Benefits Update: At the 2/22 meeting of Senate, the chair of the University’s Benefits Committee and Julian Lange Professor of Economics, Melissa Thomasson, and ex-officio committee member and Interim Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Dawn Fahner, presented information on Miami’s health insurance benefits. The presentation slides are attached and particular points to note include:

• The committee worked with health and insurance consultants, identified through an RFP process, to bring our plan more in line with benchmarks and to reduce spending over several years.
• The goal of the committee has been to use data to reduce spending by encouraging members to consider value when selecting providers.
• The hospital tiering system was developed with emphasis on value, particularly better outcomes at equal or lower cost for the employee. By utilizing a tiered system, employees get better care for lower costs, thus saving in out-of-pocket expenses.
• McCullough Hyde Hospital coverage has NOT changed under the tiering system.
• Despite efforts, the committee was unable to identify a single plan, including those offered on the government exchange, where there was an out-of-pocket maximum when individuals choose out-of-network care.
• Our on-campus health clinic is available to employees and their families enrolled in Miami’s health plan at NO CHARGE.

Announcement: Canvas and Niihka: As you know, we’ve spent the past year converting to Canvas as the University’s Learning Management System (LMS), and Canvas will become the required LMS beginning with summer courses. Please be aware that at the end this semester, access to courses in Niihka will be limited to reading and downloading only. Information about the conversion, online workshops and instructional videos are available via eLearning Miami (ELM) to assist you in transitioning coursework to Canvas.

Reminder: Make it Miami: Thank you to those who attended Miami it Miami events in February. March events are scheduled for the 4th (tomorrow) and the 11th. Ways you can help recruit the Class of 2020 on those Make it Miami dates include welcoming accepted students and their families during the 8:00-9:00 a.m. open session at the Armstrong Student Center, and joining accepted students from your division at a lunch in the dining halls.