The Academic Professional Advisory Committee

February 2012 APAC News Vol. 5, No. 2

2012-02-20T19:16:00.005-06:00

Professors Propose Re-Working of SURS; Plan Includes Increased Contributions from All Eligible Employees and New Contributions from Universities

2012-02-20T18:45:00.005-06:00

The new IGPA pension proposal is an improvement over Senate Bill 512.

PROFESSORS from the University have proposed a new hybrid retirement system for employees of public colleges and universities that would be partially funded by additional contributions from workers and the universities that employ them. The plan, presented in a paper distributed Feb. 9, concentrates on the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) and is designed to reduce the State government’s payments into the system by billions of dollars over time.

“PENSIONS REPRESENT an important component of the overall compensation package for University employees, and are key for us recruiting top-notch individuals,” said Robert F. Rich, director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs, who developed the proposal with Jeffrey R. Brown, an IGPA professor and the William G. Karnes Professor of Finance at the U of I’s Urbana-Champaign campus. The plan is intended to stimulate discussion among policymakers and legislators and is not intended to reflect the position of the University of Illinois, the authors said. Although the authors consulted with a large number of experts, they stress that the opinions expressed in the plan are their own.

THE FULL proposal can be found online at http://igpa.uillinois.edu/pensions/SURS-paper. It contains several components that reflect some of the ideas that have been publicly discussed by State leaders in recent weeks.

THE PROPOSAL has four basic components: 1.) Create a new hybrid retirement system for new employees that would combine a scaled-down version of the existing SURS defined benefit plan with a new defined contribution plan that would include contributions from both employee and employer; 2.) Peg the SURS “effective rate of interest” to market rates; 3.) Redistribute the SURS funding burden to include a modest increase in employee contributions and new direct contributions from universities, thereby reducing the burden on State government; and 4.) Align pension vesting rules with the private sector, which would decrease the number of years that new employees hired after January 1, 2011 would need to work for their pension benefit to be vested.

THE PROPOSED reforms assume that all accrued benefits of current employees would remain unchanged up to the point reforms are implemented and that changing from an existing plan to the new hybrid plan would be voluntary for current employees.

“THIS PROPOSAL is designed to reduce costs by approximately as much as Senate Bill 512 (currently before the legislature), but in a manner that does a much better job of providing secure retirement benefits to employees,” Brown said.

THE PROPOSED reforms to SURS reduce costs to State government, provide a better approach to sharing the funding burden, and provide a balanced and attractive approach to retirement security for employees, Brown and Rich said.

THE INSTITUTE of Government and Public Affairs is a public policy research organization based in all three University of Illinois campus cities. IGPA's mission is to improve public policy and government performance by producing and distributing cutting-edge research and analysis, engaging the public in dialogue and education, and providing practical assistance in decision making to government and policymakers. Learn more at www.igpa.uillinois.edu and follow @IllinoisIGPA on Twitter.

Governor Reiterates Desire for Pension Reform

2012-02-20T18:30:00.002-06:00

Governor Patrick Quinn called for pension reform in his State of the State address.

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR Patrick Quinn delivered his State of the State Address early in February. The full text of his speech is available here: http://wuisnews.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/text-of-governor-quinns-state-of-the-state-speech/.

IT INCLUDES the following comments on pension reform:

“SUFFICE IT to say, we must have Medicaid reform and public pension reform in the coming year. We took the first step on pension reform in 2010 when we enacted landmark changes that will save taxpayers billions of dollars. But there’s much more to do. Fixing the pension problem will not be easy, but we have no choice. We must do it together in a way that is meaningful, constitutional, and fair to the employees who have faithfully contributed to the system. That’s why I’ve assembled a pension working group to propose a solution that can be enacted this year.”

APAC to Host ‘Workforce Planning’ Town Hall Event

2012-02-20T18:15:00.004-06:00

Although happy occasions for retirees, staff retirements can seriously effect departmental operations.

ARE THERE potential staffing changes in your College or Department? How will you minimize the impact? What institutional knowledge do you want to keep and how will you keep it? How will you seamlessly fill vacated positions with capable new hires?

IF YOU are looking for answers to any of these questions, you should attend the “Workforce Planning” town hall meeting on Friday, March 2. This event will provide attendees with an overview of relevant concerns and considerations, a review of campus resources, recommendations for successfully managing staffing changes, real-life campus examples, and a summary of best practices. This town hall meeting is focused on tools and techniques for managers to address changes in their workforce. It is not designed to address benefits, pending legislation, pension reform, SURS changes or retirement planning. Please see the event details, below.

PRESENTERS ARE Gloria Keeley, assistant vice president, Office of Business and Financial Services (OBFS) administrative services (UA); Jami Painter, Assistant Vice President, UA employee relations and human resources (UA); Kim Morris Lee, director of organizational effectiveness (UIC); and Wayne Stahl, director of organizational effectiveness (UA).

THE AGENDA includes:

*Knowledge Retention – What’s coming? Why? What’s the impact? What are some solutions we can implement now?

*Talent Management – What is talent management, and how to leverage talent and retain knowledge capital in the current environment.

*Talent Management Tools – An introduction to what is available.

*Succession Planning – Practical examples

*Maximizing the New Hire’s Experience – Effective on-boarding, orientation, and the role of the manager.

THE EVENT will be held Friday, March 2, 9 to 11 a.m. in the Illinois Room, Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted St., and is hosted by the Academic Professional Advisory Committee (APAC). Register at https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/1041738.

APAC’s Jacqueline Berger Runs for SURS Board of Trustees

2012-02-20T18:00:00.002-06:00

Jacqueline Berger, the only UIC candidate for SURS Trustee.

THE STATE Universities Retirement System (SURS) will hold an election to fill the expiring terms of two trustee positions.

THREE CANDIDATES qualify for the “Contributing Member Trustee” slot: Jacqueline Berger of UIC, an APAC Member and Academic Professional Senator in the University Senate; Andrew Matthews, Illinois State University; and Dorinda Miller, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

THERE IS one “Annuitant Trustee” candidate: John Engstrom, Northern Illinois University.

ELECTION BALLOTS will be mailed to all contributing members by Friday, March 30, 2012. The voting period runs through Tuesday, May 1, 2012. SURS will announce the results in June 2012.

APAC URGES all UIC APs to participate in the upcoming election.

BERGER IS Director of Communications in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research at UIC. She has over 18 years of experience at UIC, 16 as an Academic Professional and two as Civil Service, including five years in Human Resources where she was responsible for planning the annual Retirement Planning Conference and other retirement seminars which involved SURS and 403B vendors.

SHE IS a member of UIC United, the UIC chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association. In her role on APAC she serves as secretary and also serves as one of three Academic Professional members of the UIC Senate. Berger also serves as a member of the University Professional Personnel Advisory Committee (UPPAC), which serves the over 6,000 Academic Professionals working at the University, and provides advice to the University of Illinois President on behalf of all APs.

BERGER SAID she is “committed to preserving the pension benefits of current State employees and to preserving the benefits now received by annuitants. This is essential in order to retain and recruit top employees and faculty. Employees and annuitants must have a voice as the pension debate continues.”

APAC CHAIR Michael Moss said, “Jacquie is uniquely qualified to represent UIC. She is a UI alum, she has been employed at the University for more than 18 years, she has served on APAC since 2006, and she has served on the UIC Senate since APs were first allowed as members. She has an excellent understanding of employee concerns regarding SURS and she has demonstrated long-term dedication to serving the best interests of our campus. As a colleague, I have learned that Jacquie doesn’t give up – she has the tenacity that is needed to weather a bureaucratic system, and the integrity that is needed to fight for us without giving in to special interests or politics.”

FOR MORE information about the election, contact William Mabe, Executive Director, State Universities Retirement System, 1901 Fox Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, (217) 378-8800.

APAC Meetings Scheduled; All Invited

2012-02-20T17:45:00.000-06:00

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 March 14 in Room 2750 UH, April 11 in Room 5175 CMRB, May 9 in Room 2750 UH, June 13 in Room 5175 CMRB, July 11 in Room 2750 UH, Aug. 8 in Room 5175 CMRB, Sept 12 in Room 2750 UH, Oct. 10 in Room 5175 CMRB, Nov. 14 in Room 2750 UH, Dec. 12 in Room 5175 CMRB. For information, call (312) 996-0306.

APAC PROFILE: Deidre Rush Serves as AP Resource

2012-02-20T17:30:00.003-06:00

By Ivone De Jesus

DEIDRE RUSH is the associate director in the Office of Student Financial Aid. Having worked in the department for 13 years, she must stay current with ever-changing institutional, federal, and state policies and regulations – which, she admits, can be challenging at times. “One must be flexible and have an eye for detail,” Rush said. “I definitely have to be on my toes since the policies and procedures sometimes change overnight.” But, she said she welcomes the challenge and ensures that procedures are followed by enforcing them.

RUSH IS able to balance her role as a financial aid administrator by maintaining a sense of service, and by putting herself in the “student’s shoes when finding solutions to assist them,” she said. Rush takes pride in seeing the students she has helped succeed academically and enjoy their UIC experience.

RUSH BECAME involved with APAC because she wanted to be informed regarding decisions and processes that affect APs on campus. She has been a member of APAC since 2010. The most notable APAC accomplishment for her thus far has been “uniting so many people to provide their feedback regarding the pension petition.” She hopes to serve as a resource to fellow colleagues and recruit more members.

GET TO know more about Rush and APAC by attending the next APAC meeting scheduled on Wednesday, March 14.

AP RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

2012-02-20T17:15:00.005-06:00

Safe Zone Training Set

ALL UIC staff are invited to participate in Safe Zone training from the Gender & Sexuality Center.

SAFE ZONE training provides factual information and terminology related to topics of sexual and gender identity; identifies issues and policies that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals; introduces strategies for creating inclusive environments; provides guidance for making appropriate referrals; and raises awareness of the negative impact of homophobia and sexism on all people.

ALL UIC staff are encouraged to attend this University-sanctioned training. Release time is generally granted according to the Attendance at University Events policy.

ALL SAFE Zone trainings are open to everyone and reflect UIC’s attention to multiple and intersecting identities. The trainings were developed in partnership with campus partners.

REGISTER AT www.gsc.uic.edu.

CLASSES ARE: Safe Zone 101, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 9 to 10:50 a.m., Room 385, Behavioral Science Building (BSB), 1007 W. Harrison St.; Transgender Safe Zone 101, Wednesday, March 14, 2:30 to 4:50 p.m.,

Room 385 BSB; and Asian American Safe Zone 101, Thursday, April 5, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Room 119 BSB, in collaboration with the UIC Counseling Center.

FOR ADDITIONAL information about these events or for requests related to accessibility/accommodations, contact Liz Thomson at lthomson@uic.edu or (312) 413-8619.

THE GENDER & Sexuality Center is one of the six Centers for Diversity at UIC reporting to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs in Academic Affairs. The Centers include the African-American Cultural Center, Asian American Resource and Cultural Center, Disability Resource Center, Gender & Sexuality Center, Rafael Cintrón Ortiz Latino Cultural Center, and Women's Leadership and Resource Center.

THE GSC is located at 1007 W. Harrison St. (M/C 369), 1180 Behavioral Sciences Building, Chicago, IL 60607.

THE CONTINUING CRISIS

2012-02-20T17:00:00.001-06:00

Editor’s Note: “The Continuing Crisis” is a section of APAC News which links to news pertinent to the state budget crisis and other financial matters as they affect the University and Academic Professionals. These news outlets are not affiliated with or endorsed by APAC.

CORPORATE TAX breaks are detrimental to State, says Stand Up! Chicago leader. See Progress Report, Jan. 26, at http://www.progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2012/01/26/taxpayers-send-cme-group-golden-gift-video?utm_source=PI+Extra+1.26.12&utm_campaign=PI+email+1.26.12&utm_medium=email.

Vol. 5, No. 2 February 2012

2012-02-20T14:00:00.002-06:00

ISSN 1946-1860

Editor: William S. Bike

Writing Staff: Jennifer Costanzo, Ivone De Jesus, Tomeiko Sewell

Chair: Michael Moss

Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan

Secretary: Jacqueline M. Berger

Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
Webmaster: Jeff Alcantar

http://www.apac.uic.edu

Governor Wants to Tackle Pension Crisis

2012-01-27T21:00:00.000-06:00

Governor Quinn, speaking to the media at UIC.

GOVERNOR PATRICK QUINN on Jan. 9 asked State legislative leaders to appoint representatives to the Governor’s Pension Working Group. Quinn asked for the appointments shortly after his office released a three-year budget forecast listing pension costs as possibly the State’s largest long-term obligation, rising by $1 billion in the upcoming year.

BEGINNING JULY 1, Illinois pension costs will be about $6.8 billion. A total of $5.3 billion is for pension payments, but an additional $1.5 billion is to pay off money borrowed to cover pension costs paid out in earlier years.

ONCE CONSTITUTED, the panel will have several options. It could propose big changes to the pension system, including reductions to the benefits of current University and other State employees. Or, the panel could move more moderately, going after any instances of waste and redundancy in the current pension systems.

THE GOVERNOR would like pension obligations examined this spring. He told legislative leaders that he would like the group to begin working “as soon as possible.”

QUINN ALSO wrote to the leaders that “Given the multiple challenges facing our public sector pension systems both now and in the coming decades it is critical that we work together this spring to craft appropriate measures to bring fiscal stability to these programs.”

LEGISLATIVE LEADERS may be reluctant to tackle the volatile pension issue in an election year, however. Quinn’s urgency stems from a recent downgrade in the State’s bond rating that made Illinois the state with the worst credit rating of all 50. The Governor cited pension reform as a way to attempt to reverse that credit rating downgrade.

JERRY STERMER, Quinn’s former Chief of Staff, will lead the group.

FOR MORE information, contact the Office of the Governor at (217) 782-0244.

12 Percent Increase in State Higher Education Funding Goes to Pensions

2012-01-27T20:55:00.003-06:00

By Andrew Thomason

Illinois Statehouse News

ILLINOIS’ 12% increase in higher education spending for fiscal 2012 is going into the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) to address its underfunded pension program.

