WHEREAS, insurance premiums are expected to increase approximately 38% effective January 1, 2002, and

WHEREAS, many University employees are already burdened as a result of increased deductibles and rising medical care costs experienced since the last salary increases, and

WHEREAS, the increase in the cost of premiums could amount to as much as $75 per month for single-person coverage, and

WHEREAS, $75.00 per month could be a tremendous hardship to bear, considering that wages and salaries are currently below market averages, and

WHEREAS, President Dubois, at the September 12, 2001, Staff Senate meeting, expressed his intentions to request dollars to fund the increase in insurance premiums in the new biennium starting July 1, 2002, and

WHEREAS, the cost of six months of the premium increase will fall on employees unless an alternative solution is found, and

WHEREAS, several revenue sources may be available to address cash-flow issues,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Faculty Senate recommends the use of University funding sources to offset increased insurance costs for the period of

January 1, 2002 through June 30, 2002. This cash-flow problem should not be the financial burden of the University employees.

AUTHENTICATION: The foregoing Senate Resolution 293 was duly adopted by the Faculty Senate of the University of Wyoming under date of December 10, 2001, and is hereby transmitted to the President of the University of Wyoming for review in accordance with the Regulations of the Trustees.

Richard Anderson-Sprecher
Secretary of the Faculty Senate