In its first year, the Commission on the Status of Women began to gather ideas for improving the work and academic lives of women on campus.
During 2006/07, subcommittees were formed to work with university administrators to examine four issues that frequently were raised and proposed strategies and solutions that respond to these concerns:
- Changes in parental leave
- Improvements to the UAB Child Care Center
- Availability of lactation centers, and
- Representation and compensation
The
Parental Leave subcommittee researched American universities, assessed UAB’s maternity policy and made financial projections for a full parental leave benefit, which the subcommittee has recommended.
The
Child Care Center subcommittee has recommended that a plan be developed to address the immediate needs of the center and explore the potential for a capital campaign to create a state-of-the-art child care development and research center with a consortium of academic leaders that would have a vested interest in it.
The
Lactation Centers subcommittee surveyed employees and students to
assess their opinions about existing lactation centers and their suggestions for new ones. More than 400 people responded. The group is working with Campus Planning to identify and renovate spaces for the centers so that UAB may be designated a state-certified breastfeeding-friendly workplace.
The Representation and Compensation subcommittee is gathering data on career development for women at UAB and hopes to make it available in 2008.
2007 Annual ReportA full report on the second year of activities of the UAB Commission on the Status of Women for 2006/07. (PDF)
2006 Annual ReportA full report of first-year activities and recommendations by the UAB Commission on the Status of Women in the 2005/06 fiscal year. (PDF)
Summary of RecommendationsA listing of specific recommendations that the commission and university personnel are working to fulfill.