Attendance:

• Divina Anunciado
• Alicia Every
• Alina Britchi
• Marijo Kambere
• Sivan Cotel
• Cassie Fallscheer
• Ed Morehouse
• Paula Matei
• Joyce Walter
• Nate Peters
• Marina Melendez

Discussion:

1. Follow up on probability of changing graduate health premiums to union rates
2. Possibility of dental coverage for graduates through Delta Dental

   Nate reported on agenda items #1 and #2 at the same time. He had two spreadsheets that he shared with the group. One was the cost factor to the university if graduate students’ premiums with CIGNA were to decrease from 33% (level of faculty/staff contribution) to 15% (union employee contribution). He estimated the cost to the university on the fact that there are 22 graduate students who are currently enrolled with CIGNA. If nothing changed the cost to Wesleyan would be about $48,558 more than now. Unfortunately, we can not estimate if more graduates would enroll in CIGNA if the premiums were to decrease.

   Nate also discussed the issues that the group had with Delta Dental. According to Delta Dental graduate students could be part of the plan. So the bottom line is the cost to Wesleyan to open the dental plan to graduate students. The second spreadsheet showed these costs using the current number of graduate students who are on either CIGNA or the basic sickness plan; 130 students. The estimated cost to Wesleyan would be about $29,000.

   So where do we go from here? Nate shared the commitment on the Board of Trustee’s part to lower the financial dependency on the endowment and the university’s mission to cut the budget by $2.8 million for next year. The climate is not good to incur more expenses. Nate did mention the commitment on the part of administration to increase graduate stipends. Unfortunately, these figures are not small enough for finance to agree to move forward and incur these expenses.

3. Dental Care at Community Health Care: Joyce informed the group that Marina and she went to the Community Health Center in Middletown and met with Dr. Drozdowski (head dentist). The CHC is eager to work with Wesleyan and the graduate population to open better communication and encourage more usage of their facilities amongst graduate students. CHC and the graduate office are willing to act as liaison for the graduate students to assist with appointments. The CHC is eager to provide graduate student leaders with a tour of the facilities and with more information on the sliding scale fees.
4. Communication of Contacts at Wesleyan: Martha & Barbara Schukoske: Joyce and Marina both reported to the group that graduate students need to be directed immediately to Martha and/or Barbara if there are issues with claims or service.
5. Rides: Marina did have a conversation with Marcello Curridori, Manager of Transportation Services. Transportation Services is willing to provide similar services that they have for undergraduates to graduates. Presently, undergraduates contact the Health Center for a ride to a doctor’s office and staff member at the Health Center will coordinate the ride with transportation services. Transportation services charges the health center and they in turn charge the student’s account. Marina will send a proposal to Academic Affairs to sponsor a pilot program next year where the graduate office would provide the same service. The only change is that the graduate office is willing to subsidize a large portion of the cost of the ride per student. This proposal is still in being developed. Marina pointed out that a small fee must be charged to the graduate student to ensure student’s accountability.
6. Flu Shots: Nate and Joyce agreed that the Health Center and Human Resources will provide free flu shots to graduate students and their eligible dependents (18 years and older) who are CIGNA eligible the flu shot next year.

Next Steps:

It was decided amongst the group members that the graduate student leaders needed to create a thorough proposal that would outline priorities for improvement to graduate students. In that vein, first step a meeting will be scheduled with Marijo, GSA president and John Kirn, Director of Graduate Studies who advocates for the graduate stipends to Academic Affairs.

Second step would be the implementation of a survey to all graduate students to access what their priorities are; more affordable CIGNA premiums, better prescription drug coverage, access to dental health plan, substantial stipend increases, etc….

Third step would be the creation of a proposal that these priorities in a one year, five year and perhaps a ten year implementation.

There was a commitment from Nate Peters and Joyce Walter to continue meeting with the graduate leaders on a timely and routine basis next year and this year if needed.

Meeting was adjourned at 1 pm.