Domestic partner benefits: ‘We will keep trying’

To the disappointment of UW–Madison administrators, faculty and staff, a provision authorizing domestic partner benefits was not included in the final state budget, Although the overall budget picture was largely positive for both UW–Madison and UW System, the exclusion of benefits was a setback for a faculty and staff committee that spent numerous hours on the issue during the past year.

The item was not included because it was deemed a “non-fiscal policy” item that did not make its way into the final compromise deal.

“This has been a long and difficult road,” says Provost Patrick Farrell. “But we’ve been in this position before. I want the campus community to know that we’re making our best effort on this issue and that our advocacy will not end here. We will keep trying.”

Farrell and Chancellor John Wiley have consistently argued that not being able to offer benefit puts UW–Madison at a competitive disadvantage with peer institutions. UW–Madison is the only Big Ten university, and one of only two universities among statutorily set peer research institutions, that does not offer this benefit.

In addition to pursuing the state budget process, UW–Madison has also explored numerous alternate routes, both publicly and privately, to achieve the same effect.

Legislative efforts on the issue will continue, says Laurie Beth Clark, vice provost for faculty and staff programs and campus coordinator on the issue.

“We continue to express our appreciation to those who have supported domestic partner benefits to this point,” she says. “We remain optimistic that we will find another way.”