“THESE SURS appropriations do not go to individual institutions or agencies and are not available to be used for educational purposes,” according to the footnote in a study released Jan. 23 by Illinois State University (ISU).

SURS, WHICH is responsible for the pensions of the State’s university employees, is facing an unfunded liability — how much it owes in benefits compared with how much assets it has on hand — of $17.2 billion, according to its 2011 annual report.

ILLINOIS HAS a total stated unfunded pension liability of $85 billion, but a 2009 study by the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management puts the figure as high as $219.1 billion. The study didn’t specify how much it estimates SURS’ portion to be.

THE “RAPIDLY increasing appropriations” have pushed Illinois’ higher education spending from $3.2 billion in fiscal 2011 to $3.6 billion this fiscal year, according the annual Grapevine study of state support for higher education put out by Center for the Study of Education Policy at ISU.

THE DRAMATIC increase in the amount of money being given to SURS, and the other state pension systems, seeks to make up for decades of chronic underfunding by governors and legislators, and shrinking returns on investments because of the stagnant economy.

FUNDING THAT made it to the college or university classroom decreased this year compared to last year by 0.76 percent, from $1.62 billion to $1.6 billion, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), which oversees the state’s higher education system. Those figures reflect money going directly to education, such as operating expenses, and don’t include capital spending.

THE AMOUNT of taxpayer money making it to the universities for daily operations has been on a downward slide for a decade, said Alan Philips, deputy director of the IBHE.

“IN MORE recent years, it has been largely a result of the State’s fiscal challenges. The State just doesn’t have a lot of money,” Philips said. “It’s probably not very likely we’re going to see increases in State funding for education, and we’ll be lucky if (higher) education funding is held flat.”

SINCE FISCAL 2007, the total amount of higher education funding, including pensions, in Illinois has increased by 25 percent, from $2.8 billion to $3.6 billion. During that same time, state tax dollars going to SURS have increased from $255 million to $750 million.

THAT FIGURE is set to double next fiscal year, hitting $1.4 billion to meet the requirements of a 1994 law setting a pension payment schedule for the state.

WHEN HIGHER education spending figures are reduced by removing the costs of SURS, spending on higher education has increased by 9.4 percent since 2007, or at about the rate of inflation.

BETH SPENCER, a spokesman for SURS, said the increasing state payments to the pension system are the result of decisions made by past lawmakers and governors.

“THE STATE has systematically, over decades, failed to fully pay the annual required contribution,” Spencer said.

ILLINOIS GOV. Pat Quinn’s three-year budget projection holds education funding flat through fiscal 2015, though the Legislature must approve those figures each year.

QUINN AND legislators are looking to cut the spending on public pensions, including SURS.

QUINN SAID that one possible solution would be shifting the cost of the pensions. He highlighted shifting costs of elementary school teachers’ pensions to their local districts, a move that also could be applied to the collegiate retirement system.

ILLINOIS HOUSE Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) and House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) plan to have public employees either pay more to keep their current retirement packages or pay less and switch to a 401(k)-style system.

Illinois Auditor General Examines University

2012-01-27T20:45:00.003-06:00

THE UNIVERSITY of Illinois in January received the findings of a self-requested, 20-month long audit of University financial management by the Illinois Auditor General. While the audit disclosed no material weaknesses in internal controls of the University or improper use of public funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly, the Auditor General provided 20 University recommendations for improvement in certain areas, all of which the University accepted and has already begun to implement.

U OF I Board of Trustees Chairman Christopher G. Kennedy said the audit findings confirmed high expectations for transparency and adherence to best practices in the conduct of University business.

“ON BEHALF of the University and the Board of Trustees, I want to express our thanks to the State Legislative Audit Commission and the Auditor General for this audit,” Kennedy said. “University internal controls are intact and University management will continue to be held to high standards of professionalism and the adherence to business operating processes prescribed by the University and the State.”

THE UNIVERSITY, which has an annual operating budget of $5 billion, routinely undergoes auditing scrutiny by a wide array of authorities. These include annual financial and compliance audits of University finances by an external auditing firm under the auspices of the State Auditor General, as well as audits by federal agencies in connection with millions of dollars in research grants and contracts the U of I receives. In addition, the Executive Director of University Audits annually conducts internal audits on a wide variety of matters.

NEVERTHELESS, UNIVERSITY trustees in January 2010 approved a resolution to authorize a “transition” audit of certain University transactions because of the significant change in the composition of the board in September 2009, when seven of nine trustees appointed by the Governor were replaced. The reconstituted board requested that the transition audit “focus on purchasing, finance and investment, and construction transactions that required board approval during the period 2007 through 2009 to determine whether the approval process followed all applicable laws, rules, practices and procedures.” As requested by the board, the management audit was authorized by the Legislative Audit Commission (Resolution #139) in March 2010.

THE MAJORITY of the University recommendations made by the Auditor General related to the retention of transaction documentation or the adequacy of the transactions documentation. Click here for a link to the executive summary of each of the audit recommendations and the Board/University’s responses.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS concern submission of transactions to the Board of Trustees for approval; use of the Board of Trustees Executive Committee; sole source justification forms; copyright and patent support; use of contracts vs. purchase orders; contract approval routing forms; purchasing documentation; contractor performance reviews; conflict of interest; procurement of financial advisors; use of construction managers; alternate bids; procurement documentation; change orders; minority and female business enterprise (MAFBE) subcontractors; qualifications based selection; evaluation; and oversight of subcontractors.

Investigation Into Anonymous E-mails to University Senators Completed; Report Cites Lone Sender

2012-01-27T20:30:00.001-06:00

AN INVESTIGATION was completed by outside experts for the University of Illinois into a pair of anonymous e-mails sent to members of the University’s Academic Senates Conference (ASC), in connection with an enrollment management initiative. Conducted by Jones Day and Duff & Phelps, the investigation concluded there was no evidence of “hacking” or vulnerabilities in the network and concluded that the e-mails were drafted on and sent from the laptop of the former Chief of Staff to the President, and that the laptop was in her possession at the time the e-mails were created and sent.

THE TWO anonymous e-mails were sent on Dec. 12, 2011, and an inquiry was launched later that day to ascertain the source and whether the University’s information technology security was compromised. That inquiry was led by the University IT department. The incident was later reported to the University Ethics Office, which consulted with the IT department and assumed control of the investigation, assisted by the University’s chief legal counsel. On Dec. 22, the president approved the use of outside experts to assist in the investigation. External legal counsel Jones Day was retained, who engaged forensic data analyst Duff & Phelps to conduct an independent forensic analysis.

IN A final report, which was based on a comprehensive forensic examination of e-mails and computers, and interviews with relevant personnel, the investigative team drew the following conclusions:

The e-mails were composed and sent from the University laptop computer of Lisa Troyer. Examination of browser activity, firewall logs, e-mail headers, and e-mail fragments found on the Troyer laptop all support this conclusion. Troyer resigned her administrative post as Chief of Staff to President Michael J. Hogan effective immediately on Jan. 4.

The investigative record does not support a conclusion that any other person, including Hogan, knew that Troyer intended to send or had sent the anonymous e-mails.

Troyer’s laptop computer was not improperly accessed and was in her possession at the time the anonymous emails were sent. There is no evidence of hacking or vulnerabilities in the University network.

HOGAN THANKED the investigative team for its comprehensive and expeditious work in a four-week period that included the year-end holiday season, and expressed his disappointment in the events.

“THE INVESTIGATIVE team has made a thorough examination of the facts on which to base its conclusions. This was a disappointing event, and we have taken the necessary steps to address it,” Hogan said.

ON DEC. 12, 2011, two anonymous e-mails were sent to 20 members of the University of Illinois Senates Conference (USC). Both e-mails were identified in the text as having been written by an unnamed Senator, and the address from which the e-mails were sent, aboutintegrity@yahoo.com, did not identify a specific individual as the sender. One of the recipients noticed embedded data in the email indicated that it was created on a computer with the user account of “troyer.” This was quickly brought to the attention of the University IT department, the University ethics department, and the subsequent investigation ensued.

INVESTIGATORS REVIEWED more than 3,500 emails from Troyer’s University e-mail account from the month of December, and additional e-mails from the fall, which contained key search words. Troyer voluntarily supplied access to her personal gmail account and records of calls to and from her cell phone. Troyer, President Hogan, and others were interviewed, and Duff & Phelps performed a rigorous forensic analysis of the hard drive of Troyer’s laptop, examining Internet activity, browser history records and deleted material. They were able to verify that “the system’s firewall was functioning normally” … and the “activity found on the network security systems was consistent with activity found on the Troyer laptop.”

U OF I Board of Trustees Chair Christopher G. Kennedy said that the “misguided attempt by one individual to sway opinion” must not distract the University community from important work around the enrollment management initiative.

“THIS IS an unfortunate incident and a personal, ethical lapse which the president moved swiftly to investigate,” said Kennedy. “There is no relationship between this incident and good work being done on key initiatives, like the enrollment management plan, which is the result of months of research, hard work and consultation with faculty groups and others. The Board and the administration have made great progress toward improving this essential function, addressing concerns as they have been expressed. This important work will continue, unhindered.”

TROYER SERVED as the president’s chief of staff since July 2010. Troyer also holds an appointment as a tenured Professor of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on the Urbana campus and plans to transition to back to teaching and research.

APAC Meetings Scheduled; All Invited

2012-01-27T20:15:00.002-06:00

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 Feb. 8 in Room 5175 CMRB, March 14 in Room 2750 UH, April 11 in Room 5175 CMRB, May 9 in Room 2750 UH, June 13 in Room 5175 CMRB, July 11 in Room 2750 UH, Aug. 8 in Room 5175 CMRB, Sept 12 in Room 2750 UH, Oct. 10 in Room 5175 CMRB, Nov. 14 in Room 2750 UH, Dec. 12 in Room 5175 CMRB. For information, call (312) 996-0306.

APAC PROFILE

2012-01-27T20:00:00.018-06:00

Marelet Kirda, proudly showing UIC loyalty in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Marelet Kirda Focusing on Conversion Concerns

By Ivone De Jesus

MARELET KIRDA is the Assistant to the Executive Director at the Center for Advanced Design, Research and Exploration (CADRE). CADRE is a research center in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. She has worked there for a little less than two years, but previously worked at the Office of the Vice Chancellor.

HER ROLE allows her to work on a variety of projects that provide the opportunity to not only connect with the highest level of offices at the University, but to continue her connection with various offices around campus. Having been in an assistant role for more than ten years now, she jokingly describes her job as being a “jack of all trades and master of none.” But the assortment of tasks is the reason why Kirda loves being an assistant. She commented, “Best of all is ‘meeting,’ via phone calls, and working with so many great people across the campuses,” she said.

HAVING SERVED as the AP Representative on the Search Committee for the Selection of the President in 2010 made her realize that staff need to come together and “have a collective voice on the campus,” she said. Kirda is thrilled to be a part of APAC to do just that. She points out that APAC has done a lot over the past few years to be “responsive to the concerns expressed by APs,” as well as providing forums and information that should be disseminated to the campus community.

THERE IS still much work to be done. Kirda would like to see APAC continue to address the conversion of AP positions into Civil Service positions, including but not limited to the issues of seniority and research positions. She stated, “I think I can help by continuing to share the concerns that my colleagues have about the conversion, through APAC, to the campus administration.”

KIRDA HAS been married for 15 years, and her husband, Mike, also works at UIC. He is the Information Technology Director in the College of Applied Health Sciences. They have a seven-year-old daughter and six-year-old son, who participate in many extracurricular activities, which keep the Kirdas quite busy.

AP RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

2012-01-27T19:45:00.005-06:00

UIC’s Environmental Savior: Office of Sustainability

By Jennifer Costanzo

UIC’S LARGE campus area may lead you to question its ability to assure a cleaner environment. However, the Office of Sustainability “helps coordinate initiatives on campus that bring UIC towards greater social, economic, and environmental sustainability,” said Cynthia Klein-Banai, Associate Chancellor for Sustainability. Her office has been working towards the “green” cause since January of 2008, and has sparked many programs that are beneficial and interesting for employees as well as students.

THE OFFICE of Sustainability is better known for its recycling program, which encourages individuals to not only properly dispose of their recyclable material, but also to conserve their resources through reusable items, as well as cut back on daily products altogether. UIC discards an average of one pound of waste per person every day. Through increasing awareness of its initiatives, the office hopes to decrease this number.

ACCORDING TO Klein-Banai, one of the new “go-green” initiatives making great headway here at UIC is called the Green Office Challenge. For participating buildings on campus, employees work together to cut back on emissions and waste from their particular space, and increase their green score. Banai stated that “the six areas of sustainability include energy management, recycling and waste reduction, office supplies, food and beverage, transportation, and networking /engagement.”

THROUGH A checklist process, certain goals are achieved every day. Klein-Banai believes that in order to engage employees to participate, certain benefits must be present. “Currently, employees are aware that their assistance with this project can significantly cut the costs from the University through less paper consumption, lower amounts of energy, as well as transportation emissions,” said Klein-Banai. In addition, those involved receive recognition on the Sustainability web-site, as well as on signs to be displayed in the department and logos for departmental materials.

FOR THOSE looking to make a difference on and off of campus, the newest transportation initiative is productive and convenient for all. It is called iCarpool, and information about it can be found on the Office of Sustainability’s main site. “Once an account is set up, the ride-matching software will find people from your local areas who can ride together to reduce car emissions,” Klein-Banai said. She also stated that this program is “dynamic, since you are not limited in your options. The more who sign up, the greater time flexibility you receive in your arriving/leaving schedules.”

“THERE ARE many other ways to get involved, or to learn more valuable information about going green either at work or in your spare time,” said Klein-Banai. A quarterly e-newsletter is sent out with various facets of information, and you can also find representatives present at the Marketplace during student orientation sessions. Currently, “83% of UIC’s total emissions come from the running of facilities themselves,” said Klein-Banai. With all members of the University working together to conserve energy, there’s no telling the levels we could reach by 2013.

