September 24, 2012
Constitutional Amendment Could Strip Away Pension Protection
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| House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton were among sponsors of Constitutional Amendment #49. |
A CONSTITUTIONAL amendment that will be on the November
6 ballot, “CA #49,” if approved by voters, could empower the Illinois General
Assembly “to modify our benefits any way they want,” said Jack Hall, President of the Illinois Central College Annuitants’
Association. “If this amendment passes, it will do away with the contract
protection clause in the current Illinois Constitution, which states that a
contract cannot be impaired.”
CURRENTLY, THE Illinois Constitution states in
Article XIII, Section 5, that “Membership in any pension or retirement system
of the State, any unit of local government or school district, or any agency or
instrumentality thereof shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the
benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.”
CA #49 is about 700 words long, but its crux
is that it would allow restricting or eliminating a benefit with a simple
majority vote of a governing body, which in the case of the University would be
the Illinois General Assembly. If passed, the amendment would overturn and
supersede Article XIII, Section 5’s clause prohibiting benefits from being
diminished or impaired.
OBSERVERS BELIEVE the amendment was crafted for the
purpose of eliminating the constitutional protection of the State Universities
Retirement System. Often, constitutional amendments pass with the public not
fully understanding them because of their length and complexity.
“AMENDMENT 49 contains more words than the entire
first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution—the Bill of Rights,” said John Kindt, Emeritus Professor of Business, University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “The obvious intent of the verbose Amendment 49
is to hide its true impacts from voters in a 700-word avalanche of unnecessary
and deceptive words. Marketing experts know that few voters will read beyond
the benign first sentences and that voters will be inclined to vote ‘yes.’”
THE STATE Universities Annuitants’ Association (SUAA)
recommends a “no” vote on HCA #49.
“WE ARE under attack, like never before, by a
majority of powerful legislators who control the way things roll in Springfield
and by an uninformed and unsympathetic private sector,” said Bruce C. Appleby, member of SUAA’s
Constitutional Amendment #49 Committee and Executive Committee.
“WADING THROUGH the language that seems to purposely
mislead and misdirect, it appears that Clause 1 says that a 60% majority of
both houses is needed to increase any
pension benefit of any unit of government in the State,” Appleby continued.
“Clause 2 appears to say that the General Assembly may take any action that restricts benefit increases, which would include the COLA (cost of
living adjustment) or any other aspect of our pensions and benefits—at any time
and in any way.
“TALK TO your family and all your friends,”
Appleby added. “Let everyone you know that Constitutional Amendment #49 must be
defeated for your sake and for that of thousands of Illinois residents.”
SUAA’S LIST of talking points for defeating Constitutional
Amendment 49 notes that it “is the latest in a series of attacks on you and
other public employees and retirees,” would “grant unprecedented power to State
and local governments to make changes to pension benefits and existing law,”
will “not result in savings to taxpayers,” and will “do nothing to address the
State’s financial crisis.”
THE AMENDMENT was introduced in the Illinois House
by Speaker Michael Madigan
(D-Chicago), and Representatives Andre
M. Thapedi (D-Chicago) and Fred
Crespo (D-Streamwood). In the Senate, it was introduced by Senators John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Iris Martinez (D-Chicago), and Jeffrey Schoenberg (D-Evanston). It was
adopted for placement on the November 6 ballot by both houses on May 3.
APAC CHAIR Michael
Moss said, “I’ve read the language of the amendment as well as the argument
crafted by SUAA. I understand that there are those who support SUAA’s
perspective, but acknowledge there are others who disagree. What is clear
is to me is that the language of the amendment is confusing and there is no
consensus on what it means. All of the arguments aside, what I don’t
see is any benefit to the amendment if it is passed. Without any clearly
defined benefit, I will personally be voting ‘no’ in light of all of the
confusion.”
APAC
ENCOURAGES all
employees to read the amendment (available here), better understand the arguments
supporting and opposing the amendment, draw their own conclusions, and to vote
accordingly.
Choosing to Pursue Civil Service
AS UIC Human Resources
staff members continue to work with departments on the mandated review of
Academic Professional positions and the conversion of some positions to Civil
Service, posted openings for Civil Service jobs may catch the eye of current
Academic Professionals looking for new challenges.
