October 10, 2011

CSCE 677                          Switching Theory
 
 
Special Consideration - September 1, 2011                                                            Motion Passed                                Proposed 2012-2013 Academic Calendar                                                                  FS.29.37                                                                                                                                                                              Attachment D
 
Special Consideration - September 1, 2011                                                            Motion Passed                   
Proposed, Abbreviated Academic Calendar 2013-2014                                            FS.29.38                                                                                                                                                                             Attachment E
 
 
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM COMMITTEE                                                   Motion Passed
New Course - September 9, 2011                                                                             FS.29.39                                          
BMEN 425                          Biophotonics                                                                   Attachment F
CLAS 220                           History of Christianity: Origins to the Reformation
CLAS 250                           Greek and Roman Civilization
CLAS 418                           European Intellectual History from Ancient Greece to the Early Middle Ages
UGST 492                         Cooperative Education in Public Policy
VLCS 422                           Equine Disease and Epidemiology
 
 
Change in Courses - September 9, 2011
CLAS 491                           Research
EURO 491                          Research
FREN 491                          Research
GERM 491                         Research
RUSS 491                          Research
 
 
Change in Curriculum - September 9, 2011                                                     Motion Passed  
SEBAC Report - Walter Daugherity
Secretary Daugherity reported on the September 22, 2011, System Employee Benefits Advisory Committee (SEBAC) at the System offices (the morning after a rather eventful day). The FirstCare medical plan has been closed, A&M Care enrollment is up 3%, and Scott & White Health Plan enrollment is down 4%. 76 employees dropped medical coverage and have no other medical coverage. Fewer people signed up for optional coverages, presumably due to increased premiums.
 
The final report on ineligible dependents dropped after the audit of a random half of employees is due this month; then the second half of employees will receive dependent audit forms.
 
The TAMU System is looking into a Blue Cross-Blue Shield tiered network including local providers such as the new Scott & White hospital. Medco is being bought out by ExpressScripts. John Hancock has applied to increase long-term care premiums by 45%; the Texas Department of Insurance website [http://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb032.html] lists personal policies which might be cheaper.
 
A number of cost increases due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, commonly referred to as “Obamacare”) have already taken effect: most over-the-counter items have been dropped from flexible spending accounts (PayFlex), dependent children can now be covered to age 26, more procedures are covered, and adverse benefit determination notices must be available in non-English languages such as Navajo or Vietnamese. More cost increases are expected as additional PPACA provisions take effect through 2018, including listing health premiums on W-2 forms (January, 2012), a new mandatory federal four-page form (March, 2012), and a reduction in flexible spending accounts to $2,500 (January, 2013).
 
Changes are also possible in Medicare, which will affect our retiree health insurance plan. President Obama first proposed raising the Medicare eligibility age, then withdrew that proposal and has now proposed that new Medicare beneficiaries pay higher deductibles on coverage of doctors’ services and other outpatient care, and pay 30 percent higher Medicare premiums if they buy generous private insurance to help fill gaps in Medicare. (Note: A&M’s health insurance is secondary to Medicare for our over-65 retirees, unless they continue working for the TAMU System.)
 
The state has historically contributed 95% of the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) amount to TAMU employees, but that was reduced to 92.5% by the previous legislature and is going down to 83%, so the TAMU System may have to reduce benefits compared to ERS unless system components contribute more.


New Business


Committee of the Whole
There being no further business to come before the senate, Speaker Benedik turned the chair over to Speaker-Elect Stallone to convene the Committee of the Whole.  Patrick Burkhart (Liberal Arts) reported that over seventy faculty have been served with public information requests for their emails on women’s and gender studies and GLBT; public information requests to TAMU are handled by the division of finance.  Numerous senators discussed their experiences with public information requests and their understanding of the law and university policies regarding what is or is not subject to disclosure via a public information request, and fees that may be charged or waived; it was recommended that the Executive Committee consult the TAMU System general counsel, the division of finance, and computer and information services for clarification.
 
 
Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 5:02 P.M.