Recap of Sept. 9 University Senate meeting

Purdue University senators are encouraging the University to provide replacement identification cards at the university’s expense to students who may need them for voter identification purposes.

At the Sept. 9 University Senate meeting, senators passed a resolution urging Purdue to waive the $10 fee on upgraded IDs that now will have expiration dates, which will allow students to use them as documentation to vote.

The Senate voted to suspend the rules so that it could vote on the measure after a discussion. Several senators spoke in support of the proposal, mentioning that waiving the $10 fee to have students’ ID replaced will encourage more students take advantage of voting.

Also at the meeting:

Introduction of the new Senate chair. Cheryl Cooky took to the podium to introduce herself to senators and outlined her priorities as the Senate chair for the 2019-20 academic year. Cooky reminded senators that their role in the University Senate helps provide a voice for students, faculty and staff.

Cooky’s remarks also included:

• An announcement that Purdue has joined the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine on an action collaborative on preventing sexual harassment in higher education. The purpose of the collaborative, Cooky said, is to bring being academic leaders and stakeholders together to prevent sexual harassment across higher education.
• A reminder of Purdue’s upcoming accreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission. Reviewers will be on campus Oct. 14-15.
• An electronic civics literacy survey was administered to students during Boiler Gold Rush to get a better idea of where students are at when it comes to civics education. Cooky said the data is still being collected and analyzed and will help determine if, and what, type of civics education might be implemented into Purdue curriculum.
• Remarks that the Maximizing Student Potential conference, hosted by the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, was a success and that senators would play an important role when it comes to advocating for student success at Purdue.

Enrollment data. President Mitch Daniels revealed Purdue’s latest census figures, reporting that total enrollment at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus reached 44,551 and includes 33,646 undergraduates. Daniels said that over 17,000 of those students are Indiana residents and over 7,000 are considered domestic minorities. The incoming class of 8,056 students includes 4,057 Indiana residents. Daniels said this incoming class was second largest in Purdue history, and was purposefully kept slightly smaller than last year’s record as the campus continues to prepare for and support growth. 

Updated bylaws. Senators approved updated language for two of the Senate’s bylaws, including a bylaw that allows the Nominating Committee to assign senators to fill Senate committee seats when the number of senators volunteering is insufficient.

Inclusion resolution. Audrey Ruple, assistant professor of public health, presented a resolution proposing that commercial entities on campus promote inclusivity and uphold the same values the University cites in its own policies. A few senators spoke in favor of the proposal, arguing that commercial entities on campus that are not inclusive in their policies, hiring practices and actions could negatively affect students, faculty and staff.

Airport parking. Linda Prokopy, professor of forestry and natural resources, presented a resolution asking the University to rescind a decision to only reimburse employees for airport parking up to the rates charged in the economy lots. Prokopy said the decision was announced in August without consulting “relevant faculty committees.” Prokopy said parking outside of the garage could pose safety concerns and mobility challenges for faculty and staff. The university has partnered with FastPark & Relax, which provides covered parking and an on-demand shuttle service. 

Update on 2020 health care plans. Candace Shaffer, director of benefits in Human Resources, gave an update on the changes to Purdue’s 2020 health care plans. The changes she discussed were:

• No employee premium raises.
• Increased current $44,000 salary tier to $45,500. In future years, the tier will be indexed to increase by a percentage equal to the University’s merit salary increase policy.
• Increased from $500 to $1,000 the rates for tobacco users enrolled in the medical plans.
• Maintained eligibility for working spouses to access the Purdue medical plans through new coverage and rate tiers for spouses who have access to medical coverage through their employer (employer must pay at least 50% of premium) but do not enroll in their employer’s plan. Rates for this tier will be $750 higher for employees who earn less than $45,500 and elect the employee/spouse or family plan and $1,500 higher per plan for those who earn $45,500 and above and elect the employee/spouse or family plan.
• Increased medical premiums for early retirees by 5%.
• Carved-out utilization management of specialty drugs through an independent third-party administrator to provide savings to employees and the plans.
• Established Health Sync, a narrow network which includes 45 hospital systems throughout Indiana, including Franciscan, Lutheran Health and St. Vincent, as a tiered benefit within the existing medical plans with reduced costs to employees and the plans.
• Creation of two concierge programs, one for prescription drugs and one for cancer treatment.

For 2020, only those who are currently enrolled in the PPO plan have the ability to elect it, and new employees as of October 1 will not be eligible. Enrollment for 2021 will replace the PPO plan with a third high-deductible health plan.