Minutes of Benefits Advisory Committee (BAC) March 26, 2013

Attending: Amy Diehl, Heather St. Germaine, Jerry Bohdanowicz, Nancy Booth, Steve Roof, Jim Miller, and Shelly Ruocco (ex officio). Absent: David Hoffmann, Strategic Benefits Advisors (SBA) and Yaniris Fernandez

I. Minutes from Tuesday, February 26, 2013 were approved.

II. Dependent Children Tuition Remission at Hampshire: Several items were discussed regarding Tuition Remission.

a. Reviewed the possibility to pro-rate tuition for dependents of employees hired in the early fall. The committee discussed various possibilities. At our April meeting the Committee hopes to make a decision on whether or not to make a recommendation.
b. Review the possibility to offer individual classes for dependents - It was decided there would be no change to our policy.

Action: Nancy /Shelly to schedule a meeting with Financial Aid to discuss options and their impacts on FA. Nan and Shelly will also look at other potential impacts on HR by talking with HR staff.

III. Health Insurance transgender benefits:

Action: Nancy will discuss with SBA the option to include pricing for the BAC if the benefit is available with the renewal for 2014.

IV. Anonymous communication to the BAC
a. Amy created a form for staff and faculty to ask the BAC questions anonymously

Action: Nancy will create the communication for the new form and present it at our next meeting

V. Sibling inclusion to FMLA or sick policy- An employee asked the BAC to consider whether siblings could be covered under our FMLA or sick policy.
a. . Items covered were:
i. Some colleges have no coverage for siblings
ii. One college offered a number of days for a person dependent upon the employee for care
iii. Need to define sibling
b. The BAC will continue to discuss

Actions: Nancy to seek out more information on what other colleges cover under FMLA. Nan will bring a copy of the faculty FMLA policy to the next BAC meeting.

VI. BAC meeting dates will be as follows:

Tuesdays, April 30 and May 14