FOR MORE information, log on to http://www.uic.edu/sustainability/.

BENEFIT BEAT

2012-01-27T19:30:00.005-06:00

Protesters advocate corporations paying State taxes.

Get Involved; Volunteer Opportunities Available

THE SERVE Illinois Commission is seeking applicants for a variety of volunteer opportunities. By entering a zip code, county, and area(s) of interest, applicants can view local volunteer opportunities in their area. Currently, the Serve Illinois Commission has over 100,000 volunteer opportunities state-wide, and is always looking for bright, motivated, volunteers to fill positions. Interested applicants may visit www.serve.illinois.gov or call (800) 592-9896.

THE CONTINUING CRISIS

2012-01-27T19:15:00.006-06:00

CHICAGO TRIBUNE says “Springfield politics wreaked havoc on retirement code.” See http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/ct-met-pension-code-20111216,0,7785082.story?page=1, Dec. 15, 2011.

CORPORATE TAX dodge report reveals millions lost in Illinois. See Progress Illinois, Dec. 15, 2011. http://www.progressillinois.com/posts/content/2011/12/15/corporate-tax-dodge-report-reveals-millions-lost-illinois

ILLINOIS’ UNPAID bill tally nears $8.5 billion, says State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. See Progress Report, Jan. 18, 2012. http://www.progressillinois.com/news/content/2012/01/18/illinois-unpaid-bill-tally-nears-85-billion

Vol. 5, No. 1 January 2012

2012-01-27T18:59:00.005-06:00

ISSN 1946-1860

Editor: William S. Bike

Writing Staff: Jennifer Costanzo, Ivone De Jesus, Gail Mansfield, Tomeiko Sewell

Chair: Michael Moss

Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan

Secretary: Jacqueline M. Berger

Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
Webmaster: Jeff Alcantar

http://www.apac.uic.edu

CAPE Awards Presented; APAC Chair Gets Award of Merit

2011-11-28T21:00:00.003-06:00

APAC Chair Michael Moss was presented an Award of Merit by Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares.

AMONG THOSE receiving awards at the Employee Recognition Awards Program Nov. 2 were the four Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence (CAPE) recipients. The CAPE Subcommittee, which is part of APAC, was established by the Office of the Chancellor to accept nominations for the CAPE Awards and to recommend awardees to the Chancellor, and had recommended this year’s winners.

“APAC THEREFORE plays a crucial role in the CAPE Awards process,” said CAPE Subcommittee Chair William S. Bike. “This award is for APs only, and those receiving it can be proud that they were recognized after a rigorous process in which the subcommittee worked closely with the Office of the Chancellor. Clearly, Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares recognizes the importance of the work of APs in keeping UIC a top-quality University.”

THIS YEAR’S CAPE Award recipients were Ann Kathleen Barnds, Assistant to the Director, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs; Rhea M. Begeman, Administrative Director, Assistant to the Head, Department of Emergency Medicine; Marilyn Foster Kirk, Associate Vice Chancellor for Development; and William J. Susinka, Executive Assistant to the Provost.

ESTABLISHED IN 1988, the CAPE Award recognizes the demonstrated excellence of Academic Professional staff, encourages their professional development, and indicates UIC’s regard for APs’ contributions.

ALSO AT the employee recognition event, Michael Moss, Chair of APAC, received an Award of Merit. This campus-wide honor recognizes outstanding Academic Professionals and support staff for sustained excellence in performance and commitment to their job. Moss is Assistant Director, Cost and Analysis, Grants and Contracts, Office of Business and Financial Services.

No Action on Pension Bill So Far

2011-11-28T20:50:00.004-06:00

Senate Bill 512 sponsored by Rep. Tom Cross, would set three tiers of pension benefits and costs for current employees..

By Christy Levy
UIC News

THE ILLINOIS House of Representatives adjourned earlier without taking action on legislation affecting pension benefits for State employees, but the bill may be re-examined this week.

SENATE BILL 512 advanced during the General Assembly’s spring session but never reached a vote. It was revived in the fall veto session with an accompanying amendment.

THE BILL, sponsored by Rep. Tom Cross (R-Plainfield), would set three tiers of pension benefits and costs for current employees who pay into the State Universities Retirement System.

OPTIONS INCLUDE:

Pay significantly more to maintain the current level of benefits;
Pay less and receive reduced benefits;
Set up a self-managed plan.

A $110,000 cap on salary earnings used to calculate pensions and an increase in retirement age to 67 would apply to employees hired after Jan. 1, 2011.

UNIVERSITY OF Illinois leaders and legislative liaisons joined representatives from other public universities and State employee unions in Springfield to work against the bill.

“WE CONTINUE to press for a solution to the state’s pension funding concerns that doesn’t unjustly place the entire burden on the backs of our hardworking employees,” President Michael Hogan wrote in a Nov. 1 email to the campus community.

“I ENCOURAGE you to contact your legislators using your own personal email and resources to assert the importance of a fair solution and the problematic aspects of SB 512.”

IF PASSED the bill, which would not affect those already retired, would become effective July 1, 2013.

QUESTIONS HAVE been raised about the legality of changes to retirement benefits for current state employees due to a clause in the Illinois Constitution reads: “Membership in any pension or retirement system of the State ... shall be an enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.”

FOR MORE information on the proposed legislation, visit:

christyb@uic.edu

Cutting Pensions Would Lead to U. of I. Brain Drain

2011-11-28T20:05:00.002-06:00

President Michael Hogan offered a thoughtful and well-reasoned argument for opposing Senate Bill 512.

By Michael J. Hogan
University of Illinois President

IT’S EASY to understand the Law of Unintended Consequences, the unanticipated and sometimes perverse effects of actions--sometimes government actions--that were ostensibly intended to provide a public good.

EXAMPLES OF this principle abound, but one that is often noted these days has to do with Senate Bill 512, now under discussion in Springfield, to fund the State's pension obligations to public employees. Leaders in Illinois public higher education worry that the proposed solution could have unintended consequences of substantial proportions. Their employees, many ineligible for Social Security, would have to accept diminished benefits or ante up significantly more to maintain the benefits they were promised.

THE LIKELY effect of Senate Bill 512 in its current form will be a brain drain from these public universities and their surrounding communities.

THE UNIVERSITY of Illinois is one of the largest and most productive employers in the State. Twenty percent of our workforce is pension-eligible and that includes some of our most distinguished faculty, physicians, and staff--many of whom would leave if onerous changes are made in the pension plan.

MAKE NO mistake about it, these outstanding and civic-minded employees have choices in a competitive market place not bound by geography. Those who leave may take their externally funded research projects worth millions of dollars with them and take their pension, too. Replacing these employees with comparable talent will be difficult so long as other universities are offering better benefits.

SUCH AN exodus would devastate our ability to meet the U of I's teaching, research, public service, and health care missions, and would slam the brakes on what has consistently been a vibrant economic engine for this great State.

AMONG THE top teaching and research universities in the world, the U of I and its three campuses directly and indirectly generates more than 150,000 jobs and more than $13 billion in economic impact for Illinois, a return of $17 for every $1 that the state invests in the U of I. We are the place that pioneered transistors, LED lighting, and MRI technology. We are the place that educated the founders of YouTube, PayPal and the NFL. None of this happens without great people. Entrepreneurial scientists pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Award-winning authors, artists and teachers, skilled health care professionals. Other universities in other states are hungry for this talent. We must work hard to retain them.

BUT THE proposed pension funding legislation will make it difficult to do that, and to recruit other highly professional faculty and staff. It will damage the public university system in Illinois, and in so doing, damage the State, as well.

AS WE contemplate the State's strategic advantages, how does it help in the long term to reduce funding for higher education, including two public Tier One research campuses, and provide substantially less compensation to its talented workforce?

WE KNOW that a solution to the pension problem is urgently needed, and we are willing to contribute our fair share to an equitable solution. But it needs to be based on the principles of equity and shared sacrifice, to which we can all contribute without doing great damage to the educational institutions central to the well being of our students and to the State's place in a knowledge-based economy.

I URGE legislators to consider the interests of our employees, the impact of their departure, and the threat that weakened public universities pose to the future of the State. The potential consequences are far too great to ignore.

(THIS ARTICLE originally appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times on Sunday, Oct. 30. Reprinted with permission of the Office of the University President.)

IGPA Analyzes State Economy for University Senate

2011-11-28T19:34:00.003-06:00

The Midwest is leading the nation during the recovery in its manufacturing (above) and agricultural sectors, said David Merriman, Associate Director and Professor, IGPA.

By William S. Bike

DAVID MERRIMAN, Associate Director and Professor, Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA), and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, spoke on “Illinois’ Economic and Fiscal Challenges and Responsibilities” to the University Senate recently.

MERRIMAN EXPLAINED that the University’s Board of Trustees requests such analyses from the IGPA.

HE NOTED that Illinois and the Midwest are “recovering slowly” economically—yet the “Midwest is doing well relative to the rest of the nation,” he said. “In fact, the Midwest is leading the nation during the recovery in its manufacturing and agricultural sectors.” Still, he noted that three years after the start of the previous two recessions, “The Midwest had already experienced expansion of over ten percent. Not this time. The recovery looks more like tunneling out of a hole than a vertical assent.”

MERRIMAN SHOWED an Unemployment Rate graph, in which Illinois unemployment mirrored that of the U.S. “The Illinois economy is like the U.S. economy,” he said. “So it’s not like Illinois is doing something wrong. Our economy is keeping pace with that of the U.S.”

ILLINOIS, another chart showed, was running a Consolidated Budget surplus in 1997 and 1998. Today, there is a deficit of about $9 billion.

ANOTHER CHART showed total State expenditures from 1997 to 2012, which revealed that the share to higher education has dropped from about seven percent to about four percent.

MERRIMAN CONCLUDED that the State asking for a recission (return of funds from the University) was not out of the question.

APAC Meetings Scheduled; All Invited

2011-11-28T19:11:00.003-06:00

ALL APs are invited to the monthly APAC meeting at 12:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 14, in Room 5175 of the College of Medicine Research Building, 909 S. Wolcott. Every other month, a meeting is scheduled in Room 2750 of University Hall on the East Campus. Also scheduled are meetings Jan. 11 in Room 2750 UH, Feb. 8 in Room 5175 CMRB, March 14 in Room 2750 UH, April 11 in Room 5175 CMRB, May 9 in Room 2750 UH, June 13 in Room 5175 CMRB, July 11 in Room 2750 UH, Aug. 8 in Room 5175 CMRB, Sept 12 in Room 2750 UH, Oct. 10 in Room 5175 CMRB, and Nov. 14 in Room 2750 UH. For information, call (312) 996-0306.

2011-11-28T19:00:00.001-06:00

SPARKY VISITS--UIC mascot Sparky the Dragon visited the APAC News office at the College of Dentistry recently to remind Academic Professionals about varsity winter sports at the University. He was greeted by APAC News Editor William S. Bike.

Join UIC United (SUAA)

2011-11-28T18:48:00.000-06:00

UIC UNITED, the UIC Chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA), has announced a new dues program for UIC employees: Sign up for dues deduction from paychecks at $2.75/month, a discount of $0.25/month. Follow the link in the first sentence for an online application. First, check the button next to Current Employee (after Employment Status). Then scroll down to the drop-down menu after College/University and display University of Illinois at Chicago. The following will then be displayed blow below "You can have dues automatically deducted from your regular paycheck." For more information, contact Membership Director Sue Sindelar.

THE ORGANIZATION will host its annual holiday luncheon, Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 11:30 a.m. at the Parthenon Restaurant, 314 S. Halsted St. Cost is $20. Valet parking is complimentary. All are invited. For more information, contact Donna Knutson at (630) 579-6134, markanddonna@uicalumni.org, or Rose Kirk at (630) 852-7316, rfrankirk@comcast.net.

Zipcars Available on Campus

2011-11-28T18:34:00.003-06:00

GET 24/7 access to a Zipcar, a car-sharing service with autos parked at several locations around campus, across the city, and around the world. After joining Zipcar, you can reserve a car online, let yourself in with a Zipcard, and drive. Hourly and daily rates include gas and insurance, with no maintenance or car payment charges. Campus locations are 501 S. Morgan St., 761 W. Polk St., 820 S. Paulina St., and 901 S. Paulina St. For information or to join, go to www.zipcar.com/uic.

Car Pool Help Offered

2011-11-28T18:16:00.002-06:00

UIC HAS partnered with iCarpool, an online ride-matching service, to bring employees a new transportation program that helps find ride sharing opportunities.

BY CARPOOLING instead of driving alone, participants can save 50% or more on travel and vehicle expenses, improve outdoor air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,000 lbs. per year.

TO REGISTER, visit http://bit.ly/UICiCarpool and setup a profile using your @uic.edu or @illinois.edu address. Note that this is not directly linked with your netid. For additional details, visit http://commuter.uic.edu/icarpool orhttp://sustainability.uic.edu/icarpool.

EMPLOYEES ARE encouraged to take advantage of the iCarpool program by registering as a participant; check back frequently to find carpool matches as site membership increases.!

FOR INFORMATION contact icarpool@uic.edu or (312) 413-7440; the UIC Office of Sustainability, sustainability@uic.edu, (312) 413-9816; or the UIC Commuter Student Resource Center, commuter@uic.edu; (312) 413-7740.

The Continuing Crisis

2011-11-28T18:00:00.009-06:00

Rhode Island State workers rallied against pension cuts at the state capitol.

Editor’s Note: “The Continuing Crisis” is a section of APAC News which links to news pertinent to the state budget crisis and other financial matters as they affect the University and Academic Professionals. These news outlets are not affiliated with or endorsed by APAC.

PUBLIC SAYS use taxes and cuts to solve State budget crisis. See KFVS-TV Channel 12, http://www.kfvs12.com/story/15787794/illinois-voters-favor-some-cuts-some-taxes-to-fix-broken-budget.

RHODE ISLAND may be the canary in the coal mine concerning Illinois pension woes. See Oct. 23 New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/business/for-rhode-island-the-pension-crisis-is-now.html.

