Student Spouse Privileges and International Student Same-Sex Domestic Partner Registration and Privileges

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Vanderbilt University extends certain privileges to students’ spouses who are not enrolled at Vanderbilt. These same privileges are extended to the same-sex domestic partners of international students (whose countries prohibit same-sex marriage), who are not enrolled at Vanderbilt and who, on an annual basis, register with the Dean of Students/Student Affairs Administration. Such benefits include the following:

  • Eligibility for Commodore Card identification, and, upon payment of appropriate activation and other fees, access to a number of services.
  • Eligibility for discounted movie tickets and certain free/discounted event tickets through Sarratt Box Office.
  • Reading and borrowing privileges at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library system. (Privileges may vary from library to library.)
  • Eligibility for validation of ID for admission to athletic events though the Athletics Ticket Office.
  • Eligibility for certain general discounts offered to Vanderbilt affiliates by Vanderbilt Human Resources http://hr.vanderbilt.edu/benefits/perqs.php.
  • Eligibility to establish access to a declining-balance account for use with the Commodore Card for purchases in dining facilities, laundry machines, copiers and printers, vending machines, and other locations that allow payment with a Commodore Card.

The Process

For Married Couples:

The student and his/her/their spouse present their marriage certificate to the Card Services office to obtain a Vanderbilt ID for the spouse.

If at some point the marriage is dissolved, the student must notify the Dean of Students/Student Affairs Administration within 60 calendar days, and the non-student spouse must return the Commodore Card issued to him/her/them to the Dean of Students/Student Affairs Administration (Sarratt 310).

For International Student Same-Sex Domestic Partners

  1. The international student and his/her/their same-sex domestic partner visit the Dean of Students/Student Affairs Administration office (Sarratt 310), each in possession of state- or federally-issued identification.
    1. A state driver's license or non-driver ID; passport; a federal ID such as a military identification card, state, county or local government ID; or lawful permanent resident cards (often called "green cards")
  2. The International student and his/her/their same-sex domestic partner complete an affidavit affirming that they meet the following criteria:
    1. that they are not related by blood in a manner that would prohibit them from being married under Tennessee state law.
      1. Tennessee code states, “Marriage cannot be contracted with a lineal ancestor or descendant, nor the lineal ancestor or descendant of either parent, nor the child of a grandparent, nor the lineal descendants of husband or wife, as the case may be, nor the husband or wife of a parent or lineal descendant.” Tennessee Code Annotated § 36-3-101 (2017)
    2. that they are at least 18 years of age.
      1. For spousal or domestic partnerships involving a student or partner under the age of 18, the student and partner and parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the person(s) under 18 must meet with the Dean of Students or Dean’s designee for a review of the proposed registration.
    3. that they are not legally married to anyone else.
    4. that they reside in a common household and share responsibility for the household.
  3. Upon completion of the affidavit, a University representative notarizes it, photocopies the affidavit and identification, and provides paper or digital copies to the student and partner and Vanderbilt Card Services. 
  4. The student and his/her/their partner then visit Vanderbilt Card Services together in order to obtain a Commodore Card for the registered partner.
  5. If at some point the domestic partnership is dissolved, the student must notify the Dean of Students/Student Affairs Administration within 60 calendar days, and the non-student partner must return the Commodore Card issued to him/her/them to the Dean of Students/Student Affairs Administration (Sarratt 310).

Further Considerations

Consistent with the practice of Vanderbilt Card Services, all spouses (partners) are required to re-register annually to renew the card and to continue these benefits.