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  <title><![CDATA[Staff Council Talks Health Care at Town Hall]]></title>
  <body><![CDATA[<p class="p1">Elections for the six open seats on the Georgia Tech Staff Council begin Monday, Nov. 2, and will be open through Nov. 13.&nbsp;</p><p class="p4">The Council received 61 nominations for the six open positions. It anticipates having new members announced in early December. Staff are invited to cast their votes when elections open at <a href="http://www.staffcouncil.gatech.edu"><strong>www.staffcouncil.gatech.edu</strong></a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p class="p5">Meanwhile, the Staff Council held its second town hall on Tuesday, Oct. 13, providing updates on its work since the spring. The most-discussed topic at the forum was changes in health care premiums that the University System of Georgia (USG) will implement in 2017.</p><p class="p5">Again this year, health care premiums increased as part the USG’s move toward a defined contribution model for health care, system-wide. This model was approved in 2013 and is expected to be fully implemented for the 2017 plan year.&nbsp;</p><p class="p5">Under this model, each plan will have an employer contribution of the same amount. Employees will be able to select a plan based on their needs, while getting the same subsidy for coverage. Currently, the USG provides varying levels of subsidy for each plan. &nbsp;</p><p class="p5">The Council’s standing committees also provided updates. The Employee Engagement group is reviewing staff recognition programs, and other groups are looking at campus options for child care, summer camps, and parking.</p><p class="p5">Departments or other campus groups who would like to learn more about the Staff Council’s work online or have a representative attend an upcoming meeting or event.&nbsp;</p>]]></body>
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      <value>2015-10-26T00:00:00-04:00</value>
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      <value><![CDATA[The Council will also hold elections for six open seats on the Georgia Tech Staff Council begin Monday, Nov. 2, and will be open through Nov. 13.]]></value>
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      <value><![CDATA[<p class="p1">The Council will also hold elections for six open seats on the Georgia Tech Staff Council begin Monday, Nov. 2, and will be open through Nov. 13.&nbsp;</p>]]></value>
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            <title><![CDATA[Georgia Tech Staff Council]]></title>
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      <value><![CDATA[<p><a href="mailto:debbie.dorsey@vpss.gatech.edu">Debbie Dorsey</a><br />Staff Council</p><p><a href="mailto:kristen.bailey@comm.gatech.edu">Kristen Bailey</a><br />Institute Communications</p>]]></value>
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