Senators unanimously approved a resolution that reaffirms its approval of $860,000 in benefits savings through mandatory generic drug and mail order drug usage, and charging the premiums to the highest paid OHIO spouse. The resolution now heads to the executive vice president and provost for approval.

The senate also approved a resolution clarifying Faculty Handbook language relating to employees' health care benefits contributions. The new language states that employees' premium payments will not exceed 10 percent of the university's total health care budget, and total employee contributions (premiums and out-of-pocket costs) will not exceed 20 percent of the sum of the university's total health care budget plus total employee out-of-pocket costs.

Approved resolutions on promotion and tenure are designed to simplify and clarify the appeals process for denial of tenure, and offer guidelines to departments on clarifying its expectations in terms of promotion and tenure for employees.

New senate members elected Senator Joe McLaughlin to serve as senate chair for the upcoming academic year and Senator Elizabeth Sayrs as secretary. Vice Chair Dave Thomas was reelected to the position.

Executive Vice President and Provost Kathy Krendl presented updated figures on faculty salaries as compared with other institutions, an enrollment update, more detail on plans for academic restructuring and the status of appeals for the Task Force on Centers of Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education in her report (PEF format; Oak login required).