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS in the State universities system sent a letter to Governor Pat Quinn, with copies to Senate President John Cullerton, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, and House Republican Leader Tom Cross, expressing the presidents’ interest in continuing to work on options and alternatives to SB512. Se the States Universities Annuitants Association site at http://www.suaa.org/ for more information. You can read the full letter by clicking here: http://www.suaa.org/assets/pdf/Quinn11.4.11.pdf?PHPSESSID=28f0fdb5585221ef4deab04474b5c780.

Vol. 4, No. 10 November 2011

2011-11-28T17:12:00.000-06:00

ISSN 1946-1860

Editor: William S. Bike

Writing Staff: Ivone De Jesus, Gail Mansfield, Tomeiko Sewell

Chair: Michael Moss

Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan

Secretary: Jacqueline M. Berger

Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
Webmaster: Jeff Alcantar

http://www.apac.uic.edu

OCTOBER 2011 APAC News, Vol. 4, No. 9

2011-10-25T22:24:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the October, 2011 edition of APAC News!

***NEW***

Click the tabs above ("Resources", "Careers", etc) for additional pages.

New content includes employee discounts, training classes and more!

Click "APAC News" from any page to return here.

State, University, Union Leaders Examine Our Pensions in IGPA Summit

2011-10-25T22:02:00.024-05:00

George Bush appointee Jeffrey Brown (left), a Professor of Finance at U of I Champaign-Urbana, and Alicia Munnell, a financial advisor to the Bill Clinton Administration, achieved a rare consensus on what to do about Illinois’ public pensions crisis. UIC Philosophy Professor Anthony Laden (center) urged that employees and pensioners be treated with fairness.

By William S. Bike

STATE AND University of Illinois officials and union leaders came together Oct. 3 and 4 at the Union League Club of Chicago for “A Bold New Dialogue on Public Pensions.”

ORGANIZED BY the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA), the event kicked off Oct. 3 with keynote speaker Alicia H. Munnell, a professor of management sciences at Boston College.

Pension Reform: How to Get from Here to There

MUNNELL, WHO was a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers and assistant secretary of the treasury during President Bill Clinton’s administration, spoke about “Pension Reform: How to Get from Here to There.”

SHE NOTED that public pensions “were not considered a problem before the 2008 economic meltdown” and that, even before then, the “funding ratios for Illinois State pensions have been consistently below average. Among the bottom ten state pension plans in the nation, Illinois has three of them. Why is Illinois in this mess? Because the State has not been paying its annual required contribution (ARC), so the hole just gets worse every year.”

A DEFINED benefit (DB) plan is a traditional pension, an employer-sponsored retirement plan set up to pay a fixed monthly amount to eligible employees during their retirement years. The employer takes complete control over investment risk and portfolio management and determines each employee’s retirement benefit based on a formula—generally expressed as a percentage of annual salary—that takes into account the employee’s age, years of service, and earnings.

IN A defined contribution (DC) plan, the employer sets up an individual account for each participant and contributes a fixed amount to each account annually. The amount of each person’s monthly retirement benefit is not fixed nor guaranteed because it depends on the amount of money in the individual’s account at retirement. Also, the individual must bear responsibility for all investment risk and portfolio management. Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401(k)s are examples of DC plans.

MUNNELL SUGGESTED moving away from DB pensions for State employees but did not go so far as to call for a complete switch to DC plans. Instead, she called for a hybrid plan.

“CONTEMPLATED CHANGES in Illinois pensions are driven by budget problems, not human resources needs, but State employees must be protected no matter what system is used,” she said. While some people today go so far as to suggest that government is not necessary, “You have public workers because you need tasks done and you need good people to do them,” Munnell stated. “Any pension changes should be fair and benefit all groups: current employees, new hires, and retirees.”

WITH ILLINOIS not contributing its full ARC, the State has been selling pension obligation bonds to raise money for the pension fund. Proponents believe Illinois can come out ahead in this approach by investing its money in the stock market and getting a better return than the interest it will pay on the bonds.

“THAT’S CRAZY,” Munnell said.

MUNNELL ALSO noted that cost of living adjustments (COLAs) “get these plans in trouble.” The COLA in Illinois plans is 3%, compounded annually. She noted that Minnesota, South Dakota, and Colorado recently reduced their retirement plans’ COLAs.

SHE OFFERED a two-fold solution to Illinois’s problems. “Illinois should start contributing the full ARC and revise its benefit structure,” Munnell said. “The goal should not be to hack at the plan but to set up a solid plan. I think State employees are entitled to their benefits. First, something has to be done on the tax side like raising taxes to fund the ARC. Then change the benefits.”

RESPONDING TO Munnell was Jeffrey Brown, professor of finance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and a member of the federal Social Security Advisory Board under President George W. Bush.

WHILE TYPICALLY Munnell and Brown have occupied opposite sides of financial arguments in their careers, when it comes to Illinois retirement benefits they are—surprisingly—in almost complete agreement, showing that bipartisan solutions are possible.

BROWN ALSO does not favor Illinois going to a full DC pension, explaining that “people’s financial literacy is low. So they need a guaranteed ‘floor’ amount in pension funds for life. Supplementing that by an intelligently designed DC supplemental contribution would be ideal. A DB/DC model would be better than forcing people to choose one or another.

“THE CONVERSATION should be changed from ‘us vs. them’ to designing a good pension program,” Brown concluded

ANTHONY LADEN, an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), spoke next and focused on fairness. He noted fairness in designing a pension plan should not be a cursory check “to be brought in at the end, but should be part of the discussion from the beginning.” He also said that, for constructive dialogue to happen, both sides should be prepared and willing to “look at each other face-to-face and explain their position in a way in which facts and evidence are used to back up their position and explain why they feel as they do,” rather than the modern-day way of arguing in which each side tries to demonize and shout down the other.

Collaboration is the Key to Success

Nick Berardino of the Orange County Employees Association. Pension reform in Orange County, CA, is considered a model because officials reached an agreement between organized labor and a 100% conservative Republican county board.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER on Oct. 4 was Nick Berardino, general manager of the Orange County Employees Association. Pension reform in Orange County, CA, is considered a model because officials reached an agreement between organized labor and a 100% conservative Republican county board. Berardino spoke on how “Collaboration is the Key to Success.”

PENSION REFORM agreement appeared even more difficult in Orange County because “taming” public workers was “a cause célèbre for conservatives in our area,” Berardino said. “They were getting elected on a platform of ‘We’re going to get these damn public employees under control.’ That made an already dollar-difficult issue into a football for political opportunists.

“YOU HAVE to be careful that you don’t get so polarized that you can’t deal with pension reform,” Berardino added. “Accepting reality isn’t fun, but that’s what both sides have to do to reach a workable agreement. Conservatives have to accept that collective bargaining isn’t going away. Labor has to accept that some pension reforms are necessary to preserve defined benefits. Everyone has to accept that pensions are complicated and most people—particularly journalists and lawmakers—don’t fully understand how they work.

“BOTH SIDES have to start selling this idea of accepting reality early on if you really want to reach a solution,” Berardino continued. “Or you can just beat each other up verbally. It’s easy and it pleases your constituents, but it doesn’t solve anything. Politicians and union leaders get elected by saying ‘no compromise.’ But you have to move away from this. We said to the elected officials, ‘No matter how much you dislike us, we aren’t going anywhere, so learn to work with us.’

“WORKERS HAVE a much better shot at protecting our benefits if we’re part of forming a solution,” Berardino said.

BERARDINO EXPLAINED why he believes public pensions are in crisis today. “In the late 1990s, most public pension accounts were well funded,” he said. “There was pressure to improve benefits,” and with the economy booming and plenty of money in government coffers, “enhanced formulas were adopted with overwhelming bipartisan support.”

WITH THAT no longer the case, conservatives pressured public employees to give up traditional DB plans. “Conservatives basically said, ‘Our money is in 401(k)s, and we’ve lost 70% of our retirement benefits. So should you.’”

WHILE THAT obviously was not a good deal for employees, a deal that could be sold to both sides was the approach Munnell spoke about earlier: Orange County and union officials created a hybrid retirement plan for employees that was part DB pension, part DC.

THE ORANGE County plan closely resembles a plan some have talked about for Illinois. County employees could decide whether to keep their old plan, or they could select the hybrid plan. Under the hybrid, Orange County employees would retire later and collect less from their pensions due to a reduced pension formula, but during their working years they would pay less each month toward the DB part of the plan and could decide how much to contribute to the DC part, with the county matching their DC contribution up to 2% of salary.

“WE COULD sell that to our members because we showed mathematically how some could actually make more money in retirement with the hybrid,” Berardino explained, noting the City of Atlanta has adopted a similar plan.

“IF WE as Americans can accept the core principles of fairness, we can come up with a solution,” Berardino concluded.

ACCORDING TO Public Sector Inc., an online forum on public sector issues and taxes published by the Center for State and Local Leadership at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, “The Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago has floated a pension reform for Illinois that would essentially copy private sector practice—existing pension plans would be terminated, and existing workers would keep their benefits accrued to date while receiving future benefits in a new pension system.”

RESPONDING TO Berardino was Tyrone Fahner, president of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago and a former attorney general of Illinois elected as a Republican. Fahner said, “We’re trying to protect the benefits of retirees, we’re trying to protect the benefits of current employees, we want to bring parity between new and current employees, and we want to protect citizens by stopping the politics of kicking debt down the road.”

PARITY BETWEEN State employees hired on or after January 1, 2011 and State employees hired before that date has become an issue because benefits for the two groups are so different. In the State Universities Retirement System (SURS), for example:

Employees hired before January 1, 2011

Retirement is age 60 with eight years of service, 62 with five years of service, or any age with 30 years of service; early retirement age is 55 with eight years of service. Vesting period is five years. Final salary is considered the average of the highest four consecutive years or the last four years, whichever is greater. Retirees get 80% of final average salary, no matter how high the amount.

Employees hired on or after January 1, 2011

Retirement is age 67 with ten years of service; early retirement is age 62 with ten years of service. The vesting period is ten years. Final salary is considered the highest eight years within the last ten years of service. Pensions are capped at $106,800 per year.

FAHNER SAID his organization is pushing to bring up Senate Bill 512 in the Illinois General Assembly in the fall; under this bill, State employees could either pay more for benefits or pay less but get fewer benefits. He noted that “If 512 is passed, we don’t want to see any benefits taken away that have already been earned.”

THE NEXT speaker was Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31.

BAYER SAID, “Orange County took some pension holidays, in which the county didn’t pay its portion of pension contributions at certain times. Here in Illinois, we took a pension sabbatical. In 41 years, we have not increased our pension funding level.

“SO LET’S confront reality,” Bayer continued. “The problem here in Illinois is not a pension problem. The average Illinois pension is $32,000—and these employees have no Social Security coverage. We have a funding problem, not a too-much-pension problem.

“THE STATE Constitution says the State will not impair the benefits of employees,” Bayer explained. “Officeholders swear to uphold the Constitution. You can’t just toss this aside. All of the plans put forth are to cut pension benefits. None advocates funding the pensions. We do need changes; we acknowledge we have a problem. Our members are being asked to sacrifice; we have in the past. The last time the pensions were reformed, our members agreed to forego a pay increase and agreed to work longer for full retiree health benefits. We have shown our willingness to step up to the plate.

“THE BILL changing benefits for new employees was a disgrace,” said Bayer. “It was passed quickly, with one speaker for each side given three minutes. We are more than prepared to face reality, but there is nothing in the proposed pension changes that requires the State to act responsibly.”

SOME HAVE said reducing State employee pensions would be preferable to raising taxes on corporations to gain the money to fund the pensions because the corporations are “job creators.” Bayer addressed this point by noting that “three-quarters of the corporations in this State pay no income tax. It drives me crazy to read in the paper when some business threatens to leave the State if they don’t get a tax break. Motorola and Caterpillar got tax breaks, and then left.

“WE’VE got to stop giving out handouts to these businesses that pay lower taxes than individuals,” Bayer said. “We earned our benefits. They get giveaways.”

BERARDINO ECHOED Bayer, noting “the money that we’re saving business here through giveaways is not being spent by them here. They are taking the jobs offshore.”

Small Group Discussions

SMALL GROUP discussions came next. Darren Lubotsky, who holds appointments at GIPA and in the Department of Economics at UIUC, led the discussion about “Pensions as a Component of Total Compensation.”

DAVID MERRIMAN, associate director of IGPA and a professor of public administration at UIC’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA), led a discussion on “Principles of Fairness and Options for Reform.”

THE STATE Constitution has a “non-impairment” clause that protects government employees’ earned benefits, saying such benefits cannot be reduced or altered. It is therefore constitutionally unclear what changes can be made in employee pensions. Does that mean future costs and benefits to current employees must remain unchanged, or does it mean accrued benefits are safe, but costs and benefits can be changed for current employees going forward? J. Fred Giertz of IGPA, a professor of economics at UIUC, led a discussion on this topic.

GROUP LEADERS for the small group discussions summarized conclusions their groups reached.

MERRIMAN SAID, “Tone down the rhetoric. Make the process as transparent as possible. There should be agreed upon, objective facts as to what the situation is with the pension plans. And whatever is arrived at should be arrived at with consensus, not rammed down anybody’s throat. There should be common goals. Whatever solution is achieved has to be realistic in the share of the budget it takes. Retirees should be guaranteed a basic minimum level for a decent retirement.”

LUBOTSKY NOTED pensions should be thought about “in the context of the total compensation package. Whatever we spend on pensions, we want to maximize the value for everyone. And all involved should realize that most people aren’t equipped to make good pension decisions, so design the pension to insulate people from bad decisions.”

GIERTZ CONCLUDED that “underfunding has to become a thing of the past. There has to be a buy-in to the concept of shared sacrifice and shared contribution. We could make changes in areas not covered by the non-impairment clause, such as retirement healthcare. And we have to think about the transition process—how do we get to where we want to be from where we are?”

Legislators Panel

State Senator Kwame Raoul (right) said, “We legislators must point the finger inward. It’s the Legislature’s fault—both parties—not the fault of the employees.”

