Academic Exchange

Which is harder: childbearing or childrearing?
Other universities engage in thorny debates

Universities around the nation are paying increasing attention to the intersection of work and family within the academy. Fewer than half of the 375 four-year institutions surveyed in a 1996 study by the College and University Work-Family Association, however, allow their faculty members to stop the tenure clock for personal reasons. A review of policies to stop the tenure clock at selected public and private universities reveals the thorny questions that universities often encounter in attempts to legislate such policies. Opponents have argued that stopping the clock could create a double standard and undermine tenure.

A different sort of controversy arose at Stanford University in 1996, when the Academic Council debated whether its revised policy on tenure clock extensions should include new fathers and adoptive parents. On a vote between two alternate proposals, one that granted extensions only to women who give birth versus one that also made allowances for new fathers and adoptive parents, the council passed a policy that grants extensions only to birth mothers. According to the published proceedings of the council, Walter P. Falcon, a professor of economics and food research and head of the committee that drafted the two proposals, stated that the committee felt "for biological reasons there should be a positive differential for women to give birth," that women who give birth face health concerns that may slow down their professional efforts.

Other faculty members, however, disagreed. According to the published proceedings, council member Michael D. Fayer, a professor of chemistry, countered that an extension for new fathers and adoptive parents was called for because "in his opinion childcare was more draining and more likely to affect faculty productivity than most pregnancies."
The chart below offers a comparison of policies among one public and five private universities.

To read the full minutes of the Stanford University Academic Council deliberations of its "Statement of Policy on Appointment and Tenure," go to http://portfolio.stanford.edu/105364.

Tenure extension policies at other universities

University
Reasons for Extension
Maximum
Duration
Application Process

New York University
Women or men who are primary caregivers of a child
Primary caregivers of a parent, spouse or same-sex domestic partner in a health crisis of extended duration
Two semesters Advance approval by the dean and the office of the president

Northwestern University
Birth, adoption, or rearing of a child
Chronic illness of the faculty member or a member of her/his immediate family
One year Requests are forwarded to the dean and then the provost

Stanford University

Childbirth in the household (female faculty only)
Research leave without salary
Periods of purely administrative duties
Three years Automatically granted to new mothers. Other requests subject to review

University of Chicago
Birth or adoption of a child
Responsibility for managing the illness or disability of a family member
One year Request must be approved by the appropriate dean and is then subject to review by the provost

University of Pennsylvania
Birth, adoption, or placement in foster care of a child in faculty member's household
Primary caregiver for a parent, child, spouse, or domestic partner
Serious health condition of the faculty member
One year Request must be made in writing via chair and/or dean for consideration by the provost's staff conference

University of Wisconsin at Madison
Childbirth or adoption
Disability or chronic illness
Elder or dependent care
Circumstances beyond the control of the family member
Substantial change in duties
One year Requests based on childbirth or adoption are submitted directly to the provost, with copies to the department chair and dean, within one year of the birth or adoption. All other requests are submitted to the executive committee and reviewed by the dean and provost

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University	Reasons for Extension	Maximum Duration	Application Process
New York University	Women or men who are primary caregivers of a child Primary caregivers of a parent, spouse or same-sex domestic partner in a health crisis of extended duration	Two semesters	Advance approval by the dean and the office of the president
Northwestern University	Birth, adoption, or rearing of a child Chronic illness of the faculty member or a member of her/his immediate family	One year	Requests are forwarded to the dean and then the provost
Stanford University	Childbirth in the household (female faculty only) Research leave without salary Periods of purely administrative duties	Three years	Automatically granted to new mothers. Other requests subject to review
University of Chicago	Birth or adoption of a child Responsibility for managing the illness or disability of a family member	One year	Request must be approved by the appropriate dean and is then subject to review by the provost
University of Pennsylvania	Birth, adoption, or placement in foster care of a child in faculty member's household Primary caregiver for a parent, child, spouse, or domestic partner Serious health condition of the faculty member	One year	Request must be made in writing via chair and/or dean for consideration by the provost's staff conference
University of Wisconsin at Madison	Childbirth or adoption Disability or chronic illness Elder or dependent care Circumstances beyond the control of the family member Substantial change in duties	One year	Requests based on childbirth or adoption are submitted directly to the provost, with copies to the department chair and dean, within one year of the birth or adoption. All other requests are submitted to the executive committee and reviewed by the dean and provost