EDITORIAL: Faculty deserves time to comment

The University should give faculty and staff more time to comment on the new benefits plan. Administrators should grant the request because it is only fair for professors to have adequate time to comment on the complex benefits plan. And not only will this be beneficial to professors but also to other University staff who are affected by the benefits changes. Thoughtful and intellectual commentary on a plan as extensive as this one needs to be formed over time, not in a matter of weeks. If the benefits plan had been released last semester as originally anticipated, commentary and revisions to the plan would be ready by the time next year's contracts are signed in mid-March. But, the plan was not released until February. And six weeks is hardly enough time to discuss all of the issues involved with benefits, especially the complex health care packages. Employees are already concerned by the graduate tuition benefits that were cut and the elimination of the summer work hours. If administrators do not give ample time for remarks, faculty and staff could become more concerned that this is a sign of a gradual erosion of benefits. The resolution addresses the plan's deficiency in discussing future benefits changes. But it is important for administrators to actually review the comments received. The benefits plan affects all University employees and needs a careful examination by everyone.