October 30, 2009

APSAC, CSSAC discuss proposed smoking ban at meeting

The Administrative and Professional Staff Advisory Committee and the Clerical and Service Staff Advisory Committee discussed, but did not vote on, whether to endorse the proposed smoking ban on Purdue's West Lafayette campus at their joint meeting Oct. 13.

The University is considering a campus-wide smoking ban and is gathering input from faculty, staff and students. APSAC chair Cherry Delaney said she and CSSAC chair Matthew Marks were asked if the two groups would consider endorsing the policy.

Delaney said that her understanding is that the health risks associated with secondhand smoke are the main reason for the proposed ban.

Members of both committees said they would like to support the ban as a healthy initiative but had concerns. Several said the most frequently asked question from constituents was how the ban would be enforced.

Some representatives said they would like more details on the proposal and more time to receive feedback from their constituents.

After several minutes of discussion, Delaney proposed that CSSAC and APSAC ask for more information and time before going further.

Also at the meeting, Kevin Vedder of Human Resource Services said Dec. 31 is the last date to incur expenses for employees who have 2009 health care flexible spending accounts. He said dental and vision expenses for 2009 FSAs can be incurred through March 15, 2010. The last date to submit claims for 2009 FSAs is April 30, 2010.

Vedder said employees who have money left in their 2009 FSA at the end of this calendar year will have their balances converted to a "limited purpose" FSA effective Jan. 1, 2010.

This conversion is necessary to comply with Internal Revenue Service regulations that limit an FSA grace period when an employer offers a health savings account as part of its benefit program.

The new Purdue Choice Fund medical plan, which includes a health savings account, goes into effect Jan. 1. Other medical plan offerings will be Purdue Incentive (formerly Incentive PPO) and Purdue Copay (formerly UnitedHealthcare). The Purdue 500 medical plan is being eliminated.

In other business:

* Comptroller John Shipley outlined a proposed University vehicle use policy.

* APSAC representative Cristina Farmus said planning is under way for a week of events that will promote healthy and balanced lifestyles for members of the campus community as well as showcase the important lines of health-relevant research and other scholarly activity going on at Purdue. The week is scheduled for Feb. 1-5.

* Marks and Delaney gave an update on professional development. Delaney said a Web site that will feature all the training opportunities available on campus is being prepared. Marks said CSSAC and APSAC are being asked to work with senior leadership to put together a panel discussion that will highlight people who have made career advancements at Purdue.

* Alan Farraster, of the CSSAC Purdue Employees Activity Program (PEAP), said the annual Christmas shopping trip to Chicago will be Dec. 5.  Open to all Purdue staff, faculty and students, the bus trip costs $20 and will visit the Water Tower Place and surrounding stores. For more information, or to register, go to www.purdue.edu/cssac/Employee_Trips/.