According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, there is substantial evidence showing that female professors who have children before tenure have a lesser chance of succeeding in academia than male professors. This trend is prompting consideration and change on the parts of college and university administrators across the country. "Universities are using childcare centers as their major initiative to address gender-equity issues," Marc Goulden, a research analyst in the Graduate Division at the University of California at Berkeley, told The Chronicle.
Already, universities including George Washington University, Bowdoin College and MIT have created convenient on-campus childcare centers for the schools' employees.
Although childcare centers run by universities have existed for a long time, they differ from the centers that are currently being created on campuses. Some childcare centers used to serve mainly as teaching laboratories for schools of education, while others were created for undergraduates with children.
In contrast, the new centers at Duke University and Michigan State University are being established for the sole purpose of making life easier for faculty, staff members and graduate students. Consequently, a variety of part-time care hours are offered for the convenience of professors' schedules.
In addition to summer programs for the employees' older children, some of the centers will also offer emergency backup care for professors when their babysitters or relatives are unable to care for the children at the last minute.
Many professors at the College have found it challenging to balance research, work and childcare. "The challenge for most working women is to balance being available for students when they need to see you and for your family," said Assistant Professor of French Laure Katsaros, the mother of a one-year-old son. "The first thing was to get women into the workplace. The next big issue is to get women to stay in the workplace."
Katsaros, who was unable to get her son to stop breast-feeding, needed to return to her child every several hours. "It was basically running back and forth all the time," she said. However, she added that the difficulties are not just limited to women. "[Childcare] is also relevant to men," she said.
The Chronicle suggests that reducing the workload and responsibilities of professors may reduce the need for college-provided childcare. However, Katsaros disagreed, emphasizing the importance of time with students and research. "Research is part of your job and is extremely important in addition to teaching," said Katsaros. "It's a crucial part of the job."
Professors at the College are entitled to a one-semester leave after the birth of a new child. The fact that the College only requires professors to teach at least two classes per semester makes it easier for professors to manage childcare. In addition, places including the Little Red Schoolhouse and the College affiliated Woodside Children's Center provide childcare for professors. However, Woodside has a waiting list and does not specifically cater to the College's professors.
Professors at the College had mixed reactions to the creation of a daycare facility on campus. Despite the existence of Woodside, several professors advocated the creation of an on-campus center. Assistant Professor of Psychology J.P. Baird, who has two small children, would happily utilize a childcare program if one existed at the College. "I would take advantage of it with a latency of only milliseconds," he said.
Baird said that there are scheduling and work challenges as a professor that make College-provided childcare extremely desirable. "One thing that is a little different here is review sessions, meetings and events that run into the evenings and weekends," he said. "Things are happening at all hours, so the schedule is simply a little more unpredictable, and with children you really need to plan carefully in advance, especially if you do not have a partner who can help you out. In my case my wife works some evenings so I often need a babysitter so that I, or we, can attend evening events."
The changing demographics of professors makes the need for childcare even greater, according to Baird. "I think the need is growing due to changing demographics. At least in the sciences, it is becoming less and less the case that people can get professor positions right out of grad school-they need to post doc more years than needed just 10 or 15 years ago. So, they are more often married or committed to someone and at a phase of their life where they are ready to have children when they finally do land a position," said Baird.
Associate Professor of Law, Jurisprudence and Social Thought Lawrence Douglas sent his children to daycare in nearby Sunderland but was in favor of a daycare system at the College. "It would certainly be a good idea and a nice benefit for faculty with children," he said.
Professor of Fine Arts Robert Sweeney echoed Douglas' sentiments. "I think it would be a good idea, because it certainly seems like there would be a need for a program like that," he said.
Katsaros is also in favor of an on-campus childcare center. However, she suggested that putting more money into Woodside and making it more accessible for faculty would also be a good idea.
In response to the increasing need for childcare, Katsaros and other faculty members have submitted a petition to the Committee on Priority and Resources in order to encourage research regarding how the College compares to other schools in terms of flexibility and childcare.
Despite a desire for a campus childcare center, many realize that managing the costs of childcare can be difficult. At George Washington University, childcare runs as high as $1,321 a month for toddlers. However, a solution to lowering costs is difficult to find. "I don't know what the solution would be," said Katsaros. "It's a fine issue for the College. If the College is trying to recruit young women, it's something to keep in mind."
While it may be hard to juggle a professional career as a professor and parenthood, Katsaros said that it should not stop young professors from having children. "I know it's difficult, but it's definitely feasible," she said. She added that the College's policy of allowing a semester-long leave after childbirth is "an opportunity that men and women should not pass."