Welcome to the December issue of APAC News!
December 1, 2010
Goldberg, Van Neck Look at Bleak Budget Picture
At the APAC Budget Forum held Dec. 2, Todd Van Neck, Director of Budget and Program Analysis (left), and Frank Goldberg, Vice Provost for Resource Planning and Management, looked at the State’s and University’s budget picture.
“BUDGET MANAGEMENT at UIC” was the topic of the APAC Budget Forum held Dec. 2 in which speakers Frank Goldberg, Vice Provost for Resource Planning and Management, and Todd Van Neck, Director of Budget and Program Analysis, looked at the State’s and University’s bleak budget picture.
“HIGHER EDUCATION has two major competitors for State dollars,” Goldberg explained, noting those competitors are “primary and secondary education, which has a larger constituency than higher ed, and human services.
“EVEN WITHIN higher ed, there are competitors to four-year universities,” he continued. “One of our competitors is ourselves through the State Universities Retirement System. Because the State has been delaying SURS payments, they have to ramp up payments to the systems with dollars that could go to universities.”
VAN NECK SHOWED a chart of from where the University’s money comes, which included the General Revenue Fund (State money), the income fund (tuition and other revenues), gifts and endowments, grants and contracts, institutional funds, and “self-supporting,” which is a combination of activities such as revenues from the hospital and other health providers on campus. The chart showed that General Revenue Funds have remained flat while other funding sources have been relied on to provide an ever-growing percentage of University funding.
ANOTHER CHART showed State support vs. tuition dollars was $12.8 in State support vs. $1 in tuition in 1970. Now, State support is down to eighty cents vs. every dollar of tuition paid. “Students now bear the majority of cost,” Goldberg said. “Tuition is up because State support is down.”
“DOLLARS FLOWING through here do not have the purchasing power they had in 2002 because of inflation,” Van Neck said.
“IT IS a given that salary increases are good,” Goldberg said, “but raised salaries mean we take more money out of programs. Because we haven’t had a State-funded salary increase since 2002.
“AND, WE are trying to provide the same number of services with fewer people,” he noted.
THE NEXT chart showed that in nominal dollars, funding for colleges within the University has increased, while funding for support units has decreased. But in reality, when adjusted for inflation, funding for both has decreased.
VAN NECK showed a chart of State payments as of Nov. 30 for the last four fiscal years, 2008-2011. By Nov. 30, 2008, the State had paid the University $171 million of what it owed. In 2009, that was $130 million. In 2010, it dropped off to $7 million, and in fiscal 2011, it is $6.6 million.
“THE STATE has become a slow payer,” Van Neck said. “There is not enough revenue in the State coffers to pay its bills. The State says, ‘we know we owe you, but you have to wait.’”
“THAT WAS one of the reasons for the furloughs,” Goldberg said, noting that money that did not go to salaries could be used for bills that had to be paid.
THE FISCAL 2011 budget deficit is projected to be from $12 billion to $15 billion.
“I CANNOT imagine a future by which our budget won’t be cut,” Goldberg said. “I don’t know by how much and when. Will we ever even get the full amount of the FY ’10 appropriation we are owed? I don’t know, and I cannot imagine tuition going up by enough to offset the General Revenue Funds lost.”
GOLDBERG THEN listed ways the University is trying to grapple with the situation. The Administrative Review and Restructuring Committee and five task forces are examining areas in which the University might save money, for example.
“FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES are being grappled with by the Academic Directions Task Force,” Goldberg said. “The task force will provide information to help the University consider what its academic future will be.”
DURING THE question-and-answer period, a member of the audience noted, “We’ve been doing more with less. We can’t cut anymore, but the University gives us less. One of the classrooms has been at 60 degrees for three weeks, because there aren’t enough electricians.”
GOLDBERG REPLIED, “At the highest levels of the University there is a realization that we can’t do all we’ve been doing, which is why they are thinking about ‘reducing our footprint.’ Reducing our footprint will be a painful process, because the need for our services is higher than ever. Our enrollment is the highest ever; the need for our medical services is the highest ever. And even if we eliminated some of the smaller units on campus, it wouldn’t solve the budget problem.
