The University Council this week will consider a proposal that would allow domestic partners of university employees to receive certain benefits that are extended by UGA to spouses and dependents of employees.
The council will meet April 21 at 3:30 p.m. in room 101 of the Student Learning Center. Council meetings are open to the public but only elected council members can speak and vote.
The proposal, from the council’s Faculty Benefits Committee, would allow domestic partners to receive so-called “soft benefits” that are administered by the university. Such benefits could include use of certain campus facilities and access to discount and assistance programs. Benefits administered by the University System of Georgia, such as health and dental care and retirement plans, are not part of the proposal.
The committee defines domestic partners as people in a relationship “in which a person resides with, is financially interdependent upon and shares the common necessities of life with” a UGA employee. Dependent children of domestic partners would also be eligible for the soft benefits.
Benefit recipients would pay the normal cost for privileges and services so the benefits program, which would be administered by Human Resources, would not result in additional costs to the university, the committee says.
The council will also receive as an information item the report of an ad hoc committee charged with creating a policy to govern dissolution and reorganization of colleges, schools, divisions and departments. Council members may discuss-but will not vote on-the report, which will be reviewed by the council’s Curriculum Committee before it comes before the council for action.
Other items on the agenda include a proposed change to the drop/add policy, the proposed 2006-2007 academic calendar and a proposed policy on extended education.
