Family Friendly Policies

The University of Delaware has developed a number of policies that promote a family friendly campus climate. Indeed, the University has received national recognition as one of twenty-nine “Leadership Campuses” in the nation because of its programs designed to help faculty balance work and famiy responsibilities. These include maternity leave, stop the tenure clock for childbirth and parenting, family leave, and child care. In addition, the University offers a research semester option for tenure-track faculty.

Maternity Leave

The University and the AAUP also recognize that childbirth and adoption can affect the teaching availability of a faculty member. Department chairpersons and faculty members must develop workload options that meet department and individual needs immediately following the birth or adoption of a child under the age of five by the faculty member. If the faculty member is the primary caregiver, one such option is to be granted a one semester administered load that allows a choice of either partial or full relief from teaching during the semester of the birth or the adoption of a child under the age of five by the faculty member or immediately following the birth or adoption. The Vice President for Administration and the AAUP Contract Maintenance Officer are available to discuss such options with faculty and department chairs.

From the Collective Bargaining Agreement, 02–05

Stop the Clock

An untenured faculty member who becomes the parent of a newborn or newly adopted child may choose to take a one-year extension of the pre-tenure probationary period for each child up to a maximum of two years. The extension shall be granted upon written request to the department chair or program director, with notification to the Dean of the College and the Office of the University Provost. Faculty who choose this option must indicate in writing that they have done so in their dossier.

From the Faculty Handbook

Family Leave Policy

Based on the commitments required by the instructional calendar, members of the bargaining unit who choose to utilize the family leave policy approved by the University Faculty Senate shall receive FMLA benefits for up to one semester during the period of approved FMLA leave. An FMLA leave may be used for caregiving, parenting, childbirth or adoption. Family leave is without pay; however, during any period of family leave, the University's contribution to the premiums for a faculty member's health insurance benefits will be continued at the level that existed prior to commencement of the leave for a period of up to one semester in an 12-month period. Note that this policy does not replace other informal or flexible arrangements that may be worked out between a faculty member and his or her Department chair.

From the Collective Bargaining Agreement, 02–05

Research Semester

In order to assist new faculty with their professional development and progress towards promotion and tenure, tenure-track Assistant Professors are eligible for a semester at full pay, devoted to research and scholarship, during their third or fifth year in their probationary period.

From the Faculty Handbook

Child Care

The University of Delaware sponsors access to the Child Care Referral Service and Online Request provided by The Family & Workplace Connection. This service provides referrals to infant and toddler care, preschools, before and after school care, and summer camp programs. It links the University of Delaware faculty and staff with The Family & Workplace Connection, the most comprehensive and current source of child care information in Delaware, Eastern Maryland and Southeastern Pennsylvania.

The College of Human Resources, Education, and Public Policy sponsors The Laboratory Preschool. This is a learning laboratory for both graduate and undergraduate students, a research facility, and a resource to the community.

The University of Delaware will provide high quality early child care and education and family support services in a new center that will be housed in a building near campus. The new center, which replaces the previous center sponsored by Girls Inc., will continue the cooperative agreement to reserve a portion of the available space in its child-care program for children of UD employees. This center represents a partnership of UD with the state of Delaware's Department of Education and Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, as well as with the Christina School District and community organizations.

The University also has an arrangement with the Girl Scouts for faculty/staff after school child care.

Location

The state of Delaware sits in the heart of the mid-Atlantic seaboard, halfway between Washington, D.C. and New York City. It is a state rich in shoreline, farmland, and bustling city life. The shore resorts of Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland and the recreational areas and ski slopes of the Pocono Mountains are also about two hours away.

The main campus of the University, situated in the northwest corner of the state in the town of Newark (pronounced New Ark, as it was once spelled), offers a traditional small-town college atmosphere in a location that affords easy access to major cultural and entertainment centers in nearby metropolitan areas.

The University of Delaware main campus is located midway between New York City and Washington, D.C. (about a two-hour drive to either), and midway between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland (about a one-hour drive to each). The campus is close to the Northeast Amtrak line, minutes from the I-95 corridor, and midway between two major international airports (Philadelphia and BWI).

For further information, please contact:

Office of Women's Affairs
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
(302) 831-8063