• Association of Shared Governance Leaders
• Facilities Services Advisory Committee
• International Programs Committee
• University Marketing Committee
• MSU Benefits Committee, and IUBC
• President Search Committee
• Parking Services Advisory Committee
• Recreational Sports and Fitness Advisory Board
• Space Management Committee
• Strategic Planning Committee
• To Improve Productivity Program (TIP)
• University Facilities Planning Board
• University Planning, Budget and Analysis Committee (UPBAC)

November 9, 2009, ASMSU contacted the Board of Regents requesting participation on their Workgroup which is looking into reinventing the University System.  The Regents agreed and requested 3-6 student participants, University System wide, join the Workgroup.  ASMU is preparing a white paper for President Cruzado which will be compiled with others by Cathy Conover, VP Communications & Public Affairs.  Both Professional Council and Staff Senate noted they had not been asked to prepare white papers but would do so.  Professional Council raised the issue of internal communications and the best way to process what comes from the Council verses what should come from other groups and/or departments.  Professional Council will have a hospitality room for Professional staff during the Board of Regents meeting at Bozeman, November 19 and 20.  Staff Senate does not have agenda time during the Board of Regents meeting but is planning on a MUSSA conference call.  An article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle regarding potential cost cutting which stated a possible change of starting benefits at .75 FTE instead of .5 FTE generated some concerned conversations among classified staff.  Staff Senates does not support such a change; benefits are a recruitment and retention tool.  The question was raised as to how many employees would a change like this affect.  Other discussion among classified staff is the effect of the cost cutting suggestion of furloughs on retirement and sick leave accrual.   

1. Financials
2. The overall premiums are only 1% higher than they were 3 years ago. We also were able to do this without shifting costs to the employees, as deductibles, coinsurances, etc have not been raised over the past 3 years.
3. The legislature audits the Plans financial records and processess which include: money received (premiums)/ money spent (expenditures), check and balance procedures. There were no adverse findings discovered..
4. The benefits plan had made a forecast to lose $1.9M this last benefit year. Once again our goal in managing this plan is to maintain a RBC level of 300%.Our plan had an excessive amount of money in reserves and needed to reduce that amount. The excess came from successful plan management programs that outperformed expectations.This has been the situation during the past three years—to reduce reserves by $2M each year. However the last quarter of this fiscal year experienced an unusual and unexpected increase in expenses, which resulted in a loss of $3.93M.
5. An analysis was conducted to determine the reason for these extra unexpected expenditures. There could be two major reasons:
6. Additional usage of benefits by our members (utilization cost—more visits by members) and/or
7. A significant increase in the price of medical services. (An increase in cost per unit).

          It was determined that the usage of benefits was not the reason but the medical expenses (cost per unit—cost per doctor visit, cost per procedure) were increasing. This increase was across the board and not specific to any one part of our plan.

1. Our medical benefit plan is set up to have a ratio of 75%/25% (The plan pays 75% of medical expenses and the member pays 25%). The current ratio is 82%/18%.
2. During the past few years these medical expenses have not increased significantly compared to many years ago, However, we are now starting to experience higher medical costs which are expected to continue for several more years. For example:
3. From July 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008 the average cost per eligible member per month was  $508.53.
4. From April  1,  2009 to June  30,  2009   the average cost per eligible member per month was     $696.37.

1. Assets vs required reserves
2. For fiscal year 2009 the reserves are projected to be 295%.Our goal is 300%.
3. For fiscal year 2010 the reserves are projected to be 225%if we make no plan changes.
4. For fiscal years 2011 and 2012 there is a possibility that the state legislature may not increase the p employer contribution dollars due to the recession. Therefore, agreesive plan changes (like URx) and/or increases to the member’s contribution will start to increase next year so we don’t have to implement a huge increase in fiscal 2012.

1. Risk Migration analysis
2. Average age dropped by .52 years which was due to retirees moving to MAPP
3. Continuously enrolled members changed plans—13%
4. Enrollment Risk Migration—Members moving from traditional plans to Managed Care (MC) plans.

1. MAPP Medical Advantage Plan
2. National health care reform will affect MAPP

1. Approximately 30% of our MUS retirees are enrolled in MAPP. However, most of these people are healthy, with the less healthy members staying with our MUS plan. .
2. The government subsidy for MAPP may be eliminated which will result in increased premiums for the retirees.
3. A survey of retirees who attended MAPP seminars and the enrollment process indicated that a few items needed additional explanation—Rx and Dental plans and WellCheck fairs.

