As we shared in August and September, Columbia has established a task force to conduct a comprehensive review of the benefits programs currently provided to officers.  The task force’s objective is to help the University design a set of high-quality, financially sound benefits programs.

On Tuesday, November 9, external firm Hase Schannen Research extended an email invitation via the Provost’s office to all benefits-eligible officers, to participate in a confidential survey about which benefits you value most, and which are most effective in meeting your needs.

If you need assistance completing the survey, or need to have your survey link sent again, please email surveysupport@catalystmr.com. The survey will be available online until Wednesday, November 24. 

Common Benefits Terms Explained

Please be aware that the survey will include some basic benefits language.  For your convenience and information, we have posted a Glossary of frequently used benefits words and phrases.   

How the Survey Works

Your participation in this confidential survey will be highly important—the results will help guide critical decisions on the future of our benefits package.

The results of the survey will be analyzed by Hase Schannen, rather than anyone within the University.  To ensure that your individual responses are kept confidential, the outside firm will only provide the task force with aggregate statistical information.

No Impact on 2011 Benefits

While the survey overlaps with annual Benefits Open Enrollment, please know it will not have any impact on your 2011 choices. The sole purpose of the survey is to help the task force make recommendations about the future of our benefits programs.  You should, therefore, be sure to complete your Open Enrollment elections as well as the survey. 

Your voice is essential to the task force’s work. In addition to completing the survey, please send your questions or comments to us at  fringe-review@columbia.edu.