Erin Sekerack, higher education administration graduate student, practices shaking hands with a fellow diner last night during an etiquette dinner hosted by the Center for Student Involvement. Students learned etiquette techniques to use during dinner and

Credit: Carl Schierhorn

Faculty Senate voted unanimously to approve a resolution supporting domestic partner benefits at its meeting Monday.

The senate voted to call upon President Carol Cartwright to propose domestic partner benefits for Kent State employees.

The resolution was based upon a Graduate Student Senate resolution by history graduate student Jeffrey Fuller.

Faculty senator Susan Roxburgh, who proposed the resolution, said she made alterations to the GSS proposal.

Cheryl Casper, president of the American Association of University Professors, Kent State Chapter, said that the AAUP has encouraged the university administration to proceed with domestic partner benefits.

“We would not object in any way if the university extended health benefits to domestic partners,” she said.

A proposal to lower GPA minimums for educational studies majors passed by a majority vote, despite several senators voicing concern of lowering standards.

Admission into the major now requires a 2.5 GPA, lowered from 2.75, and for a transfer student the minimum is now 2.0, lowered from 2.75. To graduate with an educational studies major, a student now needs a 2.5 GPA, also down from 2.75.

The senate also approved the addition of a minor program in entrepreneurship with the requirement of 21 credit hours. The minor is available to all students, not just students in the School of Business Administration. The College of Technology and the fashion merchandising program offered to participate in the program.

Provost Paul Gaston said Kent State was in negotiations with an individual to become the new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Gaston said he was unable to divulge details, saying that doing so could affect the negotiation process.

“As you know, nothing is ever certain,” he said.

Contact academic affairs reporter Derek Lenehan at [email protected].