Report of the Task Force on the Status of Women at Middlebury College

Page Three: Working Conditions

The usual policy is to give preference to the children of faculty and staff, but to allow children from the community as space permits. Some colleges subsidize day care costs either by outright grants (Smith pays 25%), sliding fee scales or Advantage-style programs.

Middlebury has traditionally had an unofficial relationship with Otter Creek Child Center, but within the past few years we have made the decision not to accept a gift of the building for the College's use as a campus-controlled day care center. We recently gave Otter Creek the use of $75,000 of the College's endowment (of which the College maintains control), but College faculty and staff receive no preference in the competition for spaces or special attention to the College's schedule. Otter Creek, an excellent facility, is currently able to enroll only a small number of those who apply. Newly hired faculty are at a particular disadvantage, as Otter Creek is often fully enrolled for the academic year by the previous March. And while the College faculty has long used Otter Creek, its fees are too high for the vast majority of staff members to be able to afford to use it. Fewer than half a dozen staff have children there at present, and most of them are from the upper end of the staff pay scale. As the College faculty and staff expand, the need for day care will only increase.

* On-campus day care is a particularly valuable perquisite in attracting female (and male) faculty and staff, and also sets an important example for our students. The facility should be conveniently located, open year-round, sensitive to the College calendar and financed by a sliding fee scale so that it would be affordable for both faculty and staff. Members of the local business community have recently mentioned their interest in starting a day care facility and would like to explore this with the College and other local businesses. Possible discussion may focus on a joint facility which would spread the costs and liabilities more widely as well as forge bonds between the College and the community. The Task Force recommends that the College establish a committee of faculty, staff and human resources professionals to explore the possibility of setting up such a joint venture at this auspicious time.

Continue to Page Four: The Women's Studies Program