“EVERYONE IS welcome to apply for any opening on campus,” said Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Robert Crouch. “We post positions to make people aware of vacancies and other career related opportunities on campus, as some openings may involve possibilities for advancement. I hope we have an environment where employees are encouraged to pursue their career interests. It is important to retain institutional knowledge and talent at UIC.”
WHILE ANNOUNCEMENTS of job openings may come through a variety of
campus communications vehicles, Crouch recommends the HR website
https://jobs.uic.edu/job-board as the most comprehensive listing of available
campus positions. The menu of job opportunities on the site includes Civil
Service, Academic Professional, Student, and Faculty categories.
POSITION DESCRIPTIONS will outline the skill set, experience, and
credentials required to apply for a position, including when transcripts are
needed to support academic degrees required for some positions. Reviewing this
information will help current employees determine if they can submit a
successful application for another University position.
CROUCH EMPHASIZED that jobs classified as Civil Service cover a broad spectrum of
abilities, from entry level clerical to professional level such as nurses,
managerial, and sometimes supervisory-level positions.
WHEN CONSIDERING a career move within the University, Crouch stated that employees
should make their current managers aware of their interest in applying for
another role on campus. “No one likes that kind of a surprise,” Crouch said
about losing a valued staff member.
THE PROPER classification of positions is necessary for compliance with the State
Universities Civil Service System statutes. The process began last year, and
may continue for three years. The time-intensive analysis includes personal
interviews with employees and their managers to understand the essential
functions of the job and culminates in an agreed-upon job description. The new
job description is then evaluated and classified as AP or Civil Service.
CROUCH SHARED results of the process to date:
- 1,635 positions have been reviewed and analyzed.
- 2,877 positions remain for review.
- 314 positions have been converted from AP to
Civil Service.
- 243 positions are in the process of conversion
from AP to Civil Service.
“WHAT AN individual
actually does—their duties and functions—determines if the position is Academic
Professional or Civil Service,” Crouch said.
Health Benefits Contracts Extended
CMS CURRENTLY is conducting a competitive bid
procurement process for managed care plans. The emergency contracts, which
would have concluded this month, are extended until this supplemental managed care procurement is
completed, not to exceed Sunday, June 30, 2013.
HEALTH
INSURANCE rates
remain unchanged at this time. If any health plan carrier changes occur, there
may be a Special Enrollment Period held to allow employees the opportunity to
modify their coverage elections, if desired. More information will be provided
if any such changes occur.
EMPLOYEES
ARE encouraged
to check the NESSIE website at https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu
on a regular basis to ensure they have the most up-to-date information.
Follow-up email notices will be sent to employees as information becomes
available from CMS.
IF YOU have any questions about your benefit
plans, contact your campus Benefits Services office at (312) 996-6471 or send an
e-mail to benefits@uillinois.edu.
 |
SCHOOL BAG
DRIVE--APAC participated in the school bag drive through the UIC Chance Program.
In the photo, employees help stuff school bags. The College of Dentistry Office of
Prevention and Public Health Sciences donated toothpaste and toothbrushes. The
Department of Athletics donated items as well.
|
Visiting AP Position Search Requirements Told
REVISIONS TO the hiring process for visiting Academic
Professional (AP) positions (Human Resources’ Policy No. 203-02) went into
effect Aug. 16.
IN ORDER to fill vacant or new visiting
positions or extend appointments for existing visiting positions beyond the
three- and five-year time limits, a
unit is required to submit a position job description to Human Resources (HR)
for review and approval. HR's review
serves to ensure UIC's compliance with State Civil Service laws and
requirements of the State Universities Civil Service System (SUCSS). Once the job description is approved, a unit
is required to conduct a search pursuant to the academic search process, or
"standard search."
FROM TIME to time, rare circumstances exist
that make it permissible to forgo a standard search. While circumstances must be evaluated on a
case by case basis, the following are some examples of such circumstances:
- Grant Funded Positions: When an individual is named in an externally funded grant.
- Promotion - Transfer - Rehire: When a current, or former, AP staff member best qualifies to fill the vacancy.
- Previous Search: When a qualified candidate is available from a previous search for a similar position.
