When professor of English Pam Corpron Parker arrived at Whitworth in 1997, she was pregnant with her second son. Whitworth did not have a maternity leave policy at the time, she said.
"I was shocked," Corpron Parker said. "Since then, they've adopted a generous parental leave policy. It was good to be part of getting that going. It indicates that Whitworth has been a little slow in updating some of its faculty policies to fit the contemporary workforce."
Concerns about Whitworth's family leave policy were one of the issues raised by a 2005 gender study, said Terry McGonigal, dean of spiritual life.
"I think we are becoming better at approaching family leave both for male and female staff," McGonigal said. "It's an expression of support for those who need it. I've heard mixed reviews. Some positive, but for others it has not been what they expected. We've really tried to be more intentional in this area. We've made progress, but it's not everything some people want."
The university follows the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and a state law that allows for a period of disability after birth and requires employers to treat maternity like other leave for illness, said Dolores Humiston, director of Human Resources. Both males and females can take a 12-week family and medical leave, but only the woman can take a period of disability, which allows for an additional six weeks.
It is not often that people go without pay here, Humiston said.
Michael Le Roy, vice president for Academic Affairs, said he recently learned that Whitworth's new paid parental leave policy for faculty is unique in higher education in the Northwest and among Christian institutions.
"It is not uncommon for schools just to give 12 weeks," Le Roy said. "Some schools are willing to make accommodations if asked for, but I think that makes female faculty feel like their are not the ideal worker and have to apologize for having a child. "
Le Roy said he thinks the policy, which has been put in place over the past four years, is more equitable than it used to be and reflects the university's values. The policy also applies to those who need to take care of a sick spouse, he said.
"I think it sends a positive message about what we value," Le Roy said. "What we are saying is that we recognize people have other obligations that are very important."
Contact Jasmine Linabary at jasmine.linabary@whitworthian.
Resources:
-Family & Medical Leave Policy - Staff
-Family & Medical Leave Policy - Faculty
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