Family-Friendly Policies and the Research University

Abstract

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A Feminist Perspective on Parental Leave Policies

“…Institutional commitment can shape the availability and usage of policies. Similarly, department chairs play a critical role in faculty members' success in balancing work and family responsibilities (Drago et al 2005;Quinn et al 2004;Sullivan et al 2004;Waltman and August 2005). Institutional and departmental leaders can help create a climate in which balancing work and family is valued.…”

Breaking barriers and creating inclusiveness: Lessons of organizational transformation to advance women faculty in academic science and engineering

“…There is also a need for more dissemination of information on available gender equity resources. Family-friendly policies, for example, have been in place for many years at most universities, but faculty members and administrators often are not aware of their existence or understand them fully or clearly (Quinn, Lange, & Olswang, 2004). To increase awareness and use of such programs, universities should use multiple communications channels to describe them to employees and to others.…”

Turning Away from Academic Careers: What Does Work-Family Have To Do with It?

“…Likewise, their experiences in graduate school and socialization to the norms of academic careers influence student opinions about academic careers and the decision to turn away from academic career aspirations. While scholars have focused on faculty careers and graduate students' career decisions specifically at research universities (e.g., Austin, 2002;Creamer, 2006;Finkel & Olswang, 1996 Quinn, Lange, & Olswang, 2004;Ward & Wolf-Wendel, 2004, we believe that there is a larger problem facing American institutions of higher education if potential future faculty are turning away from their academic career aspirations entirely. Research universities make up only 6% of all institutions of higher education in the United States and serve 28% of all enrolled college students (Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, 2008).…”