NORMAL -- Heartland Community College leaders are postponing discussion whether to offer benefits to unmarried couples, but a decision must be made by July.

Financial chief Rob Widmer said he would report "mixed reaction" to a review board looking at insurance options.

Board chairman Gregg Chadwick said some other colleges have successfully incorporated critical benefits for same-sex and unmarried opposite-sex couples.

"I would prefer we not include domestic partners," said trustee Jac Copes during Tuesday's board meeting. He said his wasn't a moral position, but marriage is clearly defined by law.

An Illinois Community College survey showed that nine of 29 responding colleges provide domestic partner benefits; five of the nine offer benefits to same-sex partners; and four of the nine offer benefits to same-sex and opposite-sex partners.

Widmer said the review team is leaning toward a state model that provides benefits to only same-sex partners, because opposite-sex domestic partners have the option to marry.

At the same meeting, Dana Rosenberg, Heartland's director of institutional research and planning, said the college is making satisfactory progress on its strategic plan for 2008-2012.

Goals are in the areas of finance, quality improvement, academic quality, and cultural understanding.