“WE ARE trying to do everything we’ve done in the past with less, and that cannot be done,” he said.
THE UNIVERSITY is “facing a very, very significant problem,” Goldberg concluded. “Up to this point we’ve been able to manage around the problem. What we face now is a serious problem that has to be reckoned with.”
THE POWERPOINT slides from the event are available here:
Provost Tanner Reports on Finances to Senate
“There is nothing on the horizon that will suddenly pull us out of this” financial crisis, said Provost R. Michael Tanner.
AT HIS last University Senate meeting as Provost on Dec. 2, R. Michael Tanner reported on some pertinent financial issues.
TANNER SAID no more money was expected from the State before Jan. 1, and that President Michael Hogan is expecting a 15% reduction in the amount of General Revenue Funds provided to the University by the State in the future. Tanner also said a tuition increase of about 5% next year is likely.
HE ALSO reported that Hogan would like to provide salary increases of about 2.5%, but the money would have to come from even more “belt-tightening,” as the State will not be providing more money.
TANNER NOTED that there have been some media reports that the University in better financial shape than it is, citing factors like the University saving $11 million on purchases of natural gas last year. “But the State has failed to send us $350 million,” Tanner stated. “We’re worse than broke.”
PRESIDENT HOGAN has talked about “reducing the University’s footprint,” Tanner said, noting the University’s Academic Directions Task Force and outside consultants are gathering data. “They’ll look at which departments are productive and at where budget trimming needs to occur,” he said.
“THERE IS nothing on the horizon that will suddenly pull us out of this” financial crisis, Tanner concluded.
CAPE Winners Named; APAC Members Honored
Tom Moss.
THE APAC Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence (CAPE) Award Subcommittee is charged with choosing potential CAPE Award winners and sending its recommendations to Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares for final determination.
THIS YEAR, the Chancellor ratified all four of the Subcommittee’s choices. They were Tom Moss, special projects coordinator, Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs; Debra Simpson, coordinator of recruitment and admissions, African American Academic Network; Karen Su, director, Asian American Resource and Cultural Center; and Stacie Williams, assistant dean for student services and director of admissions, Honors College.
Debra Simpson.
THE FOUR received their CAPE Awards at the Employee Recognition Award Program on Nov. 3.
THE CAPE Award recognizes demonstrated excellence of Academic Professional staff. It commends and encourages APs’ professional development, and indicates UIC’s regard for the contributions made by APs.
Karen Su.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS are William S. Bike, director of advancement and alumni affairs communications, College of Dentistry, chair; Jessica Canlas, assistant director, communications, College of Pharmacy; Janis Hayden, assistant to the head, Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry; Jacqueline Leskovec, program coordinator, University Library; Tiffany Murkey, executive assistant to the Dean, College of Nursing; and Hugo Teruel, associate director, Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services. Jennifer Czak, until recently assistant director, Research Development Services, served as vice chair.
Stacie Williams.
AT THE Award Program, APAC member William S. Bike received an Award of Merit, an honor whereby exceptional Academic Professional and support staff are recognized for their sustained excellence in performance and their commitment to their jobs. Out of thousands of UIC staff, only 30 were chosen by Chancellor Allen-Meares for this award.
William Bike.
IN ADDITION, APAC Communications Committee member Rob Moranetz, assistant director of undergraduate admissions, College of Nursing, received an INSPIRE Award at the ceremony. The INSPIRE is presented by the UIC Alumni Relations Council to individuals who have consistently and over long periods of time based their actions on UIC’s core values of Integrity, Nuture, Service, Pride, Intellect, Respect, and Excellence.
Rob Moranetz.
Pension Code Changes Affect New Employees
CHANGES TO to the State pension code increase the minimum vesting service years and retirement age for University employees hired after Jan. 1, 2011.
