In addition to approving health care benefit plans for 2016, the Board of Regents (BOR) also approved two professional degree programs, two endowed school chairs, and several faculty appointments for Georgia Tech at its August 12 meeting.

The BOR approved the establishment of a professional master’s degree program in manufacturing leadership, as well as one in sustainable electrical energy. The manufacturing leadership program is designed for those who hold a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering, have at least one year of working experience, and seek advancement to leadership positions in manufacturing. The sustainable electrical energy program is designed for working engineers in the electrical energy and power industry and will be cohort based.

Faculty 

The Board also approved the establishment of two new faculty chairs: the William H. Harrison Chair in the School of Architecture, and the Garry Betty/V Foundation Chair and GRA Eminent Scholar in Cancer Nanotechnology in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Scott Marble was approved to hold the Harrison Chair, and Ravindra Kane to hold the Betty Chair.

In addition to these two appointments, the following faculty appointments were also approved at the August 12 meeting:

• Vivek Ghosal, Mary S. and Richard B. Inman Jr. Professorship in Economics
• Stanislav Emelianov, Joseph M. Pettit Chair and GRA Eminent Scholar in Electrical and Computer Engineering 
• Ayanna Howard, Linda J. and Mark C. Smith Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering 

Facilities

As Tech looks toward the renovation of the Van Leer Building, the Board approved the appointment of BLDGS Inc., Atlanta, as the design firm for the Interdisciplinary Design Commons project. The project received a $3.2 million gift from Texas Instruments in April, and will include a new maker space and outdoor plaza for students of all majors and levels of study. 

In addition, the Board voted to allow for Campus Services to lease space to the west of campus on Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard. The space will provide service and storage facilities for trade shops, vehicle parking, and vehicle maintenance, and will allow for existing space on 14th Street to instead be used for the Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute and Boeing Research Center.  

Benefits and Retirement

The BOR approved health care plans and premiums for 2016. All premiums will see a slight increase, though not as large as increases in recent years. More information on plans and premiums is available online at www.c.gatech.edu/benefits2016.

Changes were also made for University System of Georgia (USG) retirees over the age of 65. Medicare-eligible retirees age 65 and over and Medicare-eligible dependents age 65 and older will enroll in their supplemental health care coverage and receive the USG health care benefit in a new way in 2016. Medicare Part A and B will provide primary coverage the same as today. Supplemental coverage will be provided through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, and USG will deposit money into a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) for retirees and/or dependents to use toward premiums and other eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses.

The BOR approved the USG HRA funding of $2,736 per year or $228 per month per 65 and older Medicare-eligible retiree and any 65 and older Medicare-eligible covered dependent(s). In order to receive the USG HRA funding, the retiree and/or dependent must be enrolled in coverage through the USG plan in 2015 and must purchase coverage through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange in 2016.

To learn more, visit www.c.gatech.edu/usgretiree, or attend an informational meeting on Friday, August 21, at 10 a.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.