The Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center supports working parents and caregivers through advocacy, education, and resource sharing. When faculty, staff, and students are able to continue to meet their family obligations, they are better able to foster a sense of well-being and reach their fullest potential. To our UMBC caregivers juggling work, learning, and caretaking responsibilities, we see you, we believe you, and you matter.
Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center staff are available to meet with students, faculty, and staff who would like assistance in navigating resources related to parenting or caretaking.
Resources for Caregivers
- The Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR) is responsible for promoting and coordinating the university’s core values of inclusive excellence, equity, and diversity. ECR has primary responsibility for managing UMBC’s efforts related to Title IX as well as other civil rights issues, including discrimination, harassment, hate and bias. ECR also oversees the university’s policies related to pregnancy and parenting.
- The Department of Human Resources is the campus resource center for providing professional services and information in the areas of employment, benefits, compensation, and classification, training and development, payroll, employee relations, policy, administration, and human resources data management and reporting.
- People who are pregnant may be eligible to apply for temporary disability placards to park in more accessible parking on campus. Your physician must complete the disability certification portion of the application. For more information visit the MVA website.
- UMBC’s Y Preschool program combines a safe and happy educational environment with a curriculum designed to stimulate intellectual, emotional, and physical growth. The Y at UMBC accommodates students 2 to 5 years of age. The standard application fee will be waived for UMBC faculty, staff and students.
Lactation and Wellness Rooms:
The Women’s, Gender, & Equity Center is home to The Maxine Tracy Wellness and Lactation Room. This is a private space for lactation, prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection. The room includes a hospital grade breast pump that is available for use as well as a refrigerator for storage, and other supplies as needed. This room is available to students, staff, faculty, and UMBC community members during our open hours. For more information on how to access or reserve the lactation room either during or after our hours of operation, contact us via email at womenscenter@umbc.edu.
UMBC’s Library and RAC are also home to lactation rooms on campus. The Library Lactation Room includes a table, two chairs, an outlet and power strip, and sanitizing wipes. It is located close to the restrooms on the 7th floor and can be reserved here. The RAC lactation room is located on the first floor adjacent to RAC Court 2&3. A UMBC ID is needed to access the RAC lactation room.
An important note the Women’s, Gender & Equity Center would like to stress around these policies and practices, is that it is not just the presence of flexible work policies, but the culture that surrounds these policies that will make them a true part of the fabric of our efforts surrounding inclusive excellence. People of all genders should be encouraged to use flexible leave and work accommodations as a means to advancing gender equity at UMBC and higher education.