SENATE BILL 1946, signed into law last April, makes no changes to pension benefits for current employees or annuitants.
CHANGES WILL affect new employees, those who move to a State Universities Retirement System-eligible position from a non-SURS-eligible position after Jan. 1, and visa holders who establish residency after Jan. 1.
THE LAW modifies the SURS traditional and portable plans, but the self-managed plan remains unchanged.
FOR NEW employees, minimum vesting rises from five to ten years of service. The “normal retirement age” increases to 67 for employees with at least ten years of service.
FOR CURRENT employees, retirement age is 62 with at least five years of service, 60 with at least eight years of service, or any age with 30 years of service.
EARLY RETIREMENT age for new employees rises to 62 with at least ten years of service, up from age 55 with eight years of service.
THE FINAL rate of earnings for employees affected by the changes will be calculated by the average earnings of the employee’s highest-paid eight consecutive years during the last ten years of service.
FOR MORE information, call SURS at 800-275-7877.
--Christy Levy, UIC News, christyb@uic.edu
Jennifer Czak Departs
JENNIFER CZAK, assistant director, Research Development Services and an APAC member for several years, has left the University. She and her family moved to the Omaha, NE/Council Bluffs, IA, area.
“DURING THE 11 years that I worked at UIC, I developed an amazing network of friends and colleagues,” Czak said. “Some I worked with only occasionally and some on a daily basis, but each interaction made my experiences richer and more rewarding. I learned from all of you and I thank you for that. I wish all of you the very best.”
WEBSITES TO KNOW
ACCESS MYCAREER at http://www.uic.edu/depts/hr/mycareer/ to view current employee "Professional Development Highlights" and other learning and development opportunities campus-wide.
Get Involved with APAC
THERE ARE several open slots on APAC. If you’d like to get involved, either on APAC or one of its committees, contact Michael Moss, Chair, at (312) 996-0306, or mmoss2@uillinois.edu. Committees that are looking for volunteers include Building Community/Education (events), Communications, and Employment Issues.
THE JANUARY APAC meeting will be held on the East Campus Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 12:30 p.m. All Academic Professionals are invited to attend. For more information, call (312) 996-0306 or log on to www.apac.uic.edu.
IN FEBRUARY, look for APAC's Open House & Membership Drive. APAC is actively recruiting members. There will be a presentation on APAC and you will have the opportunity to meet current members, ask questions, and learn about ways to become involved. Light refreshments will be served. Location to be determined. More information to come.
Benefit Beat
The Department of Performing Arts hosts free events in which staff are welcome to attend.
WHEN YOU work in a large organization like UIC, sometimes you need to be reminded what services are available, whom to ask, and how to do something. APAC Newes frequently features information to make your life a little easier or more pleasant.
DID YOU know you could attend free concerts at UIC? The Department of Performing Arts hosts its Tuesdays-at-1 Concert Series of free weekly concerts by classical musicians and student ensembles. Recital Hall, L060 Education, Performing Arts, and Social Work Building at 1040 W. Harrison St. Call (312) 996-2977 or log on to http://www.uic.edu/depts/adpa/musicpages/music-tuesdays-at-1.htm.
PERFORMING GROUPS organized by the Department of Performing Arts include choirs, concert band, and jazz and string ensembles. Some groups are open to Academic Professionals, faculty, other staff, and community members as well as students. Peformances held throughout the year. Call (312) 996-2977 or log on to http://www.uic.edu/depts/adpa.
AP Resource Spotlight
THE CAMPUS Advocacy Network (CAN) provides a team approach to advocacy in order to assist APs and others who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and hate crimes.
CAN IS committed to working together with survivors of violence even if no further action is taken. CAN works to realistically explore options and support persons’ attempts to access resources both on and off campus.
ADVOCACY MEANS that CAN assists in navigating processes. CAN outlines options and support by making phone calls, assisting with safety planning, coordinating different services, and/or accompanying you to appointments or court appearances.