A PANEL consisting of Representative Darlene J. Senger (R-96^th, Naperville); Representative Elaine Nekritz (D-57th, Northbrook); State Senator Bill Brady (R-44th, Bloomington); and State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13th, South Side, Chicago) offered opinions on the State pension crisis.

SENGER ASSERTED, “When we think of pensions, we shouldn’t think so much about the numbers, but about the people. I welcome everyone’s input so we can make better decisions. It’s important not to use scare tactics about pensions. We want to come up with something sustainable for the long run.”

NEKRITZ BELIEVES that “to solve the budget crisis, we have to use every arrow in our quiver—raising revenues and making cuts. I don’t believe we can take a certain percentage of the budget and say we can’t touch that. We must find a way to make the pension system sound.”

BRADY WANTS the State to make some hard choices. “We have an unfunded liability of $85 billion. Thirty-nine states have revised pension reforms similar to Senate Bill 512—employees have to ‘pay to stay’ in Tier 1; there will be lower contributions with lower benefits in Tier 2, with a DC plan. The State ideally should increase its contributions to pay down our pension debt and decide on no more pension borrowing. The State should pay in cash, on time.”

RAOUL TOOK exception to the views of some that the problem can be laid at the feet of former governor Rod Blagojevich. “This is not a problem that came about with the Blagojevich administration,” Raoul said. “It’s decades old. We legislators must point the finger inward. It’s the Legislature’s fault—both parties—not the fault of the employees. To fix the problem, we have to use an appropriate process that observes our State constitution.”

Wrapup

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Michael Hogan had the final word of the day. “Pension uncertainty is hurting us in recruiting the best and brightest employees for the University of Illinois,” Hogan said. “If we lose the ability to attract the best and the brightest, there will be serious consequences not only for the University, but for the State.

“AS PRESIDENT of one of the State’s largest employers, I’d be remiss if I didn’t advocate for a stable pension system for our employees,” Hogan concluded.

IGPA IS a public policy research organization based in all three University of Illinois campus cities. Its mission is to improve public policy and government performance. For more information, visit www.igpa.uillinois.edu. For the IGPA report on the pension summit, see: http://igpa.uillinois.edu/state-summit-2011/report.

Senate Bill 512 May be Resurrected

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HALTED IN the spring, Senate Bill 512 would require current employees to choose among three retirement plans. They could stay in the current plan, but contribute more to it; they could choose to participate in the second-tier plan that has reduced benefits; or they could participate in a new 401(k)-style defined contribution plan.

IN A joint press release last spring from House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), it was stated that the proponents still supported the concepts of the SB512 and planned to hold meetings over the summer in order to have a bill ready for the fall Veto Session beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25. Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) believes the bill to be unconstitutional, however.

THE ORIGINAL provisions of SB512, if enacted, would either increase employee pension contributions without an increase in benefits, reduce employee contributions and decrease benefits, or move employees from a defined benefit plan (your monthly pension payout is guaranteed) to a defined contribution plan (your monthly pension payout is not guaranteed).

PRESIDENT MICHAEL Hogan testified against SB512 last spring, stating that it would harm the University irreparably in terms of our ability to recruit and retain employees.

APAC HAS continued to actively oppose the legislation. It has compiled more than 1,200 comments on pension reform submitted by Illinois voters in response to the original provisions of Senate Bill 512, and has distributed the comments to all State Senators and House Representatives associated with the bill--along with the message “these provisions would harm us irreparably, impairing our State institutions’ ability to recruit and retain high caliber employees.”

AS CITIZENS of the State of Illinois, University employees may contact your State Representatives and State Senators directly, although not via a University phone. Let them know what you think about pension reform. You do not have to be an expert on Illinois politics to call. You can search for your district officials by clicking http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByZip.aspx.

NIU TODAY, a Northern Illinois University publication, wrote a plain language article that provides more information: http://www.niutoday.info/2011/10/04/pension-issues-likely-to-resurface-in-veto-session/.

THE STATE Universities Retirement System (SURS) has a webpage devoted to pending legislation: http://www.surs.com/shepherd.surs?flk=Legal&shp=63.

ACTUARIAL FIRM Buck Associates says SB512 could cost taxpayers $34 billion more and urged lawmakers not to adopt it. See http://finance.alphatrade.com/story/2011-10-19/MRW/201110191514MRKTWIREUSPR____0811413.html.

Senate Bill 2512 (SB 2512) Introduced October 25th

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Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the General Provisions Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Provides that the total retirement annuity of a participant in a State-funded retirement system who first became a participant before January 1, 2011 shall not exceed $120,000 per year. Provides that a participant who first became a participant before January 1, 2011 is not eligible to retire from a State-funded retirement system before reaching age 62. Provides that these changes do not apply to a participant who is eligible to retire within 8 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, regardless of whether the participant actually retires during that period. Effective immediately.

You can keep track of SB 2512 here: http://tinyurl.com/sb2512.

APAC Facelift: Notice Our New Look?

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A snapshot of APAC's new homepage.

BUILDING ON the success of our APAC News website – which has received over 25,000 page hits since launching this past January – we have worked to rebuild the APAC Homepage from the ground up. The goal was to include more information of interest to campus APs, and to make information easier to find. Expanded content includes “Resources” and “Careers” sections, which have information on employee discounts, professional certifications, training classes, and more. We have also integrated the APAC Homepage with APAC News. Take a look around by clicking on https://sites.google.com/site/uicapac/ or on the links across the top of any page (clicking “APAC News” from any page will return you here).

DO YOU like the new look? Hate it? Have other thoughts? Please click here and let us know: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/9009796.

IT WILL take less than five minutes to submit your feedback, and it can help us make sure our new website meets your needs.

New AP Senator

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Marelet Kirda, UIC's newest AP Senator.

SINCE SEPTEMBER 2006, Academic Professionals (APs) have had three elected representatives on the UIC Senate. Recently, one of the AP Senators, Jill Davis, resigned from UIC to pursue other opportunities, leaving one AP Senator position vacant. The new AP Senator is Marelet Kirda, Assistant to the Executive Director, Center for Advanced Design, Research, and Exploration (CADRE).

APAC Meetings Scheduled; All Invited

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APAC Members at our September, 2011 meeting.

Seated on the front row are Jill Davis, Virginia Buglio, Jen Rowan, and Michael Moss.

Standing in the rear row are Bill Bike, Deidre Rush, Susan Varghese, Agnes Kawalec, Tomeiko Windham Sewell, Jacquie Berger, Yair Rodriguez, and Margaret Moser.

ALL APs are invited to the monthly APAC meeting at 12:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, Nov. 9, in Room 2150 of University Hall on the East Campus. The December meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 14, in Room 5175 of the College of Medicine Research Building, 909 S. Wolcott. Also scheduled are meetings Jan. 11 in Room 2750 UH, Feb. 8 in Room 5175 CMRB, March 14 in Room 2750 UH, April 11 in Room 5175 CMRB, May 9 in Room 2750 UH, and June 13 in Room 5175 CMRB. For information, call (312) 996-0306.

AP PROFILE

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APAC member Lee Jackson.

Lee Jackson Pushes for Fairness in Civil Service, SURS Changes

LEE JACKSON has worked as a Program and Policy Analyst for the Department of Pediatrics for almost three years. He likes the everyday rigors and challenges he faces there.

“I AM most productive when there are deadlines to meet or high-priority projects to complete, and there is no shortage of either in my position,” he said. “I really like the sense of accomplishment that comes from meeting challenges and removing obstacles that come up in day-to-day work.”

JACKSON BECAME involved with APAC about six months ago because he heard about the critical issues looming for APs, namely Civil Service conversion and possible State Universities Retirement System (SURS) pension changes. He felt that APs had not been given enough of a voice on these issues and wanted to get involved and become “part of the effort to promote awareness and fairness on these and other issues for APs,” he said.

JACKSON WOULD like to see APAC achieve some of its primary objectives regarding the Civil Service audits, such as protecting AP seniority and “assisting in ensuring that positions that are true AP positions remain that way,” he said. Jackson is proud of the fact that APAC has worked tirelessly to protect employee pensions. “APAC has shown itself to be an organization of action, just as I had hoped for,” he said.

IN HIS free time, he plays the bass guitar in a cover band, follows politics, practices martial arts, and enjoys spending time with friends and family. Jackson and his wife, Emilie, have an 11-month-old daughter named Hazel.

JACKSON IS looking forward to continuing to create awareness of important issues and affect positive change for APs at UIC through APAC. Get to know Jackson a bit more at the next APAC meeting Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 12:30 p.m. in Room 2150 of University Hall on the East Campus.

--Ivone De Jesus

Campus Crime: Is UIC Safe?

2011-10-25T19:20:00.003-05:00

Many on campus are concerned about crime.

HAVE YOU noticed the urgent “Crime Alerts” recently? Are you interested in campus crime and campus safety? APAC will be hosting a presentation and discussion with topics to include:

· The “Clery Act” and UIC campus crime statistics

· How safe UIC is compared to our peer institutions

· How campus crime has changed over the past five years

· High-risk parts of campus

· High-risk activities to avoid

· The new COPS program

CRAIG MORAN, Community Relations Officer, University Police will present on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 5175 COMRB (College of Medicine Research Building),

909 S. Wolcott. To register, click https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/3787915. This event is designated as an official Chancellor’s Status Committee meeting and is thereby considered approved for employee participation. This event is co-sponsored by the Academic Professional Advisory Committee (APAC), the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women (CCSW), and the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Blacks (CCSB).

Call for Nominations:ARR Human Capital Strategy Advisory Teams

2011-10-25T19:10:00.001-05:00

THE ACADEMIC Professional Advisory Committee (APAC) is soliciting nominations from UIC's Academic Professionals to serve on the Administrative Review and Restructuring (ARR) Human Capital Strategy Advisory Teams. Of the nominees, two candidates will be selected to serve. If you are interested, please see below for more information or click here to submit your nomination: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/5745206

VIRTUALLY EVERYONE is a stakeholder in a human capital strategy.

HUMAN CAPITAL Strategy: How will we secure, manage, and motivate a workforce that can execute the University strategy? Optimal HR performance requires strategic alignment.

THE UNIVERSITY of Illinois is a major employer. Of our total operating budgets, we invest the majority in personnel costs, our human capital. Yet, we lack a comprehensive human capital strategy to guide that investment and ensure optimal performance of our human resources and of our Human Resources organizations. The development and implementation of a human capital strategy will provide for more efficient achievement of University strategy, would be essential to greater alignment and greater effectiveness between University strategy and HR service delivery, and will address the void that currently exists.

THE ADVISORY teams will provide input to the project team in its formulation of a human capital strategy. The advisory teams also will be actively involved in the development of the strategy. The human capital strategy will cover academic professionals and civil service employees (open range, technical, trades, clerical, etc.).

NOMINEES WILL ideally have knowledge or experience in talent management (career planning/development, workforce development), performance management (competencies, performance appraisals, discipline), and/or professional development (educational programs/workshops, job shadowing, management assessments, mentoring/coaching).

AP RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

2011-10-25T19:02:00.008-05:00

New Retirement Planning Seminars Set

INFORMED PLANNING now can provide a more comfortable retirement in five, ten, or 25 years, whenever you are ready. The supplemental 403(b) plan offered by the University provides the opportunity to enhance your retirement benefits, but only if you participate. University Human Resources and University and Payroll Benefits Services are offering a series of new retirement planning seminars to University employees.

RECEIVE THE latest information and tools on a variety of topics that include setting financial goals, building an investment mix, and managing your accounts in the midst of change. Representatives from Fidelity and TIAA-CREF, the vendors for the University of Illinois Supplemental 403(b) Retirement Plan, and representatives from the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) will lead the seminar discussions.

REGISTRATION IS required and available online at https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu/cf/benefits/index.cfm?Item_ID=139. If you need assistance with registration, contact Laura Czys at (217) 333-9063 or e-mail uihr@uillinois.edu.

DATE, TIME, and location: Find the sessions that are right for you:

TIAA-CREF: Staying on Track in a Volatile Market

Friday, Oct. 28, College of Medicine Research Building, Room 3175, 3 to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 2, College of Medicine Research Building, Room 4175 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

TIAA-CREF: Five Habits of Highly Successful Investors

Friday, Oct. 28, College of Medicine Research Building, Room 3175, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 2, College of Medicine Research Building, Room 4175, 3 to 4 p.m.

SURS: Preparing for Retirement

Thursday, Oct. 27, College of Medicine West, Room 106, 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Monday, Nov. 21, College of Medicine Research Building, Moss Auditorium, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

EMPLOYEES MAY be released from work to attend these events, University operations permitting, and subject to prior approval from your supervisor.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about SURS and supplemental investment options can be found in NESSIE at: https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu/cf/benefits/index.cfm?Item_ID=126&rlink=1. For assistance with University supplemental plans, contact your campus benefits services office at (312) 996-6471 or e-mail benefits-uic@uillinois.edu.

FREE ONE-ON-ONE counseling with plan vendors is available. Need assistance with SURS Self-Managed Plan investment options or the University's 403(b) Plan? Representatives from Fidelity and TIAA-CREF have on-campus one-on-one counseling sessions available. Register for counseling at: https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu/cf/benefits/index.cfm?Item_ID=2854 .

FOR ASSISTANCE with SURS, call (217) 378-8800 or (800) 275-7877. For assistance from the plan vendors call TIAA-CREF at (800) 732-8353 and Fidelity at (800) 642-7131.

Websites to Know

2011-10-25T18:35:00.001-05:00

TO EXPLORE a searchable database of the Illinois government's unpaid bills from Sept. 8, go to http://billpay.qconline.com.

The Continuing Crisis

2011-10-25T17:37:00.001-05:00

GENERAL ASSEMBLY likely to examine pension issues in fall veto session, said NIU Today on Oct. 7. See http://www.niutoday.info/2011/10/04/pension-issues-likely-to-resurface-in-veto-session/.

