UW-Green Bay Chancellor and Provost note child-care challenges and community support

Note: In the memo (August 10, 22020), UW-Green Bay Chancellor Mike Alexander and Provost Kate Burns acknowledge University support as employees and students face child-care challenges… 

Dear UW-Green Bay Faculty and Staff,

As we approach the fall, it is important we consider the numerous ways our work patterns and the ways our students will access education have evolved. Our ability to have empathy for those who need support to deal with these sudden changes, will be essential to move forward as a University fully dedicated to access.  One issue that we have struggled to holistically address as a campus is support for child care for our faculty, staff, and students. We would like to update you on the steps we are taking this year to help improve the way we deal with the reality of the equity issues caused by challenges with child care. These steps are based on the recommendations from the UW System task force on Caregiving and COVID-19 and we urge everyone to take the time to read the recommendations in full.

1. It is our expectation that supervisors work with all faculty and staff to do everything possible to accommodate the individual needs for child care that any of our colleagues might have.  Immediately contact HR if you have questions on how to support a colleague or if you feel you are not receiving the support you need.  We will review all of our HR policies on this subject to make sure we are doing everything we can to be flexible throughout the year.
2. Faculty are expected to have empathy and accommodate students who are struggling with the balance of child care and class expectations.
3. Mark Olkowski and John Landrum are working with SUFAC and SGA to provide grant opportunities for students who need financial support to provide child care for their families in order to have the space to complete their studies.  It is our expectation that these grants are widely communicated and mobilized as soon as possible.  In addition, we are working towards long term solutions to provide further support for faculty, staff, and students around this issue.

Thank you for continually considering how you can support our colleagues and students through these times through proactive actions that demonstrate our belief in student success, a caring spirit, and an understanding of the challenges that our communities face right now.

Best,

Chancellor Michael Alexander
Interim Provost Kate Burns