Briefs

Brick project will pave Clairmont Campus
University Housing is offering everyone in the Emory community an opportunity to make a rock-solid (literally) contribution to the University’s landscape by purchasing an engraved brick to be laid in the plaza of the new Clairmont Campus.

The plaza will be a focal point of the new campus, and the engraved bricks will serve as a lasting tribute to either employees themselves or anyone they wish to honor with a brick.

Bricks are $60 each and can be engraved with two lines with up to 14 characters per line. For more information or to receive an order form, call 404-712-8915.

Alternative Transportation meeting to discuss bicycle map
The Office of Alternative Transportation and the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign (ABC) will hold a meeting Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in room 355 of the Dobbs Center to begin work on a bicycle map of the Emory area.

The final map would show existing roads around Emory that are best suited to bicycle travel. Members of the Emory community are invited to attend and help identify and rank roadways, as well as provide other information that might be suitable for the final product, such as various bicycle commuting and safety tips. Base maps and color markers will be provided.

For more information,contact David Crites at (404-634-8937) or Dennis Hoffarth at (404-881-1112).

Early decision applications up
According to the Office of Admission, 20 percent more students (535) applied to Emory College this year during the first round of early decision than applied last year (442). This year, 370 students (69 percent) were admitted during this first phase; last year 329 (74.4) percent of applicants were admitted.

A second-round of early-decision applications were due Jan. 1; acceptance decisions on that group will be mailed on Feb. 1.

Round one early-decision applicants have an average SAT of 1318, an average ACT of 34 and a GPA of 3.82, all of which are up from last year, according to the admission office. The geographic distribution of early decision applicants is very similar to those who applied early last year: Southeast, 36 percent (Ga., 18 percent); Middle Atlantic, 35 percent (N.Y., 18), Midwest, 11 percent; New England, 7 percent; Southwest, 4 percent; West, 6 percent; and international, 1.5 percent.

Retirement plan changes for 2002
According to Human Resources, there have been several recent changes in the laws affecting employer-sponsored retirement plans. The changes have the potential to impact employees in all tax brackets with numerous opportunities for increased savings.

The major change is an increase in the amount employees can contribute on a before-tax basis to a qualified retirement plan. The limit in 2002 is $11,000. Limits will increase each year until they reach $15,000 for 2006. The changes also include “catch-up provisions” that enable employees age 50 and over to make additional contributions.

In 2002, the catch-up amount is $1,000.

Other Emory Retirement Plan changes effective in 2002 include:

• All employees will be able to tax defer up to $11,000 or 100 percent of salary, whichever is less. Previously, the maximum allowance was based on salary, prior contributions and years of service.

• The compensation that is eligible for retirement contributions increases from $170,000 to $200,000.

• The maximum contribution that can be made to a retirement plan changes to 100 percent of salary or $40,000, whichever is less. Previously, it was the lesser of 25 percent of salary or $35,000.

• Employees will be permitted to roll over money from another 403(b) plan into the Emory Retirement Plan.

• The suspension of retirement plan contributions for employees with hardship withdrawals will be reduced from 12 months to six months.

For more information about retirement plans, contact the HR benefits office at 404-727-7613.