Resolution 00405-SU-005
A Resolution Commending the University for Extending University Health Benefits to the Domestic Partners of Faculty, Staff, and Students at Ohio State
Sponsor: The Executive Committee
Approved 6 August 2004
WHEREAS the Council of Graduate Students has supported extending university health benefits to the domestic partners of students since 1993, passing resolutions to this effect every year since 1994; and
WHEREAS the student leadership at Ohio State has worked extensively on this issue for the past several years, including successfully passing a resolution at the University Senate in 2002 calling upon the Board to approve this policy; and
WHEREAS on 9 July 2004 the Ohio State Board of Trustees passed a resolution extending health benefits to the domestic partners of faculty, staff, and funded graduate students and their children equal to the benefits available to married couples and their children; and
WHEREAS the policy allows unfunded students to purchase dependent coverage plans in the student health insurance program for their domestic partners and their children; and
WHEREAS providing domestic partner benefits will not only improve the public health but also improve the University's position in competitive recruitment and retention of outstanding graduate students, faculty, and staff; and
WHEREAS this accomplishment is the due to the efforts of several individuals at Ohio State,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students thanks the OSU Board of Trustees for approving this policy which recognizes the value that the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community bring to Ohio State; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students commends Larry M. Lewellen, Associate Vice President for Human Relations; William H. Hall, Vice President for Student Affairs; and Barbara R. Snyder, Executive Vice President and Provost, for their support of domestic partner benefits at Ohio State; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students especially thanks Board Chairman Tami Longaberger for demonstrating her commitment to Ohio State and its faculty, staff, and students, both current and future, by supporting domestic partner benefits and by allowing this policy to come to a Board of Trustees vote; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students especially thanks President Karen A. Holbrook for her commitment to diversity; for championing the treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender faculty, staff, and students at Ohio State as valued and respected members of the University community; and for succeeding where her predecessors in the President's Office could not; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of Graduate Students calls upon the President of the Council to read this resolution at the next meeting of the University Senate, to communicate this resolution to the Board of Trustees, and to widely disseminate this resolution to members of the University administration, faculty, and staff.