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The Employee Benefits Assessment Council (EBAC) was formed last year by Chancellor Kent Syverud to promote better understanding of benefit issues, choices and potential changes. The council assists in facilitating the input of faculty, staff, the University Senate and other key stakeholders in advance of administrative decisions about employee benefits.

The EBAC reports to the University’s Administrative Benefits Committee, in collaboration with the Human Resources leadership team. The council is chaired by Tom Dennison, professor of practice emeritus, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and is composed of faculty and staff, who are selected by or with direct consultation with the University Senate.

Over the past year, the EBAC focused on building its understanding of the University’s benefits program and was instrumental in providing feedback on and support of important issues, including the recommendation for a more equitable and transparent retirement plan fee model and the evaluation of the dental program for faculty and staff.

To support the review of the University’s dental program, which was led by Human Resources leadership and included an independent analysis by a nationally recognized employee benefits consulting firm, the council conducted a dental benefit survey sent to all benefits-eligible faculty and staff in the spring to gather meaningful feedback. With the council’s support, the University will offer a new plan for 2025 with the largest dental provider network in Central New York that offers lower costs for employees and expanded coverage, including orthodontia.

As the EBAC relies on input from faculty and staff, council members will hold during Open Enrollment to meet with faculty and staff to receive feedback on the University’s benefits program.

These are scheduled for the following dates:

• Thursday, Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Schine Student Center, Room 137
• Friday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 621 Skytop Office Building, Room 1051

The EBAC will continue to meet throughout the year to address benefit needs of faculty and staff. As part of its work, the council will reach out to the University community to identify and address concerns and issues.

Council members are the following:

• Tom Dennison, professor of practice emeritus, Maxwell School
• Darlene Carelli, executive assistant, College of Professional Studies
• Dan Cutler, director, Academic Programs
• Matt Huber, professor, Maxwell School
• Holly Kingdeski, administrative assistant, Enrollment Management
• Eric Kingson, professor emeritus, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics (concluded his tenure on the council this fall)
• Kofi Okyere, professor of practice, Whitman School of Management
• John O’Reilly, truck equipment operator, Campus Facilities
• Amanda Johnson Sanguiliano, associate director, Institutional Effectiveness
• Bram Stone, assistant director, Student Engagement
• Lynne Vincent, department chair and associate director, Whitman School
• Doug Yung, associate teaching professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science