Information for Faculty and Instructors with Family Responsibilities
The University is committed to supporting faculty and staff instructors as they continue to advance the research, teaching, and service of the University while fulfilling their personal commitments. While we are all experiencing uncertainty and competing demands, many faculty and staff with caregiving responsibilities are feeling acute challenges. In addition to the “Information for Working Parents” provided by the Office of Human Resources, we have gathered the following information relevant to faculty and instructors.
Childcare Resources
Limited Edition Mid-Year Flex Spending Account Opportunity
University employees are able to create, increase, decrease, or revoke a 2020 Flexible Spending Accounts (for dependent care and health care) through August 31st without a family status change or qualified life event.
Identifying Available Caregivers
The Office of Human Resources maintains a child-care resource page that has a summary of both on- and off-campus resources. This includes Child Care Aware of Minnesota (previously called the Minnesota Child CareResource and Referral Network), a free online resource portal that operates in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. ChildCareAwareMN.Org has been widely endorsed by experts as a preferred resource because: a) it focuses on licensed providers and b) it is linked to a quality rating system developed/maintained by the state DHS in partnership with agencies and programs across the state.
Hiring In-Home Care
Faculty and instructors who wish to hire an in-household caregiver can advertise the position to University students and alumni through GoldPASS powered by Handshake, the University’s, no charge, central employer self-post system. By using GoldPASS powered by Handshake you are agreeing to abide by EEOC policy.
When you sign up on GoldPASS you will be asked to enter a website. You can use anything tied to your identity like your UMN staff page, a LinkedIn or Facebook profile, family website, etc. Then, make sure to use "Private Household: [your last name] Family" in the “Company” field when signing up as an employer. When you post the positions be sure to include as much information as possible. Here are some suggestions on what to include:
- At least 3 Qualifications
- At least 5 Responsibilities, be as detailed as possible
- Whether or not they will need a drivers licence or vehicle
- If not, provide bus lines that are near your home
- Steps you commit to take to provide the safest work environment possible for the selected candidate. This can be a big area of concern for job seekers. Steps can include
- disinfecting surfaces prior to each shift
- opening windows before and during shift, or as requested by the candidate
- wearing/providing PPE in your home.
- Hours to be worked
- (i.e 4hr, 10am -2pm or if schedule is flexible in a certain time frame like 4hrs between 8am and 4pm)
- Pay
Note: Please allow up to 48hrs for staff to review your employer profile and job posting.
You may also wish to review the Minnesota Department of Revenue guidelines on hiring an employee. Here are some resources you may find helpful:
Need help? Visit Handshake's Employer Site
Probationary Period Extensions
- All probationary tenure system faculty who were in year 1 of their appointment in April of 2020 were granted a one-year extension to their probationary clock. (see Changes to Evaluation Processes for Faculty, Librarians, and Law Clinic Faculty).
- To preserve flexibility, faculty members may keep their original decision year or utilize their extension when seeking tenure and promotion. A description of the effects of pandemic-related extensions should be written into the letter when seeking external reviewers so that faculty are not unfairly penalized. (see Form 12 language; sample text to include in review instructions sent to external reviewers describing effect of automatic 2020 pandemic related extension of the probationary period).
- New faculty and those who continue to experience negative effects of the pandemic may request an additional extension. Faculty are encouraged to read this FAQ prior to submitting an extension request.
Modified Student Rating of Teaching (SRT)
The Student Rating of Teaching (SRTs) were modified and faculty were advised that they may choose whether or not to use SRTs in evaluative processes such as annual reviews and promotion and tenure reviews (see Changes to Evaluation Processes for Faculty, Librarians, and Law Clinic Faculty)
Paid and Unpaid Leave Options
Paid Leave
See the Office of Human Resources for more information about the University of Minnesota Emergency Paid Leave program and the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act leave program.
Unpaid Leave
The Discretionary Unpaid Leave Option for Faculty and P&A Employees provides a flexible leave option that does not affect future eligibility for sabbatical and single semester leaves. These discretionary unpaid leaves may be awarded to help employees effectively integrate and manage their work and personal life responsibilities.