- Groups: When groups of employees join the campus work force by institutional decision, e.g., a previous State program becomes a UIC program or hires pursuant to the Chancellor's Cluster Hire initiative.
- Reorganization: When a unit undergoes administrative reorganization or reassignment.
- Spousal/Partner Hires: When a spouse or partner is appointed to an AP position for which he or she is qualified.
- Sponsored Funding Restoration: When an employee is involuntarily terminated from a sponsored program due to lack of funds, the funds are shortly restored, and where the employee would return in the same position.
The Office of Access and Equity and HR recognize the importance of quickly
and efficiently filling visiting appointments that are grant funded. HR continues to create and implement job
descriptions that fall within a Civil Service exemption and which may be
utilized by hiring departments to swiftly move the HR job analysis
process. The template job descriptions
alleviate a department's responsibility for drafting and receiving HR approval
for new job descriptions for every visiting AP position.
OAE WILL maintain its search waiver process. If an individual is named in an externally
funded grant, a unit should submit a search waiver to OAE explaining that the
individual to be appointed is named in the grant. OAE will continue to process such requests
within 24 - 48 hours from receipt of the required documentation.
HIRING OFFICERS should consider whether the
University's interests are best served in foregoing the standard search
process. Waiver of all or part of the
regular search process is appropriate in situations where it can be amply demonstrated
that the investment of time and effort in a search is simply not in the
University's best interests.
THE SEARCH waiver process is not burdensome or
time consuming. A unit simply submits a
Request for Waiver form to OAE along with supporting documentation, including
the candidate's or employee's CV or resume; the detailed reasons for the
request, including but not limited to the employee's skills and backgrounds as
well as departmental needs for the request; and the HR approved job description
(or PAPE, if applicable).
APAC Member Jacqueline Berger to Receive Award of Merit
 |
Jacqueline
Berger.
|
BERGER
IS Director of
Communications for the Vice Chancellor for Research, and is on the Building
Community/Education Committee for APAC.
“RECEIVING THE Award of Merit came
as a great surprise and is a great honor, but it is the strong network of
colleagues I have developed over the years that has helped me be successful in
my job,” Berger said.
APAC Meetings Scheduled; All Invited
ALL
APs are invited to
the monthly APAC meeting at 12:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.
Meetings are held either in Room 5175 of the College of Medicine Research
Building, 909 S. Wolcott, or Room 2750 of University Hall on the East Campus.
SCHEDULED MEETINGS are Oct. 10 in Room 5175 CMRB, Nov. 14 in Room 2750 UH, Dec. 12 in Room 5175 CMRB. For information, call (312) 996-0306.
SCHEDULED MEETINGS are Oct. 10 in Room 5175 CMRB, Nov. 14 in Room 2750 UH, Dec. 12 in Room 5175 CMRB. For information, call (312) 996-0306.
Al-Kodmany Replaces Rodriguez as APAC Vice Chair; Chancellor Picks Bike for Top-Level Search Committee
 |
| Left to Right: Ahlam Al-Kodmany, Yair Rodriguez, and William S. Bike. |
SHE SUCCEEDS Yair Rodriguez, who had been Vice Chair of APAC. Rodriguez has left the University to take a post with the Chicago Public Schools. He had been Academic Coordinator for the CHANCE program.
APAC MEMBER and AP Senator William S. Bike was chosen by Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares to serve on the search committee for the Executive Associate Chancellor of External and Governmental Relations.
CIVIL SERVICE FACT VS. FICTION
Editor’s note: Civil
Service Fact vs. Fiction answers employee questions about Civil
Service/Academic Professional issues. Got a question for UIC Human Resources
about Civil Service? Academic Professional issues? E-mail billbike@uic.edu, and APAC News will attempt
to get your question answered.
QUESTION: IF I’m currently an Academic Professional (AP) employee, can I apply for Civil Service positions?
QUESTION: IF I’m currently an Academic Professional (AP) employee, can I apply for Civil Service positions?