CAN listens to you and validates your experiences so that you can heal. Although CAN does not provide counseling, it provides counseling referrals.
THE CAN team is trained to assist you if you wish to purse legal options in criminal or civil court.
SOMETIMES, THE services you need are not available on campus, or you may prefer to go off-campus for support. The CAN team has relationships with many resources in and around Chicago and can refer you to a place that best fits your needs.
THE CAMPUS Advocacy Network (CAN) is located in 802 University Hall, 601 S. Morgan St. Call (312) 413-8206; e-mail can@uic.edu; or log on to www.uic.edu/depts/owa/advocacy.html.
The Continuing Crisis
CHICAGO TRIBUNE decries “rock-star salaries” for top U of I administrators. See http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-university-20101116,0,2084706.story.
THE UNIVERSITY of Illinois Board of Trustees approved three administrative changes to clarify lines of authority under President Michael J. Hogan and ensure that resources are used as effectively as possible in a time of fiscal constraint. See Nov. 18 UIC News, http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/uicnews/articledetail.cgi?id=14802.
STATE FAILS in its support for higher ed, says Dec. 8 Progress Report. See http://progressillinois.com/posts/content/2010/12/08/state-fails-its-support-higher-ed.
Vol. 3, No. 9, December 2010
ISSN 1946-1860
Editor: William S. Bike
Writing Staff: Ivone De Jesus
Chair: Michael Moss
Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan
Secretary: Jill Davis
Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
November 1, 2010
SUCCS Update
HUMAN RESOURCES has created a website dedicated to the State University Civil Service Systems (SUCSS) Audit and the UIC Job Analysis.
IN RECENT audits, the SUCSS auditor determined that while many jobs were correctly classified as Academic Professionals, 24 were not appropriately classified as AP and required conversion to Civil Service, and that others were questionable as AP positions.
IN LIGHT of this finding, the campus was required to convert the 24 jobs identified by SUCSS as having been classified as Academic Professional in error to appropriate Civil Service classifications.
HUMAN RESOURCES FAQs indicate that additional conversations will take place over the next several months.
OF NOTE, Civil Service employees do not have Notice Rights, a benefit of being an Academic Professional. Notice Rights would be lost for APs who are converted to Civil Service. Also of note, seniority for the converted Academic Professionals will be based only upon the length of their current position, and not reflect any time spent in prior AP appointments.
THE UNIVERSITY agreed to comply with the recommendations put forth an audit report by SUCSS: develop processes to ensure tighter position management protocols for APs; immediately transition jobs incorrectly classified as Academic Professional to Civil Service as quickly as appropriate in order to move towards full compliance; and evaluate and document each AP job with appropriate job descriptions.
THE SUCSS auditors have requested a listing of all Civil Service and Academic Professional employees on staff.
THE SUCCSS audit will require a review of each position description/PAPE to ensure that the duties, qualifications, etc. are current and most accurately reflect the work performed. The position description/PAPE is considered current only if updated within the last three years.
IF THE auditor specifically requests to meet with an employee during
the onsite visit, the position description/PAPE will need to have the employee's signature.
THE CAMPUS also has committed to evaluating all Academic Professional positions, creating job descriptions for each, and establishing related postion management processes. The position evaluation and job description development process is a major undertaking with an imperative for completion as soon as practicable.
A VARIETY of other web pages pertain to the audit and job analysis as well:
CHANGES TO the notification of appointment.
FREQUENTLY ASKED questions (FAQ)s about the Civil Service audit, job analysis, exemptions, and conversions.
JOB ANALYSIS for Academic Professionals--Post SUCSS audit
compliance (PowerPoint).
OFFICIAL MESSAGE from UIC senior leaders.
RELATED UNIVERSITY resources.
YOUR ROLE in the UIC 2010 Civil Service audit process.
Senate Examining Proposed Reorganization
THE UIC Senate is examining proposed changes to the University's administrative structure.
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Michael Hogan outlined his plan for restructuring university leadership at the Sept. 23 meeting of the Board of Trustees.
