Mission

The Work/Life Oversight Committee’s mission is to promote a culture of balanced work and life for University of Connecticut faculty, staff, and students, through the review, development and implementation of policies and programs. It is charged with monitoring childcare and other work/life needs, exploring joint projects with the Town of Mansfield, directing concerns and problems about work/life issues to the correct recipient, and taking other actions or making recommendations at its discretion.

Members

Vicki Fry, (Co-chair) Human Resources
Cinnamon Adams, Graduate School
Craig Alejos, Human Development & Family Studies – Graduate Student Representative
Nadine Brennan, Hartford, Director’s Office
Karen Bresciano, Dean of Students Office
Angela Brightly, Waterbury, Director’s Office
Aaron Collins, Avery Point, ISS Academic Programs Center
Kathleen Holgerson, Women’s Center
Rachel Jackson, Human Rights Institute
Katherine Kenyon, Office of Institutional Equity
Stephanie Mazerolle, Kinesiology
Laura McConnell, Student Health Services
Sarah Moon, English
Anne Rajotte, Law School Library
Terry Reilly, Stamford, Director’s Office
Angela Rola, Asian American Cultural Center
Kristin Schwab, Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Leslie Shor, Chemistry and Biomolecular Engineering

Committee History

A Childcare Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study, conducted by a private firm and funded jointly by AAUP, UCPEA, AFSME, and the University Administration, was completed in June 2000. In the spring of 2002, the University Senate made a request to Chancellor John D. Petersen to resolve the need for adequate childcare at the University that was brought to light in the study, and to make it a high priority. In response, in November of 2002, Chancellor Petersen formed the Chancellor’s Childcare Implementation Committee to explore and recommend options to provide high quality, affordable childcare for the University’s faculty, staff, and students.

With a subsequent change in the University’s organization and administrative titles, the Committee came to be known as the Provost’s Childcare Implementation Committee, reporting to Peter J. Nicholls, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

In August 2005, the committee completed a comprehensive report entitled “Childcare and Work/Life Issues at the University of Connecticut” and submitted it to the Provost who, in turn, acknowledged the need for continued action and commitment in his response: August 31, 2005 Provost Nicholl’s Response to the PCIC’s Report.

In April 2006, Provost Nicholls established the University’s current Work/Life Oversight Committee to ensure that the momentum on the actions and recommendations of the former committee would not be lost. The committee was charged with monitoring childcare and other work/life needs, exploring joint projects with the Town of Mansfield, directing concerns and problems about work/life issues to the correct recipient, and taking other actions or making recommendations at its discretion.

The Work/Life Oversight Committee now reports to the President’s Office, Rachel Rubin, President’s Chief of Staff, and meets twice a semester. Its Mission is to promote a culture of balanced work and life for University of Connecticut faculty, staff, and students, through the review, development and implementation of policies and programs.