Looking for a job?
Don’t forget to check out the University’s
Assistantship Clearinghouse.
This site includes all kinds of assistantships and grad hourly positions.
If you know of an open position that is not on the Clearinghouse, let the GEO office know and we’ll post it here.

Graduate healthcare at the University of Illinois is spread among a variety of plans and campus units. Primary care is provided through the McKinley Health Center, which also includes a women’s health unit and some counselling facilities. The University also has a Counselling Center which provides “services that address the psychological, educational, social, and developmental needs of UIUC students.” The University charges a Health Service fee to cover the cost of these services – this is waived for Graduate Employees under the terms of the GEO contract.
Graduate students are also required to subscribe to the Student Health Insurance plan unless they obtain a waiver (because of having health insurance through another provider). Your health insurance covers (part of) the cost of hospital and specialist care – you should check the plan details, available on the Student Insurance website. Some procedures are excluded, while others are covered only to the extent required by law. You can get information in advance of treatment from the Student Insurance office: 217-333-0165.
Diabetes: Note that the Student Insurance plan claims that diabetes equipment, such as test strips, are excluded from coverage. However, due to activism by GEO members, this equipment is covered under our plan. You should contact the health insurance office (217-333-0165) to clarify your eligibility and the processes involved.
Health insurance premiums are included in the fees you are charged by the University. Graduate employees receive a subsidy towards the cost of the health insurance (something gained through GEO’s contract negotiations!). In 2007/8 the subsidy is $130. In 2008/9 it will be $140 (or 50% of the premium, whichever is higher).
Dental and vision are not covered under the main health insurance plan. However, there are separate plans which cover some of the costs of each of these. Go to the Grad College’s “Survival Guide” to learn more about your Dental Plan, and your Vision Insurance.
Prescription coverage
Our healthcare insurance does not include prescription coverage. The McKinley dispensary provides a range of common medications, some at subsidized prices, but some drugs are not available there, and others are still expensive. Since 2007 the McKinley dispensary has instituted a $5 charge for a range of drugs which had previously been provided for free.
For the past number of years the university has distributed prescription discount cards, which provide discounts on prescription medication – currently up to 15% on brand-name medications and up to 50% on generic medications. Note that the discounts are ‘up to’ these limits – discounts on individual medications can vary.

Non-university services

Illinois All Kids
Illinois offers health insurance to all children and their parents if they live in Illinois, including nonresidents. Check out the Illinois All Kids website for more information. You can also call the GEO office or the Champaign County Health Care Consumers (352-6533) with questions about health care.
I-SaveRx is a program run by the State of Illinois which can provide savings on prescription medication to residents of the state, by supplying medications through pharmacies in Canada and Europe. The program is aimed at those using medication for extended periods of time – you must fill your first 30 days’ supply locally in the United States, and must then order 3 months’ supply at a time.

Health Care Working Group

If you would like to work to improve healthcare, join the Healthcare Working Group by emailing the GEO office (geo(AT)uigeo.org). The group is currently meeting every other Friday at 1:00pm in the YMCA building. The next meeting will be on Friday, 14 March, 2008.
Graduate employees are working to improve graduate and dependent healthcare. In 2004 the Health Care Working Group completed a survey on the status of graduate healthcare at UIUC. To view the results click on the following links.
Health Care Working Group Survey Results
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C

Feel like you are working way more than you should? Maybe you are!
Did you know that our contract stipulates how many hours you should be working based on your level of assistantship? It does!
The only way to really know whether you are working too many hours and to prove it is to keep track. Download this handy Workload Tracking Sheet, fill in your hours as you go, and if after several weeks, it is apparent that you are being overworked, contact your steward or the GEO office.

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Graduate employees, spouses and undergrads have formed a caucus to advocate for improved dependent coverage and childcare resources at UIUC. Email geo(at)uigeo.org to find out how to get involved.
For grads who are also parents, here are a few resources which you may find useful…

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Make the GEO Contract Work For You
A Guide to Your Contractual Rights and How to Protect Them
2003-2006 TA/GA Contract
Contents:

1. Contract Guarantees
2. How the Grievance Procedure Works
3. Not Sure You Have A Grievance?
4. Who Has Access to the Grievance Procedure
5. How Can You Help Enforce the Contract
6. Grievance Committee Contact Information

1. Contract Guarantees 2003-2006
   The GEO contract guarantees a set of rights to graduate employees, but it also establishes a procedure for protecting those rights. Becoming familiar with the contract is the first step to making it work for you.
   Short summary:
   • Wages and Benefits
     • 3% annual pay increase
     • McKinley fee waiver and health insurance contribution during the semester you are employed
   • Hours
     • Limits on hours worked over the course of an appointment
   • Working Conditions
     • Access to the training, equipment, and space you need to do your job
     • Consistent, non-discriminatory procedures for making appointments and evaluations
     • GEO representation at any disciplinary meetings
     • and most important, enforcement with a legally binding grievance procedure…
2. How the Grievance Procedure Works
   Grievance Committee members have been trained to interpret the contract, and they evaluate when to file grievances on behalf of graduate employees. Filing a grievance simply involves contracting administrators to discuss and resolve workplace issues. The committee works with administrators according to the following steps:
   1. Immediate supervisor: “Unit Executive Officer” (UEO) (often department head)
   2. UEO’s supervisor (often a dean)
   3. Associate Provost
   4. Third-party arbitrator

   At each step, administrators have 14 days to resolve an issue or to schedule a meeting to investigate it further. Most grievances are resolved at the first few steps.
   *Note: There are time limits on using the grievance procedure. We have 30 days to initiate each step of the procedure.

3. Not Sure You Have A Grievance?
   You can contact the Grievance Committee to discuss ANY potential problem. A Committee member will meet with you to find out about your situation and recommend how to proceed. You can request a particular member to meet with – for instance a member from a specific college – and all information about your situation remains confidential.
4. Who Has Access to the Grievance Procedure
   The grievance procedure is available to ALL members of the “bargaining unit,” which includes most TAs and GAs.
5. How Can You Help Enforce the Contract
   1. Make a Habit of Keeping Records: Save notices about department policies, letters of appointment, and all paper and email correspondence about job responsibilities and performance. Use your appointment book to keep track of hours worked. Know how to access your pay records online.
   2. Apprise the Committee of Any Possible Problems: Even when the Committee doesn’t file grievances, it can document problems to help prepare for future contract negotiations.
   3. Contact the Committee Early: The contract grants 30 days to initiate each step of the grievance procedure, so contracting the Committee early ensures ample time to handle your situation.
6. Grievance Committee Contact Information
   GEO Office:
   1001 S. Wright St.
   Champaign IL, 61820
   Mail Code: MC-390
   Phone: 217.344.3283
   Fax: 217.344.8281
   Email: geo@uigeo.org
   GEO Website: http://www.uigeo.org
   Grievance Officer: Mike Lehman (acting)