1.  Take Control--Diabetes Program
2. There are some groups which incur a significant expense within our plan. On a volunteer basis members within these groups (Diabetes) can participate in:
3. Education tailored to each participant’s needs—dietician assistance, exercise
4. Group education
5. Receive monthly newsletters
6. The results of these focused groups;
7. Increased wellness for the individuals
8. Significant cost savings in medical and prescription drugs
9. Less hospital visits
10. Emergency room visits are less when comparing enrolled to no-enrolled members   

1. Pension
2. Defined Contribution Plan—the member is in control and decides which offered investments that he/she will choose
3. There are currently 22 funds offered in the MUS TIAA-CREF program
4. Our plan provider suggested seven other which could be considered for greater diversification. Four of these were chosen and approved.
5. These included: High Yield Fund, Lifecycle 2045, Lifecycle 2050 and Retirement Fund
6. The Lifecycle Funds have a fund manager who changes the investments in the fund as the group matures. For example: Lifecycle 2050 would be for younger members and therefore the investments would be 70% stocks/equities and 30% bonds. As the members mature and get closer to the year 2050 the investments would have 30% stocks/equities and 70% bonds.
7. The new Retirement Fund is established for retirees and consists of Equities 40%/Bonds 60%
8. Participant Services—Telephone and internet (www.tiaa-cref.org), web seminars

1. Quality Care Choices
2. In collaboration and partnership with local providers, the MUS employee benefit plan had been working to establish Quality Care Choices programs to help employees and their enrolled dependents living with certain serious diseases.
3. Two of such programs are Infusion Therapy and Cancer Services
4. Explanation of the Cancer Services program-comprehensive cancer care with multi-disciplinary teams of physicians, specially trained nurses, patient care navigators, social workers, dietitians and naturopathic physician to personalize the treatment.  

1. Prescription Drug Program (URx)
2. The MUS benefit plan spends about $65,000 per day for prescription drugs
3. The cost of Prescriptions drugs is about 28% of our total plan expenses.
4. Problems with current system of PBM’s (Pharmacy Benefit Manager):
5. For-profit companies that collect a fee for each drug claim processed
6. PBM’s receives rebates from the pharmaceutical companies for purchasing certain drugs and then steering our members to those more expensive drugs
7. The formulary (list of preferred drugs) created by the PBM consists of drugs promoted by the pharmaceutical companies
8. URx will address these problems with our MUS and State of Montana Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee (P&T) which will put us in control.
9. Promote evidence-based formulary---the use of medications with the best clinical results…not necessarily those drugs most promoted by the drug companies.
10. Improved plan management
11. Achieve significant savings—Estimated annual savings would be about $3.5MM    
12. There will be a concentrated effort and focus on member education prior to and during implementation of this program—seminars, booklets, internet access and telephone assistance.
13. URx will begin January 1, 2010 for State employees and July 1, 2010 for MUS employees.

1. Wellness Power Point Presentation-- Overview of the WellAwards Program
2. Program participation-9,657 were eligible, 3,040 participated = 32%; 2,143 earned $100.00
3. Gender: 67% female and 33% male
4. Several slides showed which activities participants selected and therefore were able to earn credits
5. Many slides showed participants evaluations of the program by answering 11 questions
6. What new activities did you to participate in?—Regular stretch, strength training and others. These charts showed number of participants.
7. Which health improvements did you notice?—lower blood pressure, feel healthier, lost weight
8. 73% of FY09 participants have re-enrolled in FY10. Enrollment for FY10 is 3,460

1. Plan Changes--There were several proposed plan changes which will be discussed at the Plan Change Sub-Committee meeting. This meeting will be held in November.  These include:
2. Out-of-Pocket maximums for Traditional and Managed Care
3. Copayment increase  for three services—ambulance, emergency room, urgent care
4. Life Insurance options
5. Maximums on Dental
6. Retiree subsidization
7.     Dependent/spouse subsidization

1. IUBC Formal Meeting
2. Financials: As explained at the beginning of our meeting….Due to the significant increase in the unit cost per service during the last quarter (April 1 to June 30 2009) of our fiscal year there will probably be a higher loss for 2009/2010 than originally budgeted. This increase in medical expenses will result in higher premiums for 2010/2011.
3. Each of the sub committees provided a brief summary of their activities and meetings if they had met.
4. Next IUBC meeting will be January 28th

Reviewed and edited by Paul Bogumill

October 28, 2009 Parking Services Advisory Committee Meeting report as submited by Diane Heck.

