Faculty Senate meets on code of conduct, benefit equality (Daily Beacon)

http://utdailybeacon.com/news/2013/mar/6/faculty-senate-meets-code-conduct-benefit-equality/

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UT faculty looking for new ways to get same-sex benefits (KnoxNews)

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2013/mar/05/ut-faculty-looking-for-new-ways-to-get-same-sex/

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Update from Faculty Senate Meeting

At the November faculty senate meeting (November 19) Chancellor Cheek was asked a question about the letter that he promised the Faculty Senate at the October senate meeting held on October 22.  He mentioned that he is working on the second letter and it has gone through several revisions so far.  He also mentioned that the KNS misquoted him by writing that he said the letter would be released “in two weeks.”  He said Monday that he actually said, “in a few weeks.”

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Cheek apologizes to UT faculty for domestic partner benefits letter

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/oct/22/jimmy-cheek-apologizes-to-ut-faculty-for-partner/

“We understand your frustration, and we’re sorry the letter may have come across as dismissive. It certainly wasn’t intended that way,” Cheek said. “We have been and will continue to work with Faculty Senate leadership on this issue.”

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UT faculty members unhappy with response to same-sex benefits proposal

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/sep/25/ut-faculty-members-unhappy-with-response-to-same/

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RESOLUTION TO THE UTK FACULTY SENATE – Support for Benefit Equality at UT

RESOLUTION TO THE UTK FACULTY SENATE – Support for Benefit Equality at UTK

Click to access 2-LGBT-benefit-equality-resolution-2_161.pdf

Presented by the Benefits and Professional Development Committee

Whereas, members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) Community contribute daily to the life of the university, and

Whereas, the University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its employment programs and services providing equal consideration for employment without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, and

Whereas, all employees of the University of Tennessee should enjoy the benefits associated with their employment without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, and

Whereas, such benefit equality will strengthen the University of Tennessee’s ability to attract and retain stellar faculty and staff in accordance with the VolVision / Top 25 efforts, and

Whereas, such benefit equality will promote a climate of civility on the University of Tennessee campus, and

Whereas, the University of Tennessee Faculty Senate has a history of supporting the University’s LGBT Community, including passing a resolution supporting the inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected category in the University of Tennessee’s personnel policies in 2003, and passing a resolution supporting the creation of a “safe zone” in 2008, and

Whereas, the University of Tennessee provides some benefits to LGBT partners (a dual career couple assistance program (“spousal hire”), access to recreational facilities and library privileges), as documented in the addendum Domestic Partner Benefits at the Top 25 Public Universities and

Whereas, the University has made progress in terms of support for LGBT people, including establishing the Chancellor’s Commission for LGBT People (2006), implementation of the Safe Zone Program (2009) and the creation of OUTreach: LGBT and Ally Resource Center (2010)

Therefore, be it resolved that
The University of Tennessee Faculty Senate supports benefit equality, where all benefits associated with employment at the University of Tennessee are extended to all employees as appropriate to their employment status, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, and that

Benefit equality specifically includes, but is not limited to:
1. health insurance benefits for the domestic partners of LGBT employees on a basis equal to those extended to the spouses of other employees, and
2. family leave benefits for LGBT employees for the care of their domestic partners and children of their domestic partners on a basis equal to those extended to other employees, and
3. educational assistance (fee waiver) benefits for the domestic partners and dependent children of LGBT employees on a basis equal to those extended to the spouses and children of other employees.
The faculty senate requests written responses from Chancellors Cheek and Arrington on the Administration’s plans for progress on benefit equality, with specific reference to the 33 items listed in the Addendum.

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