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More lactation centers for breastfeeding mothers was one need identified during town hall meetings held this past spring by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Another was education for supervisors to ensure support across campus for employees wishing to use these facilities.

Progress is being made on both fronts, and women employees and students are being asked to provide ideas and suggestions in an online survey that is being conducted through Aug. 8.

“We are working with Campus Planning and Facilities Programming to identify sites across campus to accommodate breastfeeding faculty, staff and students,” says Linda DeRocher, who co-chairs the CSW lactation Services committee with Lee Vucovich.

To access the survey and add your suggestions click here. A link also is contained in a targeted announcement to be distributed via BlazerNET.

“We’re going to start out with three and assess how they are received and used. We’re still in the planning stages, but the goal is to have these centers ready and available by spring 2008,” DeRocher said. “While we haven’t yet finalized what will be in these spaces, we do promise a comfortable chair, a relaxing atmosphere and privacy and security for mom.”

Human Resources also is working with the commission to develop a statement of understanding about the need for lactation centers on campus so employers and co-workers will have an understanding of the mother’s need to pump and an idea of the time needed to do so.

UAB has two lactation centers. One is located in Russell Building Room 110 and another in Jefferson Tower in rooms N503G and N503J.