State APSCUF headquarters in Harrisburg.

September 5-7, 2008

New Legislative Focus is Released

State APSCUF's Laura Statler has released a new edition of the APSCUF Legislative Focus.  To read it, click here.

The State APSCUF Legislative Committee is scheduled to meet on Saturday at State APSCUF headquarters in Harrisburg.

New Update regarding Healthy U

State APSCUF staff member Nancy Koutris has issued the following message:

HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (Wellness Program)

PHASE ONE – REQUIREMENTS - COMPLETION OF THE PLEDGE (MEMBER ONLY) AND HRA (MEMBER/SPOUSE/PARTNER)

Please be aware that the ONLY REQUIREMENTS necessary during Phase One is that THE MEMBER COMPLETE THE PLEDGE and the MEMBER AND SPOUSE/PARTNER’S COMPLETION OF THE health risk assessment (HRA). The profile that comes back to you and/or your spouse/partner ARE NOT REQUIREMENTS but merely a computerized personal information sheet based on your responses on the HRA. Physical exams and preventive tests are NOT REQUIRED for Phase One of this program nor are any of the other suggestions that you may receive from HealthMedia. Phase Two will have an annual physical ONLY requirement for those who have completed the HRA in Phase One but NO PREVENTIVE TESTS. This is especially important to note for those under the Comprehensive Indemnity Plan since preventive tests are not considered an eligible service.

APSCUF has become aware of the fact that HealthMedia is sending out notices for OTHER requirements WHICH ARE TO BE IGNORED at this time. If a member or spouse/partner schedules and receives exams and tests that are not considered eligible under their health plan the member/spouse/partner will be billed for those services.

APSCUF TO HOST OPEN HOUSE ON SEPTEMBER 23

The State APSCUF office in Harrisburg will host an Open House for legislators, faculty, coaches, PASSHE managers, and APSCURF members on September 23.  APSCUF President Steve Hicks and PASSHE Chancellor John Cavanaugh will lead the proceedings.  To learn more, click here.

ALTERNATIVE RETIREMENT PLAN ALERT

PASSHE has informed APSCUF that due to a regularly scheduled bidding process it has decided to drop MetLife as an alternative retirement plan (ARP) vendor. Due to this change all faculty members who currently have retirement accounts with MetLife will have to change to another vendor. Each faculty member who is affected should be receiving a letter from PASSHE outlining the requirements to change vendors. If the faculty member fails to select a new vendor to replace MetLife by October 1, 2008, PASSHE will select the replacement vendor and any contributions already made or that will be made will go to the new vendor. For more information, please contact your human resource office.

'BEHIND THE HEADLINES'

State APSCUF President Steve Hicks and Vice President Amy Walters were featured on a recent episode of Behind the Headlines, a television production of The Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy.

The two union officers focused attention on the state’s level of support to the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities, and note the significant economic impact of the schools.

“When the PASSHE was launched 25 years ago, the Commonwealth provided 63% of the funding necessary to operate the universities,” Hicks noted.“Today, that percentage stands in the neighborhood of 36-37%.  The state has to do a better job supporting its own institutions.All Pennsylvanians deserve access to a high quality public education at the lowest possible cost.”

Behind the Headlines is taped in Harrisburg and is a production of the Susquehanna Valley Center for Public Policy, a non-partisan, non profit public policy research organization based in Hershey. Charlie Greenawalt, Senior Fellow for the Center, Professor of Government at Millersville University, and political analyst on WHP TV in Harrisburg, is the program host.

Faculty and coaches are invited to watch current and past episodes of Behind the Headlines online at www.thevoiceofpa.net

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Blue Shield Claim Form, Authorization for Disclosure of Health Information Form now online!!! APSCUF members can now download the Blue Shield Claim Form directly from the APSCUF web site! To acquire a Claim Form, click here!

To download the Authorization for Disclosure of Health Information form, click here!

Save money with Nationwide General Auto Insurance! Are you interested in getting a Car Insurance quotation from Randy Engle, APSCUF's Nationwide Insurance Agent? If so, click here!

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PROPOSED REVISION TO THE REPORT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE ON CLASS SIZE IN THE STATE SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION Read the proposed revision to the report from the Governor's Task Force on Class Size in the PASSHE by clicking here.

(Note: This posting has been present for many months. It has been kept on the site for reference purposes.)

STATE APSCUF NEWSLETTERS ONLINE!

APSCUF members can read current and past editions of the APSCUF Newsletter by visiting APSCUF on the web! Simply click on the "APSCUF In Print" link on the main APSCUF page and read the print edition of your choice! You can read the July, 2008 edition by clicking here.

RETIREMENT QUESTIONS? VISIT THE SERS, PSERS AND TIAA-CREF WEB SITES!

To visit the SERS web site, click here.

To visit the PSERS web site, click here.

To visit the TIAA-CREF web site, click here.

Important Retirement Information:

Are you retired or are you retiring prior to 7-1-08?

If so, click the link below!

http://www.apscuf.com/news/RETIRED-prior-7.1.08.pdf

Planning on retiring on or after 7-1-08?

If so, click the link below!

http://www.apscuf.com/news/Retire-on-or-after-7.1.08.pdf

Planning on retiring on or after 7-1-09? If so, click the link below!
http://www.apscuf.com/news/Retire-on-or-after-7.1.09.pdf

DO YOU NEED INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR STATE OR U.S. REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS? IF SO, USE THESE LINKS TO HELP!

Information about all Pennsylvania Representatives and Senators can be acquired via a web site maintained by the Commonwealth. To visit the site, click here.

Information about all United States of America Representatives can be obtained by clicking here.

Information about all United States of America Senators can be obtained by clicking here.

Finally, some higher education news briefs:

(Note: Many of the national and international higher education briefs originate with Academe Today, a service of the Chronicle of Higher Education. For further information about these briefs, email State APSCUF using the "E-mail APSCUF" link on the main web page):

* Colleges Teach Students to Manage Money:  Institutions look for ways to lure students into learning the basics of financial literacy so they can keep control of their debt.

*  Textbook Sales Drop, and University Presses Want to Know Why:  A negative trend in textbook sales has accelerated in the last couple of months, and online piracy may be one cause of the decline.
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