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University employees will take up the domestic partner benefits discussion again this week.

A resolution that would have extended benefits such as health-care coverage to domestic partners failed in the University Senate’s benefits committee last month.

On Thursday, Senator David Zimmer, assistant economics professor, will give his report on the overall status of the resolution at the senate’s meeting in the Faculty House at 3:45 p.m.

President Gary Ransdell said the senate will try to revisit the issue once Western settles a few contract issues involving a third-party health care administrator.

Zimmer’s report will include the vote count as well as other information regarding how the benefits committee voted.

More than 300 colleges offer benefits to domestic partners, according to the domestic partner benefits resolution.

According to the resolution, if Western doesn’t offer such benefits, the school’s overall ability to recruit and retain employees will be hindered.

The resolution states that Western’s Strategic Plan calls for implementing benefits that are competitive with similar institutions.

The Strategic Plan involves improving Western’s academic experience through strengthening students, faculty and programs.

Domestic partner benefit programs have withstood political and legal challenges at the other Kentucky institutions, according to the resolution.

The resolution was presented to the University Senate at the May 14 meeting, according to the meeting’s minutes.

At that meeting, there were 38 votes in favor of the resolution on the grounds that it’s the competitive or constitutionally-sound thing to do.

Patricia Minter was one of the 38 votes.

“I whole-heartedly support domestic partner benefits,” said Minter, associate history professor and faculty regent. “It’s the competitive thing to do nationally, and it’s very important to faculty improvement.”

Six voted against the resolution, citing reasons such as Kentucky state law doesn’t recognize domestic partners as legal spouses or citing their individual religious beliefs.

After that vote, the resolution went to the senate’s benefits committee where it didn’t pass.

Ransdell said he wants the committees to consider domestic partner benefits based on data and not allow themselves to let personal opinion or bias affect their decisions.