THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ADDRESSES ISSUE OF HEALTH BENEFITS FOR FACULTY/STAFF ENGAGED IN BROADLY DEFINED DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - During his address to the UA Board of Trustees this morning, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Bob Smith said the University of Arkansas is not considering the inclusion of health benefits for faculty/staff engaged in broadly defined domestic partnerships.

"The issue of these benefits was a recommendation made as part of the UA Diversity Report released on May 27," Smith said. "Given our current economic state and the need to address other issues on campus, we are not exploring the extension of equal health benefits to faculty/staff engaged in these forms of domestic partnerships."

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Bob Smith, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (479) 575-2151, bobsmith@uark.edu

Charles A. Crowson, Manager of Media Relations, University Relations, (479) 575-3583, ccrowso@uark.edu