Saturday, September 14, 2002
Purdue University approves same-sex partner benefits to university employees
A story released today by the Associated Press reports that Purdue University's board of trustees approved a plan yesterday to offer full benefits to the same-sex partners of university employees.
Effective Jan. 1, same-sex partners will receive the same benefits as all other Purdue employees' spouses and dependents. The policy does not apply to unmarried partners of the opposite sex.
Under the change, same-sex partners will receive medical insurance, tuition fee remissions, dependent life insurance, personal accident insurance and access to university programs, services and facilities.
''One year ago, a task force of faculty and staff recommended that we adopt this change to remain competitive with other universities that had offered same-sex domestic partner benefits,'' said Kenneth Burns, executive vice president and treasurer.
Seven Big Ten universities, including Purdue, now offer benefits to same-sex partners. Indiana University adopted similar policies earlier this year.
