Work/Family/Life Issues and Programs in Higher Education—What’s New

Abstract

Colleges and universities have as their mission as institutions of higher learning a focus on teaching and research. Until recently, higher education rarely looked at itself from the perspective of an employer. Campuses often have rich working environments with opportunities for establishing unique working relationships and, almost always, with opportunities for continuing education for staff and faculty, as well as students. Because these programs are often housed within academic units as part of an ongoing research and/or teaching project, they are not always visible to employees and therefore not considered part of the employee support programs traditionally administered by Human Resources. Likewise, parttime and alternative work schedules, job shares and other accommodating work arrangements often exist on the campus. However, they are not necessarily reflected in workplace policies, but rather occur randomly according to the management style of individual department chairs or supervisors.