Purdue University approves same-sex benefits

The Purdue University board of trustees approved a plan Friday to offer full benefits to the same-sex partners of university employees. Effective January 1, same-sex partners will receive the same benefits as all other Purdue employees' spouses and dependents. The policy change does not apply to opposite-sex nonmarried partners.

"One year ago a task force of faculty and staff recommended that we adopt this change to remain competitive with other universities that had offered same-sex domestic-partner benefits," said university spokesman Kenneth P. Burns.

Under the change, same-sex partners will receive medical insurance, tuition fee remissions, dependent life insurance, personal accident insurance, and access to university programs, services, and facilities.