October 11, 2022

To:    Deans, Department Chairs, and Academic Senate Faculty

From:  David Marshall, Executive Vice Chancellor
           Dana Mastro, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel

Re:    Family Friendly Policies and Resources for Senate Faculty

As the academic year begins, we are writing to remind faculty and department chairs of our Family Friendly Resources and policies, which are designed to support faculty at all stages of their careers and throughout important life experiences, including such significant events as starting or expanding one’s family. To promote the success of our faculty and help them to balance family life and professional achievements, the University of California and UC Santa Barbara provide opportunities for leaves and other accommodations that will allow flexibility in scheduling and work assignments.

The Academic Personnel website provides information on Family Friendly Resources including:

Systemwide Personnel Policies:
   Family Accommodations for Childbearing and Childrearing (APM 760)
   Stopping the Tenure Clock for Care of a Child or Children (APM 133-17-h)
   Family and Medical Leave (APM 715)
   Sick Leave (APM 710)

UCSB Policies and Procedures:
   Childbearing Leave, Parental Leave
   Active Service-Modified Duties

We want to emphasize, in particular, the possibility of workload adjustments for Active Service-Modified Duties, which are available to "any academic appointee who is responsible for 50 percent or more of the care of an infant for the period before and/or immediately following a birth, or adoption of a child, in order that the parent can prepare and/or care for the infant or young child" (Red Binder VI-5). Active Service-Modified Duties is not a leave, but rather a reduction of duties. These modifications vary according to individual needs and circumstances, but they often include some reduction in teaching responsibilities.

Faculty should consult with their chairs, and chairs should consult with their deans, to determine the most suitable arrangements. The Executive Vice Chancellor and the deans provide some course replacement funding to departments with faculty on Active Service-Modified Duties status to address departmental curricular needs. It is the responsibility of chairs to help faculty develop individualized plans to utilize these policies in ways that will address their needs and support their professional development.

Faculty also should consult policies about extensions of the tenure clock in relation to childbearing leave.

We would also like to note that Academic Personnel is in the beginning stages of revising ASMD protocols to streamline the process and better communicate policies and options to faculty and chairs. Finally, the campus is currently engaged in a planning process to develop additional child care facilities to further support the success and well-being of our faculty.

Thank you.