UGA's University Council Approves Domestic Partner Benefits

After an exhaustive presentation by psychology professor Janet Frick and several impassioned, personal pleas, the University Council on Thursday approved a resolution granting spousal benefits to domestic partners at UGA.

The issue now moves to President Michael Adams, who has the final say on the matter. He said that he will "look at the legalities and the cost" and will discuss the change in the school's human resources policy with the Board of Regents.

"I will sit with colleagues and the Regents and come to some resolution," Adams said. He said he was "hedging a bit" over the "art of the doable."

Professor Frick said UGA could implement domestic partner benefits that could include health insurance and voluntary benefits, such as vision and dental, now paid for with employee contributions.

She said the school could offer a domestic partner benefits package to help cover the costs of health insurance. The cost would be about $450/month/participant, or, given the small percentage of the UGA work force such couples comprise, about $270,000 a year.

Offering these benefits matters, Frick said, because 87 percent of the Top 50 universities offer full domestic partner benefits. 

Adams said he expects to discuss the issue with the Regents "forthwith," meaning, this academic year.

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