Resolution 7 Dental and Vision Insurance Coverage Resolution Approved May 5, 2003

Whereas 1,650 Cornell graduate and professional students responded to the Pay and Benefits Survey of April 2003;

Whereas, 1,490 graduate and professional students, representing 90.1% of respondents, currently do not have any insurance coverage for dental care; and

Whereas, 1,540 graduate and professional students, representing 93.1% of respondents, currently do not have any insurance coverage for vision care; and

Whereas, 1,330 graduate and professional students, representing 80.4% of respondents, reported having delayed basic dental care because of cost and at least 506 graduate and professional students, representing 30.6% of respondents, reported having delayed more extensive dental care because of cost; and

Whereas, 954 graduate and professional students, representing 57.6% of respondents, reported having delayed eye exams and/or the purchases of new corrective lenses because of cost; and

Whereas, 1,509 graduate and professional students, representing 91.2% of respondents reported that it would be useful to them if Cornell offered dental insurance that would cover most of the cost of basic dental care; and

Whereas, 1,370 graduate and professional students, representing 82.8% of respondents reported that it would be useful to them if Cornell offered dental insurance that would cover most of the cost of basic dental care and more extensive dental work; and

Whereas, 1,391 graduate and professional students, representing 84.1% of respondents reported that it would be useful to them if Cornell offered vision insurance that would cover most of the cost of eye exams and corrective lenses; and

Whereas, the American Dental Association recommends that individuals visit their dentist at least once a year for an exam and professional cleaning; and

Whereas, the American Optometric Association recommends that adults between the ages of 18 and 40 get an eye exam at least every two to three years; and

Whereas, members of GPSA and CASE/UAW have circulated a petition asking the Cornell administration provide dental and vision coverage for graduate and professional students; and

Whereas, 58 students have circulated this petition; and

Whereas, 1319 graduate and professional students have signed this petition (attached);

Be it therefore resolved, that the GPSA requests Cornell University pay the premiums for comprehensive dental and vision insurance for all graduate and professional students; and

Be it further resolved, that the GPSA requests that these funds be made available, resorting to neither a decrease in stipends or fellowships nor an increase in the amount of funds required from research grants.

Respectfully Submitted,

The Pay and Benefits Committee

Andrea Azuma — Nutritional Sciences Rebecca Fishman — Policy Analysis and Management Sam Flaxman — Neurobiology and Behavior Gerod Hall — Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Lauren B. Mangiola — Chemical Engineering Joan Moriarty — Labor Economics Cate Taylor — Human Development Robb Willer — Sociology Farbod Zadeh — Nutritional Sciences