Same-sex partners at Iowa State will now be up for the same insurance benefits as spouses of ISU faculty and staff.

Students are also receiving health-coverage changes, as Iowa State is switching health-care providers to avoid a 30 percent hike.

The same-sex domestic partnership insurance policy, already in use by the University of Iowa, was approved for Iowa State at the Board of Regents meetings last week.

Regent universities are not required to pay for benefits to same-sex partners. The school presidents are to make the decision after consulting other administrators, faculty and staff. Coverage would only be allotted to partners meeting certain guidelines.

Both heterosexual and homosexual couples would be required to submit an affidavit certifying they are in dependent relationships for the universities to pay coverage.

Gary Wiggins, manager of staff benefits at Iowa State, said a committee will look into adopting the benefit program at the university.

“It would be the University Benefits Committee making recommendations to the university’s president, and the University Benefits Committee is made up of various administrators and representatives of various university department and employee groups,” he said.

Warren Madden, vice president for Business and Finance, will have a huge impact on the committee’s decision, Wiggins said.

“It would probably be that the committee that would make the ultimate recommendation, however the vice president for Business and Finance would have a strong say in that as it affects the cost of the University Benefits Program,” he said.

Madden was unavailable for comment, but he told the Daily in a previous article that he thinks Iowa State’s paying for same-sex benefits is good for the university.

“We always say that we encourage diversity, and this proposal is consistent with that statement,” Madden said. “In the long term, it plays a role in terms of recruiting and retaining faculty and staff.”

Wiggins said he estimates the committee will broach the subject within the next four to six weeks. If the committee submits its recommendation before President Martin Jischke leaves on Aug. 13, he will have the final say; if it’s after Aug. 14, Interim President Richard Seagrave will make the call.

Roger L. Lande, member of the Board of Regents, said the same-sex contracts would be the same as those allowed common-law, heterosexual couples.

“Heterosexual couples who are not married but who verify that they are living as husband and wife … do in fact receive the same benefits as married couples and have in fact for a long, long time.”

Homosexual couples would have to follow the same guidelines as heterosexual couples do for Iowa State to cover their benefits, he said.

“The university has a written form with heterosexual couples which say that they’re common-law married, have to sign to qualify for medical coverage … and a similar kind of certification of financial and commitment interdependence will be required of same-sex couples,” Lande said.

David J. Fisher, member of the Board of Regents, said he thinks universities paying same-sex benefits would not be in their best interests.

“I voted against it because I thought it was not good public policy for our universities to pursue, and I think long term it will be a very costly and expensive for the university, and thirdly, I didn’t think Iowans would look favorably upon this measure — particularly the Legislature,” he said.

Wiggins said the cost to Iowa State would not be substantial.

“We only have three current contracts, so it’s not a big cost item,” he said.

However, Fisher said he believes adopting the policy will lead to more couples demanding benefits and a large cost to the university in the long run.

“I think it’ll open the door for new people to go along with the policy,” he said.

The regents also voted at their meetings last week to switch student health insurance providers. Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced earlier this year that student rates would increase 30 percent this fall and 13 percent fall 2001. Iowa State is switching to G.M. Southwest, causing a rate increase of 5 percent beginning Aug. 11.

Also approved at the regent meetings:

* Iowa State’s budget for fiscal year 2001. The general fund operating budget is $397,915,455, with a 4.3 percent tuition increase. The budget shortfall will be covered partially by laying off 12 staff members and eliminating 43 vacant positions.

* the sale of 83.38 acres of ISU land to the Ames Community School District. The remaining land is subject to approval by the ISU Foundation, which currently owns it. The 122.75 total acres are to be sold for $3,068,750.

* new ISU programs, including a master’s and doctorate program in sustainable agriculture, the first in the nation.

* the ISU Presidential Search and Screen Advisory Committee, comprised of committee chairman Benjamin Allen, dean and distinguished professor of business;

* faculty representatives David Hopper, president of the ISU Faculty Senate; Max Rothschild, distinguished professor of agriculture; Roy Teas, distinguished professor of business; Jennifer Bloomer, professor of architecture; Jerry Thomas, professor and chairman of health and human performance; James Bernard, distinguished professor of engineering; Mary Littrell, professor of textiles and clothing; Mark Gordon, distinguished professor of chemistry; Susan Carpenter, professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine; and Shirley Dunlap, associate professor of music;

* dean representative Olivia Madison, dean and professor of Library Services;

* staff representatives Kerry Dixon, president of the Professional and Scientific Council; Ronald Irvin, field specialist for Cooperative Extension; and Andrew Bock, president of AFSCME local 96;

* student representatives Ben Golding, president of Government of the Student Body; Katrina Korb, president of the Honors Student Board; Brian Anderson, president of the Graduate Student Senate; and Debbie Martinez, graduate student in sociology;

* alumni representatives Peg Armstrong-Gustafson, Steve Mores, Les Omotani and Steve Zumbach;

* committee representatives, selected by President of the Board of Regents Owen Newlin, R. Kyle Phillips, farmer; James Stein, banker; and Jamie Stensland, marketing and communications and president of the ISU Alumni Association Board of Directors;

* regent ex officio Robert J. Barak, deputy executive director of the Board of Regents.