APAC Profile
 |
Advocating
for the UIC College of Dentistry with Federal officials is one of Bill Bike’s
jobs at UIC. Here, Bike (2nd from left) meets with Senator Richard
Durbin (left) and then-Senator Barack Obama. At center is Bike’s wife, Anne
Nordhaus-Bike, and next to Obama is Pam Svensson.
|
By Ivone DeJesus
WILLIAM S. BIKE is the Director of Advancement and Alumni Affairs Communications for the College of Dentistry. Since Bike has been at UIC for 17 years (all of those at the College of Dentistry), many people are quite familiar with him and his work. Speaking from my own personal experience, Bill Bike has been a mentor, motivator, and a champion for APAC issues.
BIKE STARTED out as the Editor of the College of Dentistry’s alumni magazine, Vision, writing fundraising proposals, Annual Fund letters, and stewardship letters. Many other duties have been added since then. He enjoys the variety his position offers: from being the Dean’s Liaison to the Webmaster at the College of Dentistry, being in charge of the College’s Facebook page, having the opportunity to lobby Federal officials on behalf of the Dean and the College, being a member of the College’s Alumni Association Board of Directors and its Nominations Committee, keeping the College’s photo and historical archives, to being editor of another College of Dentistry magazine, Word of Mouth. He edited a textbook, The Dentofacial Complex; a biography of a faculty member, Essays on Earl Renfroe; and currently is writing a history of the College for its Centennial.
DESPITE ALL these responsibilities, Bike still had a desire to further contribute to the campus. When APs first were allowed to elect Academic Professionals to the University Senate seven years ago, he ran and won. “I felt that my being a Senator would help the College’s publications, because I would learn more about the whole University and would be able to use that information in my publications,” he said. “Being an AP Senator means you are automatically a member of APAC, and I’ve enjoyed it so that’s been an added benefit.”
OVER THE years, Bike has seen firsthand the many successes of APAC. He reflected, “As the State has cut the University budget and threatens to cut our pensions and benefits, and as the Illinois Civil Service Commission attempts to turn as many AP jobs into Civil Service positions as they can, APAC has taken the lead in informing APs about everything that is going on, through Brown Bag sessions and through APAC News. Without APAC, many APs wouldn’t know the facts about these situations. APAC not only informs them, but inspires them to do something about these situations, too.”
ONE OF the next issues he hopes APAC can tackle is the delay from University insurance plans in paying employees’ medical bills. Bike encourages everyone to read APAC News as these types of issues are covered, helping employees receive useful information. When reflecting on APAC overall, he talks about members being “really active and committed” and finding the “time to serve even though everyone at UIC is busy.” While this is certainly true, many of them took the time to provide some insight on Bike and his work on APAC:
“IN MY opinion, UIC is very lucky to have Bill,” said Michael Moss, APAC Chair. “He has been one of the hardest working and most dedicated APAC members I’ve known. He takes the lead on every issue of APAC News, he actively works on the UIC Senate to represent AP issues and concerns, and he has been coordinating the annual CAPE awards for the past few years. He works hard to help our community, and I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks!”
“BILL IS always willing to go the extra mile and extend a helping hand to whomever needs it,” said Jacqueline Berger, University Professional Personnel Advisory Committee Representative and a fellow AP Senator. “Originally elected as one of three AP senators, Bill quickly jumped in and assumed other roles on APAC including the newsletter, helping to bring news relevant to APs into the campus spotlight. He genuinely enjoys his job and the people he interacts with and his enthusiasm is infectious. His pride in UIC is evident in everything he does.”
FORMER APAC Chair Holly Ann Burt said, “Bill is a diligent, dedicated, and delightful person with whom I have enjoyed working. His devotion to the APAC News has taken communication of UIC AP concerns to a new level and his contributions are deeply appreciated.
HIS FELLOW College of Dentistry colleague on APAC, Treasurer Virginia Buglio, said, “Bill Bike is a committed and valuable participant on the APAC committee. He has contributed his time effortlessly to APAC as the Chair of Communications and Chair of the CAPE Award Committee and has served on the University Senate. Bill is all about communication and he does a great job getting that information out there to our academic community through the APAC News.”
OUTSIDE OF UIC, Bike enjoys playing softball, his antique 1948 Dodge car, politics, and writing. In fact, he wrote a political science book, Winning Political Campaigns. “It’s a how-to on all aspects of political campaigning,” he said. As someone who is politically active, Bike urged everyone to “try to do what they can to get candidates elected this fall who care about higher education and the University. On your own time, of course!”
