Iowa State University


Inside Iowa State
October 6, 2000

Conduct policy, insurance premiums on senate agenda

by Linda Charles
A revised conduct policy and domestic partner insurance will be on the October agenda for the Faculty Senate.

The senate will receive an update on the progress of a revised faculty conduct policy. The policy lays out both formal and informal procedures to be followed if a faculty member is accused of misconduct.

Jack Girton said the conduct policy committee, which he chairs, has begun what it hopes is the final round of discussions on the policy. Last spring, several focus groups were held to discuss the proposed policy and committee members have been working with the administration to further develop the policy.

While the latest round of revisions has not changed the basic structure and intent of the proposed policy, Girton said, some responsibilities have been shifted to the provost.

Girton will seek input from the senate on the proposed policy. The senate will vote on the policy at a later date.

At the October meeting, the senate will decide whether to endorse a new insurance benefit that would provide same-sex partners the same health care premiums provided to employee spouses.

The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, paved the way for the new insurance policy in July when it OKed a policy that gives all regents institutions the option of treating same-sex partners like spouses for health insurance purposes. One month earlier, the regents had approved a University of Iowa request to implement the same policy.

Under previous regents policy, universities could offer health insurance to same-sex partners, but employees had to pay full premiums for partners, rather than receiving the university-subsidized premiums for spouses.

Four couples participate in the current program at Iowa State, and vice president for business and finance Warren Madden said earlier this year he did not anticipate that number would increase by much.

Eligibility requirements for the same-sex health insurance would remain as they are now. Partners must meet certain requirements that demonstrate an established relationship, such as joint home ownership or binding legal contracts obligating them to financially support each other.

The senate will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, in 260 Scheman.

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Revised 10/4/00