Updated: Dec. 3, 2015 at 11:15 a.m.

A task force addressing the future of University employees’ benefits released a report with six main recommendations for GW officials to consider when reviewing benefits for staff.

The task force, which was created by University President Steven Knapp last December, was comprised of faculty, staff and administrators who worked over the last year to consider the University’s best options for employees’ health, retirement, paid leave and tuition benefits, and to restructure the University’s fringe pool.

Some of the major recommendations for benefits included extending staff leave breaks by three days and allowing all staff the opportunity to earn a tuition-free bachelor degree if they do not have one.

The task force also called for the commission of an internal human resources review and a “benefits navigator” to give employees a central point of contact when they have questions about their benefits.

Members of the task force presented the findings of the report during a meeting open to faculty and staff Tuesday, according to a University release. Task force co-chairs John Kosky and Sara Rosenbaum led the presentation.

Sabrina Ellis, the vice president of human resources, said during an introduction to the presentation that rather than propose fully-developed recommendations, the task force chose to present strongly considered options to move forward with. She said the human resources department would determine which recommendations would work best for GW employees.

Benefits have dominated conversations among staffers and faculty members since officials decreased tuition benefits by six percent last fall. In May, Knapp only chose to adopt one of the benefit task force’s short-term recommendations.

At September’s Faculty Senate meeting, Ellis announced an updated health care benefits plan that is set to roll out in January.