STATE NEWSPAPERS, Associated Press join together for series on unpaid bills. See http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics-and-government/2011-10-21/state-newspapers-ap-join-together-series-unpaid-bills.html. "Deadbeat Illinois: The Painful Price of Unpaid Bills" is a joint project by the Associated Press and its members across Illinois. The goal is to highlight the State's decision not to pay its bills on time and to examine the extent of the impact of that decision. The opening piece looks at how Illinois turned the delay in payment from the exception to the rule. State universities are dealing with chronic late payments. Tuition has been on the rise at all the State universities; here's a chart showing the increase in the past five years and here's a chart showing how much they're owed by the State.

Vol. 4, No. 9 October 2011

2011-10-25T17:02:00.003-05:00

ISSN 1946-1860

Editor: William S. Bike

Writing Staff: Ivone De Jesus, Gail Mansfield, Tomeiko Sewell, Monica M. Walk

Chair: Michael Moss

Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan

Secretary: Jacqueline M. Berger

Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
Webmaster: Jeff Alcantar

https://sites.google.com/site/uicapac/

AP Leaders Meet with President Hogan

2011-09-30T23:00:00.009-05:00

ACADEMIC PROFESSIONAL representatives from Chicago, Urbana, and Springfield met with President Michael Hogan at his home on Sept. 26 to discuss timely issues and concerns shared by all three campuses. The meeting primarily focused on AP/Civil Service conversions and University of Illinois hiring authority (“exemption authority”); pensions and health care concerns; the budget outlook; concerns related to the upcoming legislative session; and Administrative Review and Restructuring (ARR) and the human capital strategy for APs.

THE PRESIDENT was joined by other campus leaders, including Maureen Parks (UIC and University Administration [UA]), Executive Director and Associate Vice President of Human Resources; Jami Painter (UA), Assistant Vice President of Human Resources (HR); Eric Smith (UA), Assistant Vice President of Equal Employment Opportunity and HR; Elyne Cole (UIUC), Associate Provost for Human Resources; Bob Lael (UIS), Acting Director of Human Resources; Wayne Stahl (UA), Visiting Director of Organizational Development; and Marilyn Marshall, Director, University Wide Student Programs and Academic Programs and Services; among others.

DURING THE meeting, representatives from all three campuses voiced the concerns of their constituents. Rather than restating these concerns, we have provided several salient updates below.

Why did APAC Members Meet with President Hogan?

PRESIDENT HOGAN meets twice per year with the University Professional Personnel Advisory Committee (UPPAC), with membership elected from each campus’s advisory committee of academic professionals. In 1977, University of Illinois President John E. Corbally created UPPAC to serve the Academic Professionals working at the University, and provide advice to the University of Illinois President on behalf of all Academic Professionals. UIC UPPAC members are Michael Moss, APAC Chair; Jennifer Rowan, APAC Vice Chair; Jacquie Berger, APAC Secretary; and Leticia Sanchez, APAC Representation Subcommittee Chair.

Fall Legislative Session

THE FALL veto session begins Tuesday, Oct. 25. Senate Bill 512, which addresses pension reform, is expected to be revisited at that time, but may be losing steam. Senate Bill 175, which addresses retiree health insurance, may also be revisited. The University will also continue its efforts to reduce the administrative burden of recent purchasing legislation. For more about these bills, see the article “UIC United Credits APAC for Stopping Bad Legislation,” below.

LAST YEAR, legislation was introduced that would have eliminated the University’s ability to autonomously create Academic Professional positions. If this occurred, the State University Civil Service System (SUCSS) would have to approve each new Academic Professional employee for all State universities – UIC could not hire someone into an Academic Professional position until after the SUCSS had approved the position.

THE LEGISLATION did not pass, and we have retained our “exemption authority.” Tom Morelock, the Executive Director of SUCSS, had previously indicated that he would continue to pursue the change this year in the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR). However, he has recently communicated that this may no longer be the case.

State Universities Retirement System (SURS)

THERE WILL be no-cost SURS seminars in Chicago on Thursday, Oct. 27, and Monday, Nov. 21, that will cover:

Retirement calculations (general formula and money purchase formula)
Qualifying to purchase additional service
Service for sick leave
Salary averages
Qualifying for insurance
Returning to employment

REGISTRATION BEGINS soon for the SURS Seminars – keep an eye out for additional communications.

HR HAS also posted a news release on the SURS money purchase factors change effective July 2, 2012, available here.

Health Plans

CONTRACTS FOR all current health plan vendors have been extended through June 30, 2012, and rates will remain the same. There will be a special enrollment period from Monday, Oct. 10, to Friday, Oct. 28, with changes effective Thursday, Dec. 1. Changes are limited to health plan vendor changes only – no other changes will be permitted during the special enrollment period.

AP/Civil Service Conversions

ANNIESE LEMOND, the former Director of Compensation and the former UIC HR representative to APAC, has left the University to pursue other opportunities. Lemond oversaw the job analysis process at UIC. As part of a temporary staffing plan, Joe Fowler, Visiting Compensation Consultant, will oversee the job analysis process and Debbie Lewis, Compensation Consultant, will be responsible for the day to day operations of the Compensation department.

Administrative Review and Restructuring HR Update

THE Administrative Review and Restructuring (ARR) working group Human Resource Management Subcommittee presented several recommendations to campus leadership in June of 2010, which include creating a University human capital strategy, establishing shared service centers for HR work, and streamlining internal HR processes. UPPAC has been engaged to participate in the process of implementation, and has been asked to identify five academic professionals to participate on an advisory committee for the development of a human capital strategy.

Budget Outlook

ALTHOUGH THE University provided raises for the first time in years, the local and national budget outlook still is grim – at least for several years to come. The University has been in the process of preparing for reduced State funding and is in a position to weather budget cuts if necessary. The University is focusing on initiatives to reduce costs (Administrative Review and Restructuring efforts) and increase other sources of revenues (Research and Hospital).

More on President Hogan

THE FOLLOWING excerpt is taken from a recent interview with President Hogan published by the Daily Illini, available here.

“A year ago, we were planning for somewhere between a 5% to 10% reduction in our State appropriations that was on top of everything else we’ve been through. That would’ve been a very big hit at the University. We did take a reduction, but only basically a 1% reduction, and I’ve said over and over again, in this kind of a budget environment, that’s about as close to total victory as you’re going to get.”

YOU CAN also read the President’s blog, available here.

UIC United Credits APAC for Stopping Bad Legislation

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An APAC petition is credited with stopping legislation that would have been harmful to UIC employees and retirees earlier this year, but the State Legislature (above) may re-examine the bills in October.

UIC UNITED President Merrill Gassman, in the Summer 2011 issue of the UIC United Newsletter, credited APAC with stopping legislation that would have harmed UIC employees concerning pensions and health benefits.

GASSMAN SAID, “thanks to the petition drive organized by Michael Moss and our colleagues in the UIC Academic Professional Advisory Committee (APAC), as well as the efforts of the member organizations of the Illinois Higher Education Legislative Coalition (HELC), we were able to forestall the passage of two bills that would have been deleterious to the interests of State annuitants.

“SB 512, which would have diminished the retirement benefits of current State employees, and SB 175, which would have imposed health insurance premiums on State annuitants, did not reach the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives for a vote in the regular spring session that ended on May 31,” Gassman said.

DESPITE THE fact that SB 512 was being championed by the two party leaders in the House, Rep. Michael Madigan (D) and Rep. Tom Cross (R), it was not called for a vote. Similarly, SB 175, led by Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D), did not make it to the Senate floor.

SOME LEGISLATORS have threatened to attempt to resurrect these bills in late October, however.

UIC UNITED is the UIC chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association.

Ben Ramirez Representing APs on Vice Chancellor for Research Search Committee

2011-09-30T21:00:00.001-05:00

BEN RAMIREZ, Director of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, Research Resources Center (RRC) for Structural Biology, has been named the Academic Professional (AP) representative on the Search Committee that will recommend a candidate to fill the post of Vice Chancellor for Research.

“MANY APs working in research are paid salaries that are 100% grant funded,” said Michael Moss, Chair of APAC. “If an AP is converted to Civil Service and the grant money runs out, what happens to that employee? What is the impact on research at UIC? That’s why we’re glad Ben is on this committee—to represent the interests and concerns of APs to the candidates.”

RAMIREZ HAS worked for UIC for seven years. This will be the first major Search Committee on which he has served.

“I DO basic science research, and manage an instrumentation facility that works with faculty, grad students, and postdocs,” Ramirez explained. “I also work on obtaining grant support.

“THE NEXT Vice Chancellor for Research affects my lab, which is used not only by biochemistry but by chemistry, pharmacy, dentistry and a lot of other units on campus,” he continued. “It is a tremendous resource that is unique in our State and I want to see it used to its greatest extent.”

APAC, UIC United Hold Retirement Funds Panel Discussion

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A large crowd attended the recent APAC/UIC United panel discussion
on retirement funds.

APAC AND UIC United, the UIC chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association (SUAA), on Sept. 20 held a panel discussion concerning financial plans for recovery relative to State funding of our retirement plans.

PANELISTS WERE Democratic Senator Heather Steans; Senator Matt Murphy, Minority Caucus Chair; Ralph Martire, Executive Director, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability; and Professor Paul Green, Director of the Institute for Politics, Roosevelt University, who served as moderator.

THEY ADDRESSED the audience’s questions on critical issues related to Illinois solvency such as State Universities Retirement System (SURS funding), potential pension legislation, and the University budget.

FOR A viewing of the panel discussion, click on http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/17396405. (Note that in the final remarks at 1:57 an anomaly of speeded-up playback occurs). Photos taken during the event may be viewed by clicking here.

Two From APAC Move On; New Secretary Named

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Jill Davis.

JILL DAVIS, Assistant to the Director, Center for Advanced Design, Research, and Exploration (CADRE), APAC Secretary, and an AP member of the University Senate, has left the University to become College Transfer Coordinator at the College of DuPage.

“I WOULD like to thank all my fellow APAC members for the camaraderie and productivity,” Davis said. “I’ve seen this committee evolve so much throughout the years and I’m so proud of all of our accomplishments.

“LASTLY, I would like to express my gratitude to Michael Moss, who has been an excellent Chair and great supporter of my role as Secretary. I’m excited to start my new adventure at the College of DuPage, but I cannot put into words how much I will miss all my UIC friends and colleagues,” Davis concluded.

Sophia Magill.

SOPHIA MAGILL, Associate Director, Programming, Campus Programs, and a former APAC member, has left UIC for a post with the Personnel Office of the White House in Washington, DC.

WITH DAVIS’ post as Secretary vacant, APAC elected Jacqueline Berger as its new Secretary. Berger is Director of Communications in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and is an AP representative on the University Senate.

AP Senate Election Coming

2011-09-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

WITH THE departure from UIC of one Academic Professional Senator, APAC will soon hold an election to fill that seat on the University Senate. If you are interested in running or would like more information, please contact Margaret Moser at mlmoser@uic.edu or (312) 413-2326.

Climate Survey Announced

2011-09-30T17:00:00.001-05:00

President Michael Hogan has announced the first Climate Survey
ever conducted at the University.

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Michael Hogan has announced the first multi-campus, University-wide Climate Survey ever conducted at the University of Illinois.

THIS CENSUS survey, which will solicit responses from all staff, faculty, and students on each campus, will be conducted beginning Wednesday Oct., 26, with an invitation sent to your University e-mail account. This survey will build on earlier campus efforts to provide a benchmark for the University of Illinois to gauge perceptions and help administration respond to concerns of the campus community. “After the survey results are analyzed, the information gathered will be used to prioritize and implement necessary changes to improve climate,” Dr. Hogan said.

THE SURVEY has been developed with the assistance of the University of Illinois’ Survey Research Laboratory and a Climate Survey Advisory Group, which comprises staff and faculty from all three campuses and University administration. “The survey was developed with a broad approach to assessing climate,” Dr. Hogan said.

“CLIMATE IS the atmosphere of an organization as perceived by its members. An organization’s climate is reflected in its structures, policies, and practices; the demographics of its members; the attitudes and values of its members and leaders; and the quality of personal interactions. It includes perceptions of inclusiveness, friendliness, cooperation, professionalism, recognition, support, and opportunities for advancement.

IF YOU have questions about the Climate Survey, review the FAQ page to find answers to commonly asked questions.

“A ROBUST response rate is necessary to gather meaningful data from the survey,” Dr. Hogan concluded. “Participation from all constituencies throughout the University is very important to the survey’s success. We rely on you to make your voice heard, to participate in this survey, and to shape the future of your University.”

FOR MORE information, log on to http://www.uillinois.edu/climatesurvey/.

Board Chair Kennedy to Speak

2011-09-30T16:00:00.000-05:00

Board Chair Christopher Kennedy.

UIC UNITED will present its fall membership meeting with Christopher G. Kennedy, Chair, University of Illinois Board of Trustees, speaking on “Research Universities and the Future of Our State,” Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Student Center West, Chicago Rooms, 828 S. Wolcott St.

THE EVENT will begin with coffee and rolls at 10:30 a.m., a business meeting at 11 a.m., Kennedy’s talk at noon, and a buffet luncheon at 1 p.m. Cost of the luncheon is $15, and reservation required.

To RSVP or obtain more information, contact Donna Knutson at markanddonna@uicalumni.org, (630) 579-6134, or Rose Kirk at rfrankirk@comcast.net, (630) 852-7316.

APAC Meeting Scheduled; All Invited

2011-09-30T15:00:00.001-05:00

ALL APs are invited to the monthly APAC meeting. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, Oct. 12, in Room 5175 of the College of Medicine Research Building, 909 S. Wolcott. For information, call (312) 996-0306.

Cutting Public Sector Jobs Fails to Help Economy

2011-09-30T14:00:00.002-05:00

Reprinted from The Progress Report, Sept. 2, 2011

IMAGINE FOR a moment if Boston, Denver, or Seattle — cities of roughly 600,000 residents — simply disappeared. Well, since the recession officially ended, about 600,000 public sector jobs previously held by 600,000 real people have disappeared from the economy — consistently offsetting some of the gains made in the private sector. Indeed, the stunner headline that zero jobs were created in August was the result of 17,000 new private sector jobs being offset by 17,000 more government jobs being axed.

