University Considers Child Care Provisions

One of six child care centers used by Harvard community faculty will be eliminated in 1998 because of a need for expanded student office space at the Law School.

The announcement of this closing comes at a time when both College faculty and graduate students are voicing a need for improved child care, following a recent report by the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

The report will be discussed at an upcoming faculty meeting, and the University is currently considering proposals to improve child-care on campus, according to Merry D. Touborg, director of communications at the Office of Human Resources.

The report recommends that a day care center intended primarily for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) should be created adjacent to Harvard Yard, with priority given to FAS junior faculty members.

In addition, the report recommends that all child-care be subsidized for junior faculty members.

"There are many schools of thought on what to do," Touborg said. "Some think it would be more helpful to provide aid, others feel that [a space should be found]."

The report singles out associate and assistant professors as having particular needs for child care because of the structure of the academic career, which often requires younger faculty to teach and produce research while raising children.

While it recognizes that "...many members of the Harvard community...have concerns about the cost and availability of child care," the report states "that the situation of junior faculty is in some respects unique."

At a meeting Tuesday with President Neil L. Rudenstine, the Graduate Student Council (GSC) asked for the same child-care considerations as will be given to junior faculty.

"Graduate students who are parents should be included in any wider discussions of child care," said Adam P. Fagen, president of the GSC.

Further Meeting News

The GSC meeting with Rudenstine, Provost Albert Carnesale and Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Christoph J. eWolff also hit on a number of other topics:

* Wolff raised the possibility of guaranteed financial aid for all graduate students for four years through a mix of stipends and teaching fellowships.

* The GSC stressed the need for better athletic facilities, which they said was the problem most often raised by graduate students.

The GSC asked for greater input into decisions involving students--like advising and student support--but were told that the problem was outside the jurisdiction of the central administration because decisions were usually made on a department-by-department basis.

Elections

At last night's monthly graduate student meeting, officers for the upcoming year were elected, all running unopposed.

Fagen was re-elected as president, Elgin K. Eckert became vice-president, Christine M. Millett was reelected as treasurer and Matthew P. Leingang was chosen as secretary.

"I want to keep working on advocacy issues, on increasing communication between the different schools," Fagen said.

Eckert said she hoped to use her post to create a better support system for teaching fellows.

"I think there should be ongoing teacher training for TFs," said Eckert. "I want to create a forum where TFs can share their problems, things they wouldn't want to admit to those who hire them.

The GSC asked for greater input into decisions involving students--like advising and student support--but were told that the problem was outside the jurisdiction of the central administration because decisions were usually made on a department-by-department basis.

Elections

At last night's monthly graduate student meeting, officers for the upcoming year were elected, all running unopposed.

Fagen was re-elected as president, Elgin K. Eckert became vice-president, Christine M. Millett was reelected as treasurer and Matthew P. Leingang was chosen as secretary.

"I want to keep working on advocacy issues, on increasing communication between the different schools," Fagen said.

Eckert said she hoped to use her post to create a better support system for teaching fellows.

"I think there should be ongoing teacher training for TFs," said Eckert. "I want to create a forum where TFs can share their problems, things they wouldn't want to admit to those who hire them.