It's easy to focus on the ways new parents in academe are not supported, because by and large we are not. But I want to give some kudos to my dean and school, where the following accommodations have been made for me and others, and also begin a larger conversation about what we DO have working on our side at different institutions.
1. I was due to give birth in April, toward the end of our spring semester, so I was allowed to pick someone with whom to co-teach and that person subsequently took over my course when I went on leave (and earned my undying devotion - especially because I ended up going on leave and delivering my son a month early ...).
2. Our school recently moved into a new building, and my dean made sure there were family restrooms and a lactation room built into the plans. Did I use the lactation room when I returned to campus last semester? No, I used my office. But it was there - and sent a clear message about my school's values.
3. I have been allowed to phone in to meetings on days when I do not have childcare, and this has worked well for me even though it has meant that I rarely see some of my colleagues who only come to campus on the days I don't. I know for sure that my administration supports my ability to call in when I can't be there. It's better than not participating in committees or task forces at all, right? However, let me temper my enthusiasm for this practice with a dose of candor: No child under the age of 3 is going to behave while you are on the phone. In fact, my son seems to know when my phone call is work-related because he saves his best monkey screams just for the occasion. So while phoning in can work, it can also be stressful and embarrassing. I made sure that the two times I was phoning in to dissertation defenses, both were during his nap time.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Discussing what our institutions are doing right is very important, but I am struck by how many of these accomodations are left to the discretion of a dean, department chair, and/or colleagues. What happens if these people are unhappy at the idea of a tenure-track faculty having a child? Would you get the same accomodations? Do you feel any backlash?
Jaime, I agree - it's all discretionary and if a dean or dept chair doesn't value parenting or parent rights then of course there is no recourse for faculty other than changing institutions. And yes, I think regardless of what a dean or dept chair does other faculty can make life difficult anyway if they are not happy having a new parent bring a child to campus. Plus, deans and dept chairs are only in their positions so long. What happens when new administrators come in who don't share the values of their predecessors?
Post a Comment