BIKE’S WIFE is Anne Nordhaus-Bike, an artist, writer, public relations professional, and astrologer. She recently wrote an astrology book called Follow the Sun. They enjoy spending time with each other and their cat, Louis.
AS I write one of my last APAC News profiles, I am honored to be able to feature Bill Bike. Having been at UIC for eight years, I wanted to find ways to be involved on campus. APAC provided opportunities to give back despite my busy schedule. My involvement with APAC has primarily been working under Bill for the APAC News. After receiving a t-contract last year, I was thankful to have him forward job announcements and serve as a mentor in many regards. People like Bill make UIC a place where you can grow, learn, and contribute. Thank you, Bill, for the opportunity to serve APs through writing these profiles, as I have been able to learn about the amazing individuals who make up our campus. I encourage everyone to attend the next APAC meeting and meet Bill Bike, one of UIC’s not-so-hidden treasures!
AP RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT
AN ARCHIVE of Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) course materials is available free to UIC employees. The
archive includes lecture notes, examinations, assignments, and even some
videos. To begin go to http://ocw.mit.edu/about/.
“SO, YOU could basically do a self-study course
for free if you wanted to,” noted Michael
Moss, Chair of APAC.
NO CREDIT is offered, but UIC employees are
welcome to self-study any subject available. For example, if you are interested
in business decision making, simply log on to http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/sloan-school-of-management/15-010-economic-analysis-for-business-decisions-fall-2004/and self-study the course materials on that site.
BENEFIT BEAT
New UIC Campus Microsoft Agreement WEBSTORE AT the University has announced the immediate availability of all Microsoft products offered under the new UIC Campus Microsoft Agreement to UIC faculty, staff, students, and departments (media fees not included).
Desktop Package and Enterprise Client Access License Suite
Includes Enterprise Upgrade Operating System, Office Professional Plus for Win/Standard for Mac, Client Access Licenses for:
CORE Server Products
*SharePoint Server Standard
*Lync Server Standard
*ForeFront Endpoint Protection
*Exchange Server Standard
*Windows Server Standard
*System Center Configuration Manager
Enterprise Server Products
*SharePoint Server Enterprise
*Lync Server Enterprise
*ForeFront Protection Suite, Unified Access Gateway
*Exchange Server Enterprise*Windows RMS
*System Center Client Management Suite
UIC Students Products
Desktop Package and CORE Client Access License Suite
Includes Windows Ultimate Upgrade Operating System, Office Professional Plus for Win/Standard for Mac, Client Access Licenses for:
CORE Server Products
*SharePoint Server Standard
*Lync Server Standard
*ForeFront Endpoint Protection
*Exchange Server Standard
*Windows Server Standard and
*System Center Configuration Manager
UIC Campus Unlimited AccessCORE Server Platform
The Microsoft Core Server Platform allows for the installation of unlimited editions of the following Microsoft software applications:
*Windows Server
*SharePoint Server
*Exchange Server
*Lync Server
*Lync Server Standard, Windows Server, and Exchange Server External Connectors
*SharePoint Server for Internet Sites Standard
TO FIND these products, login to WebStore, http://webstore.illinois.edu/home/, choose Personal Purchase or Unit Purchase, then select Microsoft Products under Featured (Unit/Personal) Purchase Products. Contact the WebStore at webstore@illinois.edu or Herrera at cynthiar@uic.edu with any questions.
THE CONTINUING CRISIS
UIC NEWS covers Pensions, Revenue, and the
Rhetoric of Reform forum, Sept. 12. See http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/uicnews/articledetail.cgi?id=16629.
TRUSTEES
APPROVE budget; 3.7%
increase in day-to-day operating costs, $227.6 million increase in payments for
healthcare, pension benefits. See UIC
News, Sept. 14, at http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/uicnews/articledetail.cgi?id=16646.
Vol. 5, No. 8, September 2012
ISSN 1946-1860
Editor: William S. Bike
Staff: Lucia Gonzalez, Ivone De Jesus
Chair: Michael Moss
Vice Chair: Ahlam Al-Kodmany
Secretary: Kathleen Engstrom
Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
Web Chair: Jeff Alcantar
Web Chair: Jeff Alcantar
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