PROPOSED CHANGES include adding “vice president” to the titles of the three campus chancellors, creating the position of vice president for health affairs, and expanding the duties of the vice president for technology and economic development to include research.
HOGAN HAS asked senate leaders from all three campuses to weigh in on the plan. University trustees were scheduled to vote on the proposed changes at the board’s Thursday, Nov. 18, meeting in Chicago. The UIC Senate, however, on Oct. 28 passed a motion asking the Board of Trustees to postpone their vote on consolidation and centralization.
UIC SENATE Executive Committee members held a series of meetings for APs, faculty, and others to share their opinions, but they also invite comments to committee chair Dr. Philip Patston.
UNIVERSITY TRUSTEES do not need the approval of the three campus senates to move ahead with the proposed changes, but they are seeking their advice, Patston said.
A STATUTES Dialogue website has been launched, complete with discussion board, survey, and frequently asked questions. Go to http://www.uillinois.edu/StatutesDialogue/.
--Christy Levy and William S. Bike
Pension Funding 'Will Get Worse Before it Gets Better'
A panel of experts discussed Illinois' pension problems Sept. 14.
FOUR PANELISTS tackled Illinois’ pension problems Sept. 14, and all agreed public pensions are the unmanageable factor in the State’s budget. The event was entitled "Public Policy, Politics and Pensions: Addressing Illinois' Desperate Fiscal Situation" and was co-sponsored by UIC United, the UIC chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association, and the Academic Professional Advisory Committee.
UNDERFUNDING OF its five pension plans accounts for nearly half of the State’s $14 to $15 billion deficit, said R. Eden Martin, president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, at a forum sponsored by UIC United and the Academic Professional Advisory Committee.
“AND IT’S going to get a lot worse before it gets better,” he said.
HOW SERIOUS is the problem?
JOHN MCCARRON, contributing columnist for the Chicago Tribune, cited a story in Illinois Issues magazine arguing that pension issues are “one of the greatest financial challenges the State has ever faced” and threaten to reach a “tipping point” for a “fiscal slide into bankruptcy.”
HE NOTED that California’s unfunded liabilities are seven times as large as ours, but Martin responded, “California is also a lot bigger than we are.”
CUTTING THE overall budget is no answer, said panelist Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. He noted that Illinois is 45th of the 50 states in what it spends on education, and ranks “at or near the bottom” in spending on human services.
WHAT TO do?
“IT’S REALLY no issue,” Martire said. “We are one of the lowest-tax states in the nation. We need a tax increase.”
ILLINOIS POLITICIANS have been lying for 30 years by pretending that “we can have public services without paying for them,” he said. “Why don’t we stop buying the malarkey?”
BY RAISING the income tax three-to-five percent and hiking the sales tax, “we can solve a significant part of this problem,” Martire said.
ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS “have ignored the need for increased revenue with one exception, and used funds due the pension systems to pay current expenses,” said Addison Woodward, a member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education and former chair of psychology at Governors State University.
PENSIONS HAVE been reformed twice, he noted, yet each time that became “an excuse to use savings yet to be realized to offset current payments.”
MARTIN NOTED that Governor Pat Quinn is proposing a 1% increase in the State income tax, but said a 5% jump would be needed to overcome the gap created by underfunded pensions.
“IF WE continue to muddle along, the pension funds are going to run out of money starting in nine to ten years,” he warned.
MARTIN ADVOCATED a combination of pension reform and tax increases.
A MEMBER of the audience asked whether, given the present state of the economy, this is “a terrible time to raise taxes.”
NO, REPLIED Martire, adding, “The worst thing you can do during a recession is cut spending. That means less wages and salaries for public workers.”
McCARRON SAID the issue of public pensions, national in scope, is grist for anti-spending, anti-debt Tea Party enthusiasts.
“POLITICS WILL will be about who can harness [citizens’] anger” as people face “a future of less for their children,” McCarron said.
