Study leads to change in OSU contribution to ARP

Staff enrolled in the Alternative Retirement Plan will now receive the entire 13.31 percent University retirement fund contribution into their accounts, thanks to a recent actuarial study mandated by state legislation.

Since the ARP was implemented, the University contributed an amount equal to 6 percent of each staff salary to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) to fund past service liabilities. The University also contributed an amount equal to 7.31 percent of each salary to pay future benefits for PERS members or to staff members' ARP account.

The change affects 1,758 Ohio State staff, and is retroactive statewide to Jan. 1, 1999, although at Ohio State the plan wasn't implemented until Feb. 5, 1999. The University is working with PERS to forward the refunded funds to current ARP accounts.

The ARP allows new faculty and administrative staff with 75 percent or greater full-time equivalent appointments to place their retirement contributions with investment options other than state retirement systems. When the plan was first implemented, faculty hired after June 30, 1993, and staff hired after March 31, 1993, had a 120-day window to decide to enroll.

The original ARP legislation, which was approved by the state Legislature in December 1996, required that an independent firm conduct an actuarial study every three years to determine whether the ARP was having a negative impact on PERS and State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) funding. A study completed at the end of fall quarter determined PERS was not negatively affected by the ARP. Future studies will determine whether the 13.3 percent contribution will require further changes. The state has not completed the actuarial study of STRS.

Faculty and staff enrolled in PERS and STRS are not affected by the study results.

"We will continue to contribute the full University contribution to STRS and PERS," said Judith V. Kadja, director of benefits and wellness services. "What that means is that retirement system participants receive survivor and disability benefits, retiree medical benefits and prescription coverage. With the ARP, all employee and employer contributions are invested in funds selected by the faculty or staff member. They will have to use their own funds to pay for benefits they won't be getting through the state system."

Another potential change to the ARP is making its way through the legislative process. Currently, when ARP enrollees terminate employment with the University, they must wait one year before gaining access to the funds.

"We're waiting on legislation that would provide for immediate access," Kadja said.

Investments for the ARP can be made with any of seven approved providers, although there may be additional vendor options in the future. Those vendors are: Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Co., The Equitable Life Assurance Co., Great American Life Insurance Co., Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., Nationwide Life Insurance Co., TIAA-CREF and VALIC. ARP participants have the opportunity to change their vendor selection once annually.

For more information, call the Office of Human Resources Customer Service Center at 292-1050.

Drive raises $717,000 for Ohio charities

The money kept rolling in for the 1999 Community Charitable Drive, with the final record-breaking tally adding up to $716,778 -- 7 percent over this year's goal of $670,000. The money will benefit 240 central Ohio health and human services agencies.

"I think that's a wonderful record," said Carole Anderson, dean of the College of Nursing and chair of the 1999 drive. "The real beneficiaries of our efforts are the people these agencies serve in Ohio. I am very proud of this community and hope we'll do even better next year."

The drive has steadily been gaining momentum since a dip in 1997 when confusion arose over its expansion from a United Way campaign to the Community Charitable Drive, supporting eight nonprofit federations. In 1996, $642,465 was raised; in 1997, $585,000; and in 1998, $651,000.

The 1999 drive, which kicked off Nov. 1 and officially ended Dec. 10, inspired 4,225 Ohio State employees to reach a little deeper into their pockets for donations, which can be made through a one-time gift or through payroll deductions. The drive had a goal of 5,000 participants, who are divided into 34 giving units across the Columbus campus.

"This is a drive of faculty, staff, students and retirees. There is a significant contribution made by retirees," said Associate Vice President for

Human Resources Larry M. Lewellen. This year, retired faculty and staff donated $44,708.

Ohio State faculty and staff were asked to contribute to eight federations. They include: Greater Columbus Community Shares; the United Negro College Fund; Community Health Charities (formerly National Voluntary Health Agencies); the Black United Fund of Central Ohio; and United Way of Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin and Union counties.

UTS advises users: Be informed about Windows 2000

While Windows 2000 offers many advantages, including more power and greater networking ability, University Technology Services has advice for anyone wishing to install the software: Be an informed user.

Users are encouraged to read the information and installation tips contained in the UTS document "Microsoft Buckeye Bundle Windows 2000 Pro" before installing the program.

The document advises when to use Windows 2000 and when to stick with Windows 98, and contains a checklist of system requirements. It can be found at the University Bookstore or UNICOMP-The Technology Store.

Windows Millennium, the upgrade to Windows 98, will be available later this year. Windows 2000 is an upgrade to NT4, a business-oriented operating system intended to be used in a network environment, said Ed Zirkle, technology support center coordinator for UTS.

"A lot of people think it is a direct upgrade, but they don't realize it is a new operating system," Zirkle said. "It will change your file systems and then you find that you have this program that ran fine in (Windows) 98 but won't run on Windows 2000."

Computer games will be most affected by the switch to Windows 2000, he added.

Windows 2000 is extremely stable and powerful, with fewer crashes. It has extra security measures and greater networking ability, and runs in most ways like Windows 98 or 95, Zirkle said. But he warns that it also can be complex.

An upgrade from Windows 98 to 2000 can be an irrevocable process, Zirkle said. To avoid losing any data should problems arise, UTS strongly recommends users back up their hard drives before starting the installation process.

Windows 2000 is available to students in the Buckeye Bundle at the OSU Bookstore. It is available for faculty and staff use on campus via departmental purchase only with a 100W or procurement card at UNICOMP. The price is $99. It is not available on campus for individual purchase by faculty or staff for personal use.

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