Dear President McRobbie: I respectfully request that you suspend the implementation of the IU Health Engagement Program until a thorough and public review of the program is completed. Aspects of the program have raised serious concerns for many of the faculty and staff. These include its development, many of its details, and its implications for the future of health care and health insurance for IU employees. If the plan is implemented as scheduled, the effect will be widespread anger and disillusionment in the short term and considerable damage to the morale of staff and faculty in the long term.

We share with you the recognition of the debilitating budgetary impact that rapidly increasing health care costs present. We are confident that by working together, the faculty, staff, and administration can revise the plan so that it is more effective in addressing budgetary issues while being respectful of the spirit of collegiality and thoughtfulness that maintain IU's standard of excellence.

David Fisher, Math, IUB (fisherdm@indiana.edu) Chuck Livingston, Math, IUB (livingst@indiana.edu)