UW–Madison Domestic Partnership Policy
Current as of March 2008
Policy
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to diversification of the student body, faculty and staff and to serving the needs of those groups. Given this commitment, it is critical that all members of the student body, faculty, and staff be accorded equal treatment. In that light, domestic partners of students, faculty, and staff are entitled to access all services (as allowed by State law and the University of Wisconsin) extended to spouses.
Approved by Peter Spear, Provost, on May 6, 2002, after consultation with student, faculty,
non-represented classified and academic staff governance bodies.
Criteria to Determine Domestic Partner Status for Purpose of this Policy
"Domestic partners" are a pair of individuals who:
are in a relationship of mutual support, caring, and commitment and intend to maintain the relationship;
are currently not legally married to anyone;
are not currently considered to be the domestic partner with anyone else under this or any other domestic partnership agreement;
are at least 18 years of age or are emancipated minors;
are not related by blood to a degree that would bar marriage in the state of Wisconsin; and
have at least two of the following (and can provide documentation if requested):
domestic partnership agreement, including, but not limited to, legal registration of a domestic partner relationship with a local, state, federal, or foreign government
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joint mortgage, lease, or title; or the individuals currently share the same residence and intend to do so indefinitely
designation of domestic partner as beneficiary for life insurance or retirement contract
durable property or healthcare powers of attorney
joint ownership of motor vehicle, joint checking account, or joint credit account.
How to Access Services
Employees/students who wish to document a domestic partner relationship have two options.
- Complete the UW–Madison Declaration of Domestic Partnership form and present it to the UW-Madison unit providing the services.
- Meet the individual unit’s requirements for declaring a domestic partnership. Although UW–Madison units also accept the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form (see Exceptions below), they may continue to use other means of determining a domestic partnership as an alternative for the employee/student — provided they do not use criteria that are more stringent than those listed above.
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Exceptions
There may be units requiring additional proof of partnership and/or affidavit (for example, under the Student Health Insurance Program) if required by an outside entity.
For more information about this policy, contact the LGBT Campus Center (Eric Trekell) at 265-2480 or the Office of Human Resources at 265-2257.
Services and Benefits Available
Listed below are examples of services, benefits and facilities available to partners and spouses of students and/or employees of UW–Madison. For more information about each service, visit their Web sites. Services are subject to change without notice.
Athletic Department: There is a policy allowing transfer of season football tickets to a spouse or domestic partner. See uwbadgers.com/.
Dual-Career Couple Assistance Program: Deans and directors may make efforts to find a position for the partner or spouse of a person being hired into a faculty or academic staff position.
Employee Compensation and Benefits provides information on the Employee Benefit Programs that provide coverage for a spouse or domestic partner. New: See also ETF Domestic Partner Benefits Q&A for information regarding domestic partner health insurance benefits.
Libraries: The Memorial Library issues courtesy library cards to spouses, domestic partners, and children of UW–Madison faculty and staff. UW–Madison campus libraries accept these cards issued at Memorial Library for borrowing privileges.
Non-Resident Tuition Remission for Domestic Partners: An individual who moves to Wisconsin as a result of his/her domestic partner's full-time employment at the UW–Madison, or an individual who is a dependent of someone who moved to Wisconsin as a result of his/her domestic partner's full-time employment at the UW–Madison, may be eligible for up to a one-year remission of non-resident tuition. After one year of residence within the state of Wisconsin and after it is determined that the individual did not move here for educational purposes, the individual would be eligible to apply for in-state tuition under Wisconsin Statute 36.27(2).
Complete the Employment Verification form and the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form and submit both forms (and any supporting documentation) to the Office of the Registrar, Residence Counselors Office, 333 East Campus Mall, Room 10301, Madison, WI 53715; phone: (608) 262-1355.
Recreational Sports Facilities: Spouse/Domestic Partner passes are available at the Natatorium, Nielsen Tennis Stadium and the Shell.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): Provides comprehensive local and nationwide health care coverage for students' domestic partners and spouses.
University Health Services: Students may enroll their spouses or domestic partners for all the UHS prepaid services that are currently available to students.
University Housing: Housing is available to graduate students and employees with spouses or partners.