Faculty Council sees results of UM system survey

Survey results could change employee benefits.

By Stephanie Ebbs

Published Sept. 17, 2010

Faculty Council reviewed results of a survey conducted in the spring semester among UM system faculty members Thursday. Betsy Rodriguez, UM system vice president of Human Resources, presented the survey, which asked faculty for feedback on topics such as the university's retirement plan and offering domestic partner benefits.

Department of Plant Sciences professor Bill Wiebold said he was satisfied with the survey.

“As a faculty member, everything’s kind of data-driven, and you like to be asked,” Wiebold said.

Wiebold said he couldn’t remember faculty being asked about their benefits in the 20 years he has been at MU, which was the motivation for the survey.

“We kept talking about, ‘Somebody wanted this, and somebody wanted that,’ but we didn’t have any data,” Rodriguez said.

Along with the numerical data, there are written comments from many faculty members that have to be accounted for.

The survey covered the entire UM system. Of those eligible for benefits, 37 percent, or 3,048 employees, responded to the survey.

Rodriguez said much of the data was similar across the campuses, with the greatest changes coming between age demographics.

The faculty was asked about whether they would prefer an increase in base pay or increase in benefits, and overall, the highest priority was base pay. An increase in benefits would likely decrease take-home pay proportionally.

“There is no one perfect solution,” Rodriguez said. “I’m never going to make everyone happy, but there is one way I can make everyone happy, and that’s an increase in base pay.”

Medical benefits for domestic partners were discussed, which would be a new addition. The results of the survey were inconclusive on this issue, with 34 percent of participants who strongly agreed with domestic partner coverage and 34 percent who strongly disagreed. An additional 1,260 people declined to answer.

The specific wording of the question became an issue that might have tainted the data.

The question asked, "If resources became available, should domestic partner (same-sex) benefits be a high priority?"

Rodriguez said she thinks the reason for the results were due to this wording. Also, many faculty would prefer access to currently unavailable benefits like orthodontia coverage over coverage for domestic partners.

Another issue that was discussed was the possibility of a wellness incentive program. This program would offer cash incentives for faculty and staff that consistently improved their personal health.

In the survey, 35 percent reported they were making little to no effort to their personal health.

Rodriguez said last year there was more care needed for preventable conditions among MU employees than preventative care, which is covered by their benefits.

This coverage includes screening for various conditions, something university employees are not consistent with. Weibold said he thought the program would encourage faculty, including himself, to think more about their personal health.

Although there is no plan in place yet for these changes, there will be a full public discussion of the decisions in November before they are proposed to the Board of Curators.

Rodriguez said there is some risk involved.

“Not risk to the plan, risk to the university,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said some of the objectives for the plan do not work together, and they must work within the $300 million allocated for the program.

“The hardest part is struggling with the complexity of the issues,” Faculty Council Chairwoman Leona Rubin said. “We’re a diverse group and trying to find a balance is hard.”