WITH MORE than 165 attendees at the event, extra chairs had to be added to accommodate the overflow crowd. Close to 70 participated via live webcast. UIC United Program Director Donna Knutson, Social Director Rose Kirk, and APAC’s Jacquie Berger arranged the event, and to UIC United Past President Irv Miller moderated the discussion.
AN ARCHIVED video of the program may be viewed here. UIC United’s Jim Limber produced the video. Eden Martin's PowerPoint presentation may be viewed here, and Ralph Martire's presentation may be viewed here.
--Gary Wisby, UIC News, gwisby@uic.edu; William S. Bike also contributed to this article
Representative Will Burns Looks at Budget Crises
Representative Will Burns.
ALTHOUGH THE Gubernatorial candidates’ views on the State budget crisis got a lot of examination during the recent campaign, it is the Illinois General Assembly—State Senators and State Representatives—who will end up doing the heavy lifting to try to improve the situation.
REPRESENTATIVE WILL BURNS of the 26th District (the South Loop and Bronzeville in Chicago) recently looked at issues important to UIC.
HE SERVES on the State House’s Health and Healthcare Disparities and Health Care Availability Access committees, and also is on the Appropriations Committee for Elementary and Secondary Education. As such, he keeps an eye on UIC, which is both a healthcare provider and an educator for former elementary and secondary school students.
BURNS IS the former Education and Tax Policy Manager for the Metropolitan Planning Council and was Community Outreach Coordinator for State Senator Barack Obama. He also serves on the board of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.
CONCERNING THE State budget crisis, Burns said that more budget cuts would be coming. The State, he said has “to continue making cuts where we can afford to make cuts. We’ve cut over $3 million in general revenue spending over the last two years. That’s significant because you’re looking at a base of about $23 to $24 million in spending. That’s not chump change.”
TO BURNS, cuts are necessary because the State has not “had the revenue to keep up with the cost of doing business even during good economic times,” let alone the current crisis, he said.
HE IS looking for the State to adhere to the performance-based budgeting model. Performance budgets use statements of missions, goals, and objectives to determine if and why money should be spent, allocating resources to achieve specific objectives based on program goals and measured results.
“ONE THING I’m excited about is performance-based budgeting, which requires us to look at those things that really do add value to the State and align our resources with that,” he said.
EDUCATIONAL INSTIUTIONS add value to the State, Burns believes. Illinois, he said, needs to “invest in education--early childhood education, kindergarten through grade 12, and higher education. An educated population is what’s going to attract business; that’s what’s going to keep Illinois at the cutting edge-- our ability to have a highly qualified workforce.”
HE DOES not shy away from discussing a tax increase, saying, “I support an income tax increase for the purpose of investing in public education, including higher education, because it’s an investment in our State’s long-term future.”
CONCERNING OUR pensions, Burns feels the two-tiered system that will result in higher retirement ages for those hired after Jan. 1, 2011, was necessary. “We passed a major pension reform bill this spring, which increased the retirement age for certain public employees and makes other changes in the cost-of-living adjustments in the pensions, and other reforms,” he noted.
“WHAT’S IMPORTANT about that is that it reduces the State’s long-term liability, and the pension system’s, by several hundred billion dollars. That’s critical, because if we’re looking at putting our pension systems on track and making them sustainable, we have to look at benefits for future employees,” Burns said.
“SO I think those reforms are an important step, but we also have to look at making sure we right our State’s fiscal equation—again, investing in education. We have to make sure we have the revenue to do that, we have to find efficiencies in the budget, and at the same time we right ourselves, we also must put ourselves on the right path to sustainability,” he explained.
WITH THE State owing the University millions of dollars, Burns favors the State borrowing to pay its bills.
“I DID vote for a short-term borrowing bill down in Springfield, and the House of Representatives passed that bill,” Burns noted. “But the Senate did not take action on it. That short-term borrowing bill would have allowed the State to pay a lot more of its bills this summer and in the fall, so we could have paid the University of Illinois and paid social service providers and others who have been doing great work for the State.