MATT YGLESIAS has more on the dismal economy brought to us by failed conservative economic theory:

“THE PUBLIC sector has been steadily shrinking. According to the conservative theory of the economy, when the public sector shrinks that should super-charge the private sector. What’s happened in the real world has been that public sector shrinkage has simply been paired with anemic private sector growth. This is what I’ve called ‘The Conservative Recovery.’ Steady cuts to the government sector, offset somewhat by private sector growth. We ought to be forcefully trying to avoid public sector layoffs knowing that workers are also customers for the private sector. But we’re not.

“WE’RE ALREADY teetering on the edge of another recession, and continuing down a conservative economic path is likely to take us right off the cliff,” Yglesias concluded.

BENEFIT BEAT

2011-09-30T13:00:00.001-05:00

‘Desk Audit’ Possible

ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS who have been converted to Civil Service who do not believe their new job title is reflective of the work they do can ask the State Universities Civil Service System for a Desk Audit. The Desk Audit will not result in the person’s conversion back to Academic Professional, but it may result in a more accurate title for the person’s job under Civil Service.

IN A Desk Audit, a Civil Service representative comes in and audits what the employee does.

FOR MORE information, call (217) 278-3150, or see http://www.uic.edu/depts/hr/compensation/civilservice.shtml.

AP RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT

2011-09-30T12:00:00.003-05:00

OBFS Introduces New Online Resource:
Orientation for New Business and Finance Employees

IN AN effort to better acclimatize new employees who have business and finance responsibilities, the Office of Business and Financial Services (OBFS) introduced a new online resource, the Orientation for New Business and Finance Employees. This web page serves as a “getting started” point to introduce new employees to information and resources they will find helpful to fulfill their business and financial responsibilities.

THE RESOURCE, sponsored by OBFS leadership, was published on the OBFS Website on July 1 of this year. The content of this orientation was developed with input from OBFS customers across all campuses, including advisory teams consisting of business and finance employees from all organizational levels who provided suggestions and validated the development of information on the website.

“THIS HAS been a need expressed by our customers for a while and we are grateful to all those who contributed to make this resource possible,” said Mary Malcolm, orientation project team leader. She added that, “Although this resource was developed with the new business and finance employee in mind, it points to information useful to anyone in these roles."

YOU MAY ACCESS the orientation through the OBFS homepage (http://www.obfs.uillinois.edu), under “Resources.” To support this initiative, additional web pages were developed in the “About OBFS” section of the OBFS homepage (http://www.obfs.uillinois.edu/about-obfs/), including OBFS Units, OBFS Leadership, and Roles and Responsibilities.

FEEDBACK FROM employees using the new resource is needed to continue its development. Already on the radar as possible next steps are the addition of information more specific to responsibilities of managers of business units, and development of a more comprehensive glossary of terms. If you would like to participate with your input, please send your comments or suggestions to: obfstrainingteam@uillinois.edu.

The Continuing Crisis

2011-09-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

UIC FACULTY writing union constitution. See Aug 27 News-
Gazette, http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2011-08-27/faculty-writing-union-constitution-uic-disputes-ruling.html.

STOP BASHING government workers, says Katrina vanden Heuvel in the Sept. 5 Washington Post. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/stop-bashing-government-workers/2011/09/04/gIQAwugE4J_story.html.

NEW DATA by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence furthers the argument that public employees are not the cause of state and local budget deficits. See Progress Report, Sept. 16, http://www.progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2011/09/16/study-public-workers-make-less-those-private-sector.

Vol. 4, No. 8, September 2011

2011-09-30T01:00:00.001-05:00

ISSN 1946-1860

Editor: William S. Bike

Writing Staff: Ivone De Jesus, Lucia Gonzalez, Gail Mansfield, Tomeiko Sewell, Susan T. Varghese, Monica M. Walk

Chair: Michael Moss

Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan

Secretary: Jacqueline M. Berger

Treasurer: Virginia Buglio

http://www.uic.edu/orgs/apac/

AUGUST 2011 APAC News, Vol. 4, No. 7

2011-08-24T22:55:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the August, 2011 edition of APAC News!

Survey Shows APs’ Concerns

2011-08-24T22:25:00.128-05:00

THE RESULTS are available from a survey conducted by the Academic Professional Advisory Committee (APAC) of Academic Professionals (APs) on the Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria campuses to address issues relevant to them. The survey of took over four years to develop, conduct, and analyze.

SPONSORSHIP WAS provided by Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares, former Provost R. Michael Tanner, the Vice Chancellors, and the Executive Assistant Vice President for Business and Finance. The UIC Survey Research Laboratory (SRL) also assisted with the survey.

APAC CONDUCTED a web-based survey to obtain the necessary feedback from Academic Professional employees. Staff at SRL assisted in questionnaire development, programmed the Web survey instrument, managed the data collection process, and conducted data analysis.

THE QUESTIONNAIRE was designed to collect feedback from Academic Professionals on issues such as promotional pathways, career assistance, performance evaluations, job satisfaction, compensation, and benefits. Respondents also provided some demographic data. The Office for the Protection of Research Subjects at UIC approved the study protocol and all study materials on June 15, 2010.

Table: Titles of Respondents

	Percent
Associate Vice Chancellor	0.4
Associate Dean	0.7
Assistant Dean	0.8
Department Head	0.1
Associate Department Head	0.1
Assistant Department Head	0.3
Director	11.3
Associate Director	6.3
Assistant Director	9.8
Senior Coordinator	2.1
Coordinator	20.8
Senior Specialist	5.2
Specialist	17.5
Assistant to the (Chancellor, Provost, Dean, etc.)	6.9
Other	17.9

A TOTAL of 1,210 APs responded, a total that is approximately one-third of UIC's Academic Professional staff. According to Michael Moss, APAC Chair, "The goal of the survey is to create a reliable pool of information that can be used to inform campus decision-makers on matters that impact Academic Professional staff. Further, the information will be used by APAC to shape future programs, events, and other related efforts." To see the results of the survey, go to:

Survey Cover Letter and Recommendations
Executive Summary and Survey Results
Comparison to Surveys at Other Big 10 Universities
Survey Comments Organized by Topic
Full Survey Results (Includes All of the Above Plus Additional Information)

GENERAL INTERESTS AND CONCERNS

How concerned are you…	Not at all concerned	Slightly concerned	Somewhat concerned	Very concerned	Extremely concerned	Not sure/ Does not apply
That employees with comparable credentials, responsibilities, & workloads have varying titles & levels of compensation across campus? (n = 1,204)	7.2%	10.0%	23.8%	25.0%	32.4%	1.5%
That UIC salaries are not competitive with salaries for comparable positions outside of UIC? (n = 1,204)	4.2%	6.2%	21.1%	25.2%	42.0%	1.3%
That the State University Retirement System will not have funding to pay your pension when you retire? (n = 1,203)	2.4%	4.4%	7.9%	15.5%	66.8%	3.0%

THE AREAS of greatest concern to APs are State Universities Retirement System (SURS) funding and funding for raises.

SURS

EIGHTY-TWO percent of survey respondents reported being "very or extremely concerned" that SURS will not have funding to pay their pensions when they retire.

WHILE COMMUNICATIONS concerning this important issue have increased—for example, the SURS tab added to Nessie, coordination of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) panel discussions, etc.—it is recommended that the campus supplement existing efforts by publishing a bi-monthly or quarterly "Plain Language Update on SURS" that is distributed to all UIC annuitants and addresses the following questions in each issue:

What is happening (funding issues, pending legislation, etc)?
What are the benefits and/or risks?
What is the campus doing about it?
What can individual employees do about it?
Who can employees contact if they have questions?

MOSS COMMENTED, "APAC has already begun to take action on the survey findings. For example, SURS is identified as a critical issue. Based on this, we coordinated a campus-wide petition to oppose recent legislation that would have diminished SURS benefits for current employees."

COMPENSATION

GIVEN THE absence of a formal salary increase program, it is recommended that opportunities for low-cost or no-cost fringe benefits be explored and implemented. The survey results suggest that these kinds of programs (telecommuting, flex time, etc.) are highly valued by employees.

SIXTY-THREE PERCENT f the survey respondents said the ability to work flexible hours is "very or extremely important," as well as the ability to telecommute (56%).

INEQUITIES

INEQUITY AND inconsistency in titling, work responsibilities, and compensation continue to be of major concern for APs.

MORE THAN 57% of respondents were "very or extremely concerned" that employees with comparable credentials, responsibilities, and workloads have varying titles and levels of compensation across campus.

WHILE THERE is currently a comprehensive, campus-wide job analysis process underway to address these inequities and inconsistencies, the purpose is sometimes comingled and confused with the Civil Service Audit findings and conversions. It is recommended that an expanded communication strategy be implemented to more broadly disseminate the impact and benefits of the final outcome of Job Analysis and what this means for academic professionals.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

UIC HAS several professional development and training offices on campus. Although there are numerous classes and webinars available, the decentralized nature creates confusion since communications come from multiple offices and are delivered in multiple formats; there are multiple websites and multiple registration systems; etc.

SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT of the APs responded that they have "little or no information" about professional development opportunities, while only 9% responded that they have "a lot or a great deal of information."

WITH RESPECT to fairness and accuracy of the performance evaluation, 58% believe it is either very fair or extremely fair, while half think it accurately reflects the work done. However, 43.1% of respondents are either not at all or slightly satisfied with UIC's annual performance process, and 63.6% said the career path for their position is not at all clear.

IT IS recommended that a campus-wide committee on professional development be established. This representative committee would be charged with defining gaps in training and professional development services and to present recommendations on how to close the gaps.

RESPONDENTS ALSO expressed concern about opportunities for advancement and notice rights, with 82.1% saying that opportunities for advancement are very or extremely important. A slightly smaller percentage (79.1%) indicated that notice rights are very or extremely important. The area of least importance to respondents was affordable child care on campus, which 43.7% said was not important.

MOSS NOTED, "APAC would like to be more pro-active in terms of professional development on campus. We have a new Professional Development subcommittee Chaired by Tricia Ransom to help us accomplish our goals. Tricia works for Training, Performance Development, and Communications, making her a uniquely qualified AP to fill this role."

OVERALL SATISFACTION

Table: Factors Contributing to Overall Satisfaction

	Not selected	Selected
Contributing to the University's mission (education, research, public service)	68.8%	31.2%
Relationships with coworkers	65.5%	34.5%
Flexibility with work schedule	75.5%	24.5%
Health benefits	71.5%	28.5%
Job duties & responsibilities	64.7%	35.3%
Location of office	83.8%	16.2%
Salary	83.6%	16.4%
Job security	84.4%	15.6%
Supervisor	72.2%	27.8%
Vacation & sick time	64.4%	35.6%
Work environment	73.8%	26.2%

WHEN ASKED about their overall satisfaction with employment at the University, 41.1% are either very or extremely satisfied. The largest percentage of respondents (42%) is moderately satisfied. When asked what contributes to satisfaction, relationship with coworkers, job duties and responsibilities, and vacation and sick time were selected by nearly equal numbers of respondents (34.5%, 35.3%, and 35.6%, respectively). When asked which factors detract from satisfaction, the item selected by the most respondents (44.7%) was salary, followed by job security (26.0%).

FIGURE SIX shows that 43.6% of respondents are either not at all or slightly satisfied with their overall compensation (salary and benefits), while only 12.3% are either very or extremely satisfied. Most are moderately satisfied (44.2%).

WHEN ASKED about the annual salary program/annual raise received, two-thirds of respondents are dissatisfied—27.9% very, 24.6% somewhat, and 14.1% slightly. Only 3.2% are very satisfied.

FRINGE BENEFITS

Table 38. Total Salary (n = 1,187)

	Percent
Less than $20,000	0.8
$20,000–29,999	3.2
$30,000–39,999	14.7
$40,000–49,999	18.2
$50,000–59,999	15.6
$60,000–69,999	14.0
$70,000–79,999	10.4
$80,000–89,999	8.4
$90,000–99,999	4.3
$100,000 or greater	9.7
Don't know	0.7

THE MOST important fringe benefits to respondents are health insurance, which 88.1% endorsed as extremely important, followed by retirement, which 81.6% endorsed as extremely important, followed by vacation, which 75.2% stated is extremely important. The benefits of least importance are adoption assistance, which 45.7% said is not at all important, followed by same-sex domestic partner benefits, which 45.5% said is not at all important.

COMMITTEES

TABLE NINE shows the committees about which respondents have some information. Two committees stand out. Two-thirds of respondents have heard of the Academic Professional Advisory Committee, while just over half (52.1%) have heard of the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women. When it comes to participation in committees, however, the majority of respondents have never participated on one.

CRITICAL LONG TERM GOALS

THERE IS a defined and overdue need to establish a rational and consistent job hierarchy for Academic Professionals that defines reasonable compensation and career tracks. It is stated on the HR website and included in the ARR HR Subcommittee Report as follows:

"…APs are critical to the everyday functions performed at the University and to the future success of a transformed University. They are described as "a workforce that breaks through traditional barriers and that is flexible, self-directed, multi-disciplinary, and able to adapt to the changing needs of the University" (A Report on the Status of Academic Professionals, UIUC). Given the size, complexity, and importance of this group, it is critical that a supportive AP human capital strategy be developed. Such a strategy should be grounded in job analysis so that the content of the position, the title of the position and the required qualifications and competencies are well understood. Such job analysis is also fundamentally essential to creating rational approaches to salary administration and professional development."

"WE WANT to acknowledge the significant investments made by the campus and the University, and support the job analysis efforts currently underway," said Moss. "APAC believes that there is no single, long-term, campus-based process that will result in greater benefit to Academic Professionals who pursue a career at UIC."

