Social Security

Although a formal vote remains to be taken among all the employees of the College, it appears from the preliminary canvass of faculty and staff sentiment that Dartmouth will soon participate in the Social Security coverage which the recently amended law now extends to non-profit institutions. Two conditions for participation are the waiving of the College's exemption from the employers' social security tax (which the Trustees so voted at their fall meeting) and the acceptance of the program by at least two-thirds of the employees of the College, a group numbering approximately one thousand counting academic, non-academic and associated personnel.

Of the 872 replies received to date in the Bursar's preliminary survey, 94% were in favor of participation, and since this constitutes 80% of all employees involved, formal acceptance by the necessary twothirds seems assured. The formal vote is planned for early December, with the hope that the new program can be put into operation by the first of the year.

The problem of how to integrate Social Security with the College's present Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association plan and the Equitable group annuity plan for non-academic employees is something that is now under study. To assist the College's financial officers in working this out, President Dickey has reactivated the faculty advisory committee which did such a commendable job two years ago when the expanded retirement program for all Dartmouth employees was adopted.

The possible forms of integration will provide a good workout for the committee members. The MAGAZINE will content itself with reporting the final decision when it is reached, and at that time will present some of the financial details involved in the combined retirement programs.