“IT DIDN’T pass, but we’re hoping it will pass during the fall veto session so that we can unload our backload of bills,” Burns noted.
“IT’S A better deal for the State to do short- term borrowing than to not pay its bills, because if we don’t pay our bills, we are liable for interest under the Prompt Payment Act after a certain period of time,” Burns said.
THE STATE, Burns explained has outsourced “a lot of our responsibilities to the not- for-profit sector. When the State fails to pay its smaller social service providers have to go on the private market to borrow money in order to make payroll. But banks aren’t loaning money.
“WE’RE BALANCING our budget on the backs of schools and community-based organizations, which is not the way anybody should want the government to be run,” Burns concluded.
--William S. Bike
APAC, CCSW Events Coming
THE BUILDING Community and Education Subcommittee (BCES) of APAC and the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women (CCSW) will co-sponsor two events of interest to Academic Professionals.
THE SPEED Networking Event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 9. It is aimed at bringing together APs interested in meeting their colleagues on campus, having a few minutes of one-on-one discussion to learn about what other APs are doing, and making new connections. An earlier Speed Networking Event was held on March 4, and was very popular. Time and location to be announced.
A CAREER Advancement/Professional Skill Building event will be held at a spring time, date, and location to be announced. APs are concerned about UIC’s lack of structured career advancement and the difficulties in obtaining promotions at UIC. The event will focus on career advancement and professional and personal skill building.
FOR MORE information, contact Laura E. Myers of BCES at lemyers@uic.edu.
Profile: Mindy Reeter
Mindy Reeter (right) and her children.
MELINDA “MINDY” REETER is the Director of the Office for Human Research Oversight at the Peoria campus of the medical school and an APAC member. UIC’s APAC represents Peoria campus APs as well.
HER DEPARTMENT supports the Institutional Review Board (IRB) that oversees the human research being done at local/regional hospitals. Human research is regulated by federal rules.
REETER HAS been in the State Universities system for ten years; previously, she worked at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. She has worked at the Peoria campus for the past seven years. She likes looking at proposed research studies and seeing how they fit into the federal requirements. And, she enjoys helping people revise their projects so that they do meet the federal regulations.
REETER’S INVOLVEMENT with APAC developed when a UIC colleague suggested she use her “fire-y redheadedness” for something useful and because “Peoria should have a voice.” Since her election, she has been impressed by several APAC accomplishments but is most impressed by the APAC listserv. “I would be sheltered completely without it!” she said.
SHE WOULD like for APAC to help “bridge the gap” and “define the needs of the satellite campuses,” Reeter said, and she hopes to serve the Peoria campus in accomplishing this.
REETER HAS been married to her husband, Matt, for twelve years. The couple has three children, Emily (age 11), Kate (age 9) and Owen (age 6). “I never knew I was a dog person,” Reeter said, but noted the family is complete with Murphy, a yellow lab.
--Ivone De Jesus
Articles Archive Established
HAVE YOU seen an article in the media that you feel would be
beneficial to all Academic Professionals? Send the article or the
Internet link to it to Holly Burt, 220 LIBHS, MC 763, haburt@uic.edu,
and she will place it on the APAC News Articles Archives at
http://www.uic.edu/orgs/apac/news.html. It may also be considered
for "The Continuing Crisis" section of APAC News.
WE HAVE archived older news articles that you may want to reference at the URL listed above, and have added a quick link of useful information regarding University policies and links of interest at http://www.uic.edu/orgs/apac/policies.html .
WHEN YOU go to the APAC website, look to the left-hand margin under “News.” Once you are on that page you can see in the upper right-hand corner “News Articles Archived,” and on that same page you will see “UI/UIC Policies and Links.”
President Hogan Has Blog
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Michael Hogan has a blog: visit http://prezrelease.uillinois.edu at your convenience to review recent entries. President Hogan writes about a variety of topics and updates the site frequently. He accepts materials at presmike@uillinois.edu.
