George Mason University is known for the richness of our diverse student body - and we strive to mirror that diversity in our faculty and staff.  As the Vice President for University Life, I am committed to recruiting and retaining the best and the brightest student affairs staff from around the country.  Unfortunately the lack of equitable benefits presents a significant challenge to achieving this goal.  Without such legislation we will continue to lose valued employees to other institutions who provide such equitable benefits.

It is important to our mission as a public institution to insure that our policies and benefits are equitable to all members of our collegiate community.  Adoption of this proposal brings us closer to that goal by creating a fair and equitable climate for all kinds of families.