CONCLUSIONS

"THE SURVEY of Academic Professionals took over four years to develop, conduct and analyze," Moss said. "The data collected provides unique insight into a vibrant, dynamic, and dedicated workforce. These results also highlight opportunities to improve the work-lives of APs at the UIC Campus, as well as some solutions. It is our hope that this important information will be considered in shaping the policies and practices that impact Academic Professionals. We have already distributed bound copies of the results to the campus administration, and we have been invited to partner on several initiatives as a result."

"THE SURVEY will not sit on a shelf and gather dust," Moss concluded. "We will make sure we continue to take action."

September APAC Meeting Set

2011-08-24T22:00:00.001-05:00

THE NEXT APAC Meeting will be Wednesday, Sept. 14, in room 2750 of University Hall from 12:30 to 2 p.m. All APs are invited to attend.

Chancellor Names New APAC Rep

2011-08-24T21:30:00.002-05:00

Monica M. Rausa Williams now is Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares’ liaison to APAC.

MONICA M. RAUSA WILLIAMS, Assistant to Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares, has been named the Chancellor’s Representative to APAC.

“THE CHANCELLOR understands how important APs are to UIC,” Rausa Williams stated. “In order to help facilitate communication and share information, she wanted a liaison with APAC and the Chancellor’s office. I eagerly accepted this role! I will be attending all of the APAC meetings, providing updates, answering questions and making sure the concerns and issues raised are communicated to the Chancellor. I think this is a wonderful opportunity to open the lines of communication, especially during these difficult times, to make sure the voice of APs are heard. I also welcome the opportunity to be more involved with APAC as this committee sponsors so many important activities that support and inform APs about all different aspects on campus (and the University).”

TO CONTACT Williams, Call (312) 413-3350 or e-mail monique@uic.edu.

SURS Makes Changes to Money Purchase Factors

2011-08-24T21:00:00.015-05:00

AT ITS meeting on June 10, the Board of Trustees of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) set the effective date of the Money Purchase factor changes as July 2, 2012.

FOR INDIVIDUALS retiring after July 2, 2012, the change in Money Purchase factors will result in an approximately 8% downward adjustment in the member’s annuity if their Money Purchase calculation was higher than the General Formula calculation. This change will impact current employees, and should be carefully considered by those deciding whether to retire this year or next year. Members can offset the adjustment by delaying retirement by approximately ten to 11 months for active participants and 12 to 14 months for inactive participants.

THE CHANGES to the Money Purchase factors are a result of a recent actuarial experience study that recommended a reduction of the assumed rate of investment return and updated mortality tables due to increased life expectancy. State statute requires SURS to conduct an experience study at least every five years to test the economic and demographic assumptions used to prepare the annual actuarial valuation report. The results of this process are then evaluated to determine which, if any, of the assumptions need modification to provide better estimates of future liability and asset growth for the system.

THE LAST experience study was conducted in 2006. Based on changing market conditions and the current economic environment, the SURS actuary recommended that the latest experience study be conducted one year early.

THE CHANGES to the Money Purchase factors will not affect:

Current annuitants.
Members in the Self-Managed Plan.
Members who began participation on or after July 1, 2005.
The General Formula calculation.

THE MONTHLY annuity calculation using the Money Purchase Formula is unique to each individual. For this reason, SURS encourages all participants to log on to their account on the SURS member website. The online Benefit Estimator now reflects these new factors.

The SURS website is available at http://www.surs.org/homepage.surs (Click "Member Access").

FOR ADDITIONAL details, see the May 2011 edition of the Advocate at http://www.surs.org/pdfs/advocate/May11.pdf#page=4 or the SURS News Release at http://www.surs.org/pdfs/invinfo/money_purchase.pdf. You can also contact the SURS office directly at at (217) 378-8800.

State Continues Self-Insured Managed Care Plans

2011-08-24T20:30:00.015-05:00

THE COMMISSION on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) held a hearing on Aug. 16 to consider a request by the State to continue to offer self-insured managed care plans. At the end of that hearing, COGFA voted to authorize the State to continue to offer the self-insured managed care plans through June 30, 2012.

BASED ON that decision, the State of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is in the process of negotiating with both the self-insured managed care plans (HealthLink OAP, PersonalCare OAP, and Health Alliance Illinois) and the fully-insured managed care plans (Health Alliance HMO and PersonalCare HMO) on extensions of the current contracts.

IF THE contract with any vendor is not extended, the Group Insurance Division will hold a Special Enrollment Period in September for the affected members of that plan(s) only. Those elections would be effective Thursday, Sept. 29. A second Special Enrollment Period will be held for all members later in the fall. Alternatively, if all current contracts are extended, a Special Enrollment Period will be held for all members later in the fall.

FOR NOW, the important thing to realize is that nothing has changed. Members remain enrolled in and covered by their current health carrier. Updated information will be posted on the website of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services as it becomes available.

Converted Employees Sought

2011-08-24T20:00:00.003-05:00

APAC NEWS would like to do an article in which employees converted from Academic Professional to Civil Service speak their minds on the process and results. If you would like to be interviewed for this article, please contact APAC News editor William S. Bike at billbike@uic.edu or (312) 996-8495.

Peoria UHP’s Lorene King a Key APAC Member

2011-08-24T19:30:00.010-05:00

APAC’s Lorene King.

By Ivone De Jesus

FOR NEARLY five years, Lorene King has been the Academic Skills Specialist for the Urban Health Program (UHP) in Peoria. She provides academic support services to all the students and not only those from the UHP, and she also administers a comprehensive program that provides resources and facilitates services that are important to medical students’ academic, leadership, and professional development.

ALTHOUGH SHE specializes in providing support to UHP medical students (Black, Hispanic, and Native-American) in Peoria, King also cultivates relationships with community physicians who serve as mentors to strengthen the social and academic advisory support systems already in place for students. Her job also includes budgeting, interacting with, and providing input to the Curriculum and Promotions Site Committees; coordinating the monthly meetings of the Progress Committee, which monitors student performance;, and supervising the M3/M4 students who provide tutorial assistance to the M2 students. In addition, her role allows her to help educate the College of Medicine community on topics of diversity and inclusion.

THE MOST rewarding aspect of her responsibilities is “providing a safe environment for students to discuss academic and personal challenges that impact their success and well-being, which assists in guiding them towards appropriate resolutions,” King said. She performs a similar service for residents in Graduate Medical Education.

KING WANTED to be involved with APAC because it enhanced her “sense of connection” to the Chicago campus that employs her (Peoria is a medical school, not a University campus). She stated, “APAC gives me more insight into the broad issues that generate much debate, evaluation, and action such as AP Conversions, staff retention, benefits and strategic planning for the future, as well as providing a voice, all of which hopefully will help nurture and sustain our viability as a University and major State employer.” As a member for only a few months, she has felt “enlightened and delighted” by the depth and candor of responses on these issues.

IN THE future, King hopes to contribute to APAC’s long-standing commitment to be an effective conduit for APs, the Illinois State Legislature, and UIC Administration. She said, “APAC provides a needed forum for consistent and timely communication of the different and similar perspectives on the topics that highlight APs’ dedication to administering and implementing the tasks assigned to us as individuals and as team members.” King added that it also adds to our satisfaction of the processes and resources in place to help us fulfill those assignments as effectively and efficiently as possible.

AS WITH many APs, King’s work extends beyond the required 40 hours per week. She conducts monthly student meetings in the evenings, (which some local mentor physicians attend and help support); serves as advisor for several student interest groups, such as the Manual High School Enrichment Program; and writes many letters of support and recommendation for students (one of which resulted in a student receiving the highest service award in the nation--The Jefferson Award--a first for anyone at UIC).

“SERVICE IS an integral part of my life, on and off the job,” King said. She has several leadership roles in her local church, teaches a college success class for the local community college on Saturday mornings in the fall, and regularly volunteers at an art center to help host its Friday night gatherings of musical events. Despite her busy volunteer schedule, King manages to squeeze in some Broadway theater shows each year, as well as read a few notable books. This month, she will be leading the Singles Ministry at her church, in a discussion of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

ABOUT UHP: “The mission of the Urban Health Program (UHP) is to recruit, retain, and graduate underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students, specifically African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans, into the health professions. The UHP seeks to expand educational and research opportunities for these populations, at all academic levels (including pre-college students), in order to develop underrepresented racial/ethnic minority health care professionals, faculty, and researchers with the goals of eliminating health disparities and advancing health equity.”

APAC Hosts Town Hall on UIC Budget, Finances

2011-08-24T19:00:00.005-05:00

APAC HOSTED a Town Hall updated on the UIC budget and Fiscal Year 2012 financial updates on Aug. 10, featuring Frank Goldberg, Vice Provost for Resource Planning and Management and Todd Van Neck, Director of Budgeting and Program Analysis. See University of Illinois at Chicago FY 2012 Budget Update (PowerPoint).

Fall Forum on Illinois Solvency

2011-08-24T18:30:00.004-05:00

APAC and UIC United, the UIC chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association, will co host UIC United’s Fall Forum, “Charting the Course Toward Illinois Solvency: A Panel Discussion,” Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a reception to follow.

THE EVENT will be held in Student Center West, 828 S. Wolcott, in Chicago Rooms A, B, and C.

PANELISTS WILL be Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, Minority Caucus Chair Senator Matt Murphy, Executive Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability Ralph Martire, and Director of the Institute for Politics of Roosevelt University Professor Paul Green.

TO REGISTER, please visit https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/840908. Seating is limited.

TO RSVP and for more information, contact Donna Knutson at (630) 579-6134, markanddonna@uicalumni.org, or Rose Kirk, (630) 852-7316, rfrankkirk@comcast.net.

Public Sector Jobs Central to Development of Black Middle Class

2011-08-24T18:00:00.002-05:00

Amisha Patel of Grassroots Collaborative
advocates for public-sector jobs like those at UIC.

UIC EMPLOYEES are “public sector” workers, and “the public sector has long been a source of good, living-wage jobs,” said Amisha Patel, executive director of the Grassroots Collaborative. “In Chicago, public employment has been central to the development of the Black middle class.”

FIGURES FROM a study by the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of California Berkeley back Patel up:

* The public sector employs 23.6% of Black workers in Chicago, compared to 10.8% of non-Black workers.

* While 25% of Chicago's workers are Black, 42.2% of Chicago's public sector workers are Black.

* Median wages for African Americans in the public sector are about 39% higher than their overall levels. For example, Black men have a median wage of $22 in the public sector, compared to $14.56 in health care and social services and $12.55 in retail, the two next leading sectors employing Black workers.

“THAT REALITY is crucial in understanding the impact of attacks on the public sector,” Patel said. “The Midwest has been ground zero for such attacks, and Chicago is not exempt.”

GRASSROOTS COLLABORATIVE is a coalition of community and labor organizations. For information, call (312) 427-0510 or log on to www.thegrassrootscollaborative.org.

Websites to Know

2011-08-24T17:30:00.003-05:00

BENEFIT INFORMATION through the Illinois Department of Central Management Services can be found at http://www.state.il.us/cms/3_servicese_ben_choice/state-ben.htm.

The Continuing Crisis

2011-08-24T17:00:00.003-05:00

UIC faculty members at the Illinois Labor Board filing requesting recognition of their union.

FOUR RETIRED public sector employees win another phase in their legal case claiming any change in their health benefits violates the Illinois constitution. See July 28 Herald-News, http://heraldnews.suntimes.com/news/6722069-418/police-fire-health-benefits-case-moves-ahead.html.

UIC FACULTY unionize over working conditions. See August 5 Gazette, http://www.gazettechicago.com/index/2011/08/uic-faculty-unionize-over-working-conditions/.

ILLINOIS PENSION money may run out by 2018, says Rockford Register Star of Aug. 4. See http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x782937124/Our-View-Illinois-money-will-run-out-unless-pension-reform-a-priority.

ILLINOIS HOUSE leaders say they still are working on legislation that would ease the State’s crushing pension burden, although they are closed-mouthed about what those changes will be and when the General Assembly will be asked to consider them. See Rockford Register-Star of Aug. 14 at http://www.rrstar.com/top_stories/x1852614313/Illinois-House-leaders-mum-on-pension-reform-negotiations.

ILLINOIS BUDGET doesn’t address payment backlog, Moody’s says. See Aug. 12 Bloomberg Businessweek, http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-08-12/illinois-budget-doesn-t-address-payment-backlog-moody-s-says.html.

Vol. 4, No. 7, August 2011

2011-08-24T16:30:00.000-05:00

ISSN 1946-1860

Editor: William S. Bike

Writing Staff: Ivone De Jesus, Lucia Gonzalez, Monica M. Walk

Web Publishing: Jeff Alcantar

Chair: Michael Moss

Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan

Secretary: Jill Davis

Treasurer: Virginia Buglio

http://www.uic.edu/orgs/apac/

JULY 2011 APAC News, Vol. 4, No. 6

2011-07-01T23:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the July, 2011, edition of APAC News!

President Hogan Meeting with APAC: Discussion Post

2011-07-01T23:15:00.015-05:00

You can read the update from the meeting with President Hogan in the September issue of APAC News, here. Or you can scroll down to see the questions and concerns submitted by campus APs.

Update - 8/26. The meeting with President Hogan has been rescheduled to September 26th.

Update - 8/11. The meeting with President Hogan has been postponed due to conflicts related to the announcement of UIUC's new Chancellor. We are in the process of rescheduling and the meeting will likely occur in October. We will still plan to include the comments, below, in our meeting.

APAC WILL be meeting with President Hogan on August 11th along with AP representatives from Urbana and Springfield. This post is an opportunity for AP readers to provide feedback on what we should discuss.

THE FOLLOWING items are on the agenda:

•             Budget Outlook and Raises
•             AP/Civil Service Conversion and Hiring Exemption Authority
•             State Employment and Benefits Issues: Pensions/Health Care/ Etc.
•             Recruitment and Retention of APs
•             ARR and the Human Capital Strategy for APs

• 5 and 10 Year Goals for UI

DO YOU have any input or feedback on any of these items? Which is the most important to you? Which is the least important to you? Is there anything missing from this agenda that you would like us to discuss? Please let us know.

Leave your feedback by posting a "comment" below. If you chose, your response can be anonymous.