The Continuing Crisis
Editor’s Note:“The Continuing Crisis” is a section of APAC News which links to news pertinent to the State budget crisis as it affects the University and Academic professionals. These news outlets are not affiliated with or endorsed by APAC.
UNIVERSITY OF Illinois, faculty group at odds over claims on administrators' numbers, pay, says the downstate News-Gazette of Sept. 9. See here.
PRESIDENT HOGAN outlines leadership structure reconfiguration, possible reduction in administrators. See here and Sept. 29 UIC News story.
RESTRUCTURING NOT intended to make campuses all the same, President Hogan said in the News-Gazette of Oct. 19.
CONCERNS ABOUT reorganization plan. See Oct. 21 UIC News.
THE U OF I Board of Trustees finalized the budget for this
fiscal year and launched the FY 2012 budget amid trepidation about the STATE’S PERFORMANCE in providing the University's appropriation. See Sept. 23 UIC News.
STATE COMPTROLLER Dan Hynes says Illinois budget deficit now may reach $15 billion: See here.
SOME AT U of I-Champaign disappointed with President Hogan's view of University situation. See Oct. 20 News-Gazette.
Academic Professional Resource Spotlight: More for Your Money
IT’S NOT easy managing your money. It takes time and planning. The University of Illinois Extension’s More for Your Money website can help you think about and set goals, know your income and expenses, create a spending plan, use credit wisely, manage your debts, and save money.
VISIT THE website.
Election Aftermath
Professor Dick Simpson
PROF. DICK SIMPSON, head of the Political Science Dept., will present “The 2010 Election and What it Means to You” at the UIC United Fall Brown Bag session Thursday, Nov. 11, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Room 605, Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted St.
PARK IN the Halsted St. Parking Structure across the street. Five-dollar parking stickers wTheill be available for purchase. Bring your lunch. Coffee, tea, and cookies will be served. For more information or to RSVP, Call Mary Bartucci at (312) 421-2491 or e-mail Donna Knutson at markanddonna@uicalumni.org.
Vol. 3, No. 8, November 2010
ISSN 1946-1860
Editor: William S. Bike
Writing Staff: Ivone De Jesus
Chair: Michael Moss
Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan
Secretary: Jill Davis
Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
Editor: William S. Bike
Writing Staff: Ivone De Jesus
Chair: Michael Moss
Vice Chair: Jennifer Rowan
Secretary: Jill Davis
Treasurer: Virginia Buglio
September 1, 2010
New Law Guarantees Right to Review of Denied Health Insurance Claims
A NEW Illinois law guarantees your right to an external, independent review of denied health insurance claims.
THE HEALTH Carrier External Review Act (Public Act 96- 857), effective July 1, ensures that insurance company decisions to deny a recommended medical treatment are subject to review by a qualified, independent doctor.
PREVIOUSLY, ONLY Illinois consumers enrolled in a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) had the right to an external, independent review when a claim was denied. The new law requires all health insurers and HMOs to provide the same opportunities for both internal appeals and external reviews of denied claims, extending this important right to millions of additional Illinois consumers.
“THE HEALTH Carrier External Review Act empowers and protects Illinois families and businesses who, after paying hard-earned premium dollars, are all too often denied needed medical treatment," said Michael T. McRaith, director of the Illinois Department of Insurance. "The act also requires greater transparency on the part of health insurance companies in Illinois, representing a significant early step towards reforming the State's health insurance marketplace."
THE NEW law allows consumers to request an external review within four months of receiving notice that a claim or treatment request was denied by the insurance company or HMO. Each case is reviewed by an unbiased doctor who is an expert in the relevant field and who is assigned by an Independent Review Organization approved by the Illinois Department of Insurance. The external review must be paid for entirely by the health insurance company and must be completed within 20 business days. In urgent cases, the review must be completed within 72 to 120 hours.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about the new external review process, including a list of approved Independent Review Organizations, is available on the Department' of Insurance’s website at http://insurance.illinois.gov.
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