In March 2006, the UAB Commission on the Status of Women held five town-hall meetings at varying times in various locations across campus to reach the largest body of interested women possible. Approximately 150 women attended to discuss the things UAB could and should do to better serve this population.
Each committee met to examine those concerns and recommendation actions to be considered by commission members. The findings of the town-hall meetings were discussed at the general meeting on April 12, 2006, and a summary is listed here.
Services already were in place at the university that addressed many of the concerns raised, but little was known about them. The need for greater publicity and greater access to information about these services across campus was evident.
Committee recommendations include the following:
- Representation and Compensation
Analyze data on the length of time women/men spend within each rank/grade before promotion; the compensation women/men receive within each rank/grade; the retention rate for women/men within each rank/grade.
Hold employee meetings and conduct an employee survey to assess women’s perception of their employment status and professional opportunities at UAB and initiatives to optimize the UAB professional environment for women.
- Campus Climate and Environment
Child Care
Seek partnerships with commercial providers to expand the UAB Child Care Center.
Increase the age limit at the UAB Child Care Center to include children up to age 12.
Provide child care for mildly ill children during school holidays and evening classes.
Provide student tuition assistance for child care.
Provide discounts at the UAB Child Care Center based on employee salary.
Capitalize on opportunities for student training and professional development at the UAB Child Care Center through partnerships with the UAB School of Education, the Maternal and Child Health Department in the School of Public Health and other appropriate units.
Parental Leave
Institute a maternity leave policy that does not run concurrent with sick leave for birth, adoptive and foster parents and legal guardians.
Train department heads and administrative managers on UAB family-leave policies.
Clearly post policies for employee and family leave on pertinent UAB Web sites.
Lactation Accommodations
Increase the number of lactation centers from the two currently in the UAB Medical Center, expanding locations to include all areas of campus.
Establish a set of procedures and guidelines for lactation center use, particularly in the areas of cleanliness, security, and scheduling.
In collaboration with the UAB Department of Women and Infants Services, offer orientations for nursing mothers, managers and supervisors.
Safety
Increase the number of crime-prevention programs.
Work with the UAB Police Department’s Patrol Operations Division to increase the number and presence of officer patrols around the campus (especially the Business and Engineering Complex, Spencer Honors House, Alys Stephens Center, Humanities Building, Education Building, and Physical Science Building), parking lots (especially the deck between Volker Hall and the Hill University Center) and the medical district.
Expand efforts to inform the UAB community about safety via crime-prevention workshops, Web sites, brochures, display booths and evening programs.
In collaboration with UAB departments and units, raise awareness about Date Rape/Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) classes.
- Communications and Outreach
Work on improved access to information by adding quick links to university resources on the Commission’s Web site and by working with key departments on campus to highlight information on the Web and in campus publications.
Seek volunteers to serve as a resource for new employees and work with Human Resources to enhance the new employee orientation program at the department level.
Work with the UAB Police Department to post Campus Watch notifications and incident reports on the Commission’s Web site and to highlight other campus crime-education services on the Web and in publications.
Work with Human Resources to highlight existing workshops related to negotiation skills, financial planning and investments, planning for retirement, time management, etc., and to implement new workshops as necessary.
- Membership
Add an alternate member for Divisions.