Report
President’s Committee on Athletics: John Westefeld & Tricia Zebrowski – No Report
Recreational Services: Christopher Atchison – No Report
Research Council: Shelton Stromquist – No Report
Senior College: Warren Boe – No Report
UIRA: Vacant
Old Business:
Nothing to report on the letter to the Provost regarding IT services for emeritus faculty
New Business:
Berman solicited people to volunteer to serve on EFC committees and as liaisons to the various committees EFC is involved with. The goal is to have names by September 12, 2023. She, in turn, will work with Minnetta Gardinier to assign people.
Connie asked for volunteers to join an online meeting regarding retirement taking place October 9 from 10:11:30am. This is being organized through the Office of the Provost and participants will be asked to answer questions from recent and upcoming retirees.
A Permissive Conferral request from the College of Public Health was discussed, voted on, and recommended.
Guest Speaker
Berman introduced the guest speaker, Adam Knight, Producing Artistic Director, Riverside Theatre Iowa City, IA.
Adam provided his history in the arts, why he believes venues such as Riverside Theatre thrive in smaller communities such and Iowa City, provided an overview of their new space and some sneak peaks into upcoming productions.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15 am.