[UW shield]

Daily Bulletin

University of Waterloo -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Yesterday's Bulletin | Previous days | UWevents | UWinfo home page

Thursday, March 28, 1996

A future of red ink

UW's budget for the coming year is showing a deficit even without any salary increases, the senate finance committee was told yesterday. The provost, Jim Kalbfleisch, presented a draft that shows spending that totals $785,000 more than income for the 1996-97 fiscal year. "There's still work to be done," he said. "We need to bring it into balance."

Answering a question, he said that each 1 per cent in staff and faculty salary increases would add about $1,250,000 to spending. Salary talks with employee groups (staff association, faculty association, CUPE local 793 and Graduate Student Association) aren't completed yet, the provost said.

The budget is predicting total revenue of $174.1 million, down by almost 5 per cent from this year's $182.7 million. The reduction is the result of government grants dropping by 15 per cent (a loss of $19 million), partially offset by a 17 per cent increase in tuition fee income.

Kalbfleisch said UW is facing "one-time costs" of $18.8 million, mostly as the result of the Special Early Retirement Program. The idea is to pay it off over four years, so the 1996-97 budget includes $4.7 million for that purpose, with the remaining $14.1 million carried forward. "Boards of governors typically don't like red ink," he told the committee. "I'm hoping ours won't balk at this much."

The budget will come back to the finance committee for detailed work next month, and then will go to the senate and board of governors for approval.

Notice about benefit claims

A memo from Sandie Hurlburt of the human resources department:
A memo was sent out this week to Department Secretaries and Administrative Assistants with new dental claims forms with envelopes attached. Old forms can be recycled in each department.

Faculty and staff are reminded that effective April 1, 1996, claims must be submitted directly to the insurance carriers (health claims to Prudential and dental claims to ManuLife) using a stamped envelope. Forms must be completed with certificate numbers and signatures before submission. The pay-direct card should be used for prescription drugs. Most pharmacies in the province accept the Eclipse card; the list sent out in early January includes pharmacies that agreed to charge a lower dispensing fee, as well as other discounts.

Our plans do not require Plan Administrator's approval, so Section 2 of the new dental form is not applicable. Effective April 1, 1996, dental settlement cheques will now be sent to employees' home addresses rather than to on-campus addresses. If you change your address, remember to highlight it on your next dental claim. If you do not have a ManuLife card, please forward a memo to Tricia Loveday, Human Resources, GSC or by email at tloveday@mc1adm.

Employees may continue to use a Standard Dental Claim form provided by the dentist, as long as Section 2 and 3 are completed and mail the claim to: ManuLife Financial, Group Dental Claims, P. O. Box 1654, Waterloo, ON N2J 4W2. Dentists can continue to submit claims directly to ManuLife [either by paper or electronically (EDI)].

Prudential claims for paramedical claims, out of Canada, etc. should be sent to: Prudential Insurance Company of America, 200 Consilium Place, Scarborough, ON M1H 3E6.

If you did not use your pay-direct card, prescription claims can be sent directly to: Eclipse Claims Service Inc., Suite 606, 5770 Hurontario Street, Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5.

Grad students meet today

The annual general meeting of the Graduate Student Association will be held today at 6 p.m. in Needles Hall room 3001.

And the faculty association has sent out notices of not one but two annual general meetings next Wednesday. The FAUW (unincorporated) will meet at 1:30 p.m. that day, and the FAUW (incorporated) at 3 p.m., both in Physics room 145. The agenda indicates that Ian Macdonald of chemical engineering will be acclaimed to another term as the president of both associations.

Pink tie man returns

Ralph Stanton, founder of the UW faculty of mathematics and now an ornament of the University of Manitoba, will be on campus tomorrow to speak to 1996 math graduates. Says Philip Hunter of the Math Graduation Committee:
Ralph Stanton is a legend in his own time. Not only is he the founder of the Math Faculty, but his reputation for wearing odd neckties gave us the very symbol which defines UW Math -- the Pink Tie. The talk should be a treat for all Math staff and students interested in learning the early history of this faculty. If you ever wanted to know why UW Math came to be, here's your chance to ask the man himself. After the talk, all '96 grads are invited for a joint MGC/faculty wine & cheese.
Stanton's talk starts tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in Math and Computer room 2066.

Also happening, briefly

Matthews Hall opening

The official opening for the addition to Matthews Hall will be taking place Friday, May 31. I was given the wrong date of May 25 (that's a Saturday anyway) and quoted it in yesterday's Gazette.

Bright spots from the Campaign

Here's a reminder: tomorrow is Think Summer Day in support of the Community Campaign. "All faculty and staff are encouraged to dress summer casual and donate $2 to the UW Community Campaign," explains Meredith McGinnis from the development office. "And Think Summer Day raffle tickets will be available from campaign reps -- all proceeds support Senate Scholarship Funds."

Looking ahead a little, she sends word that the annual Community Campaign picnic has been set for Tuesday, June 4.

Chris Redmond -- credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 3004

Comments to the editor | About the Bulletin | Yesterday's Bulletin