At tonight's meeting, Graduate Student Senate President Tracy Kelly will deliver the details of yesterday's meeting with Ohio University's provost about domestic partner benefits.
(The meeting) went very well
Kelly said. (Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit) presented an option ... where graduate students on contract would have educational benefits for not only their spouses but for same and opposite sex domestic partners in keeping with Ohio University's domestic partner policy.
Kelly plans to explain the fine print of the new policy that would take effect to the senate.
To me at this point it does look like it's going to address the equity issue that we were concerned about she said. I am very happy that domestic partners are going to be eligible for this provision.
The new policy would give the same educational benefits to the domestic partners of graduate students that their spouses currently share.
All along
the issue for (the provost)
ever since it has been brought to her attention
was trying to find a solution that made sense
said Ann Fidler, interim associate provost for strategic initiatives. The solution ... she is proposing to do is create a new
separate policy for that educational opportunity for graduate students who are under contract
The final total of signatures for the petition was 527, Kelly said.
(The new policy) is due in large part to the petition and to the efforts of the 527 people who signed it
she said. I am very grateful to the students
faculty and staff who supported it.
Kelly said she is very pleased with the efforts that everyone has put forth.
We have very high hopes that this new policy that will extend domestic partner educational provisions to graduate students will be in effect by the fall
she said.
