Presenters update ACUP on benefits, Campus Life Task Force

Benefits Office is exploring a modular flexible benefits plan; task force explores ways to integrate Brown's academic purpose with co-curricular activities

Potential changes to Brown's benefits package could give faculty and staff greater choice and flexibility, members of the Advisory Committee on University Planning (ACUP) were told at their April 17 meeting.

Douglas Stewart, director of benefits, and Walter Holmes, vice president of administration, outlined several options that are being explored. They range from redesigning the formula used to calculate an employee's health insurance contribution, to equalizing University retirement contributions, to changes in the tuition aid program for children of faculty and staff. Stewart and Holmes said that a variety of models and variables are being considered, but provided no specifics other than to note that the most conservative estimate for implementing every option would cost the University at least $2 million a year.

At the same time, the Benefits Office is exploring another alternative - a modular flexible benefits plan. "Each module would provide the same benefits value," said Stewart, but an employee could select the module that best suits his or her needs. For instance, an employee closer to retirement may be interested in selecting a module in which University contributions toward a pension plan are greater. The tradeoff would be that less money would go toward another benefit that is perhaps less necessary for someone nearing retirement age.

Holmes and Stewart said that a benefits task force is still exploring all options, and assured ACUP that comment is being sought from the Faculty Awards and Benefits Committee and the Staff Advisory Committee.

ACUP also heard a update from Janina Montero, vice president of campus life and student services, about the Campus Life Task Force. Montero said that a report from the task force, which she chairs, will be submitted to President Blumstein by mid-May.

Montero said that two issues have become quite clear to the task force:

• The University must improve the integration of its academic purpose with co-curricular activities. One way to accomplish this would be to broadly distribute study space, not just situate it inside libraries, said Nancy Dunbar, dean of the College and a member of ACUP and of the task force. For instance, dormitories could contain classroom space, computer clusters and other academic support services, she said.

• Graduate and medical students need to be more fully integrated into the life of the University.