At today’s meeting the minutes from last month were approved.  Since I was not in attendance last month I will bring you up to date with their actions from last month.  The committee was petitioned to consider reversing their decision to raise the cost of motorcycle tags.  The reasons cited were 1.) it is “green” as in saving fuel in driving a larger vehicle, 2.) taking up less space, & 3.) motorcyclists already pay a fee to park a vehicle so it is discriminatory that a tag cannot be used for the motorcycle as it can
for a second vehicle (portable tags).  The decision was made to reverse the increase and go back to the current price of a motorcycle tag which is $15.  The committee also discussed a parking lot survey (survey of condition of parking lots).  One lot was designated as in need of a full replacement.  In other words they did not feel it would help to do overlays at this time.  The discussion was on whether or not to spend the funds now and replace or wait until it degrades further before replacement.  This is still being considered.   

Today 8 or 10 month payroll deductions for parking fees was discussed.  Apparently it causes problems in payroll when a 10 month deduction is used.  Payroll would like to reduce that to 8 months.  At today’s meeting it was decided that this is not a Parking Services issue because Parking Services receives the fees in either situation.  Therefore this issue is deleted from the Parking Services agenda. 

Additionally, Kurt Blunck updated us on the abandoned/impounded vehicle auction held October 5th.  This was the first vehicle auction held by MSU personnel.  It was formerly held by city personnel.  The auction was a success in that 14 of 25 vehicles were sold.  The will have this auction about every two years. 

Next Parking Services Advisory Committee meeting will be in early December. 

October 6, 2009 (Kathy' notes from RSFA) Made budget FYE 09, after budget cuts. Membership is good and steady. Well Awards for Faculty and Staff provided $50.00 coupon towards membership.  Will let you know later how many people used this benefit. New Cardio equipment has arrived.  25 pieces of new equipment including 6 treadmills, 6 spinning bikes, and 5 ellipticals. Daytime custodian now on staff. Hand sanitizer stations.

Discussion of MUS cost saving ideas: Campus going to a 4/10 work week, open 4 days a week. Closing university Dec. 20th-Jan 2nd, all building. We felt the Rec Sport & Fitness center needed to stay open for students and staff to use and only closing for short time periods for holidays.  

October 2, 2009 Space Management Committee Meeting notes as submitted by Bill Van Horn. The majority of the meeting was occupied with Gaines Hall, including a presentation regarding the Earth Science portion of the project. There was much discussion, including a proposal for cost savings that arose from UPBAC that proved to be impractical (at best): closing Gaines Hall as soon as it was finished to save operating costs. In line with the cost savings ideas, it was indicated that the Committee will look in some detail at moves for potential cost savings; to include mothballing or closing space created by moves or new projects (the areas occupied by Earth Science prior to their move to Gaines are a prime example). It was also mentioned that the Committee should be involved in such projects at a much earlier date, as discussion after plans have been made are often of more academic than practical interest. There was minimal discussion of the Animal Bioscience Building, but a detailed breakdown of space made available may be ready for the next meeting. 

1. Jim Rimpau is the new chair of UPBAC.  This will be his last SPC meeting and Chris Fastnow will be the new SPC chair.
2. The FY09-FY14 document was approved by UPBAC at its 7/28/09 meeting.  We have a “To-Do” list – see below.  Copies of the final document were distributed to SPC members.
3. Chris showed us the homepage for the Vision and Strategic Plan:  www.montana.edu/vision
   1. Copy of the “pretty version”  http://www.montana.edu/vision/StrategicPlanVision.pdf
   2. Current “Montana State University Five Year Vision”: http://www.montana.edu/vision/current/index.html (FY09-FY14) to be posted
   3. Current “Strategic Vision Progress on Numerical Goals”:  http://www.montana.edu/vision/current/visionprogrprt_fy13.pdfNotes of clarification:  a) the “pretty version” was designed ~2008 by the Communications/Public Affairs to be used as an external document.  c) We worked last year to remove many of the numeric goals from the actual vision to make the document more user-friendly.  These numerical goals are cited and measured by the progress report.
4.  “To-Do” list.  Expecting a new president for the spring semester, Jim suggested that we try to complete the 5 year vision in the fall to be ready for tasks from the new president, possibly revisiting the mission statement and the vision. 
   1. Next meeting we will begin assigning goals for progress review.
   2. List from UPBAC: 
      1. Do we want/need to cover areas such as Auxiliaries, Athletics, Library, and Student Affairs?
      2.   Might we want to reorganize our plan around the new accreditation standards (for the next 10 yrs) to set goals and track progress at the same time as we work toward accreditation?
      3. Look at goals “D” and “L” under section “III”
5. Jim handed out a copy of Standard 1, “Strategic Vision and Sustained Planning” of the self-study for accreditation.  This standard details the roles of UPBAC and SPC and describes the process of creating the university’s mission, approved by BOR in Jan. 2002.
   1. The entire self-study report given to the accreditation team can be found here: http://www.montana.edu/accreditation/selfstudy.html 

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