Seems like I can’t go back to sleep so now’s as good a time as any to talk about the bad news I got from @uvmvermont via @DombrowskiKirk who is our VP of research. It’s complicated a bit so bear with me.

The @NSF (and probably all other fed granting agencies) allows researchers to use their funds to pay for extra childcare expenses incurred because of travel but ONLY IF THE INSTITUTION HOLDING THE GRANT ALLOWS IT. (Screenshot from https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/faqs/faqs_2cfr200.pdf)

So I asked and at UVM reimbursement for dependent care costs are not allowed. I asked for the policy to be changed. I mounted a campaign (while pregnant and then later with a newborn!!) to connect with people in charge to have them change the policy.

I was finally told it would be changed by our previous VP of research. Sweet victory? No. New VP of research was not briefed, apparently no one remembers, we’re back to square one with no one wanting to change the policy.

Why not you ask? For “practical and fiscal reasons” because of course Reasons to deny justice are always very complicated. It’s very hard you see to make a university inclusive. One would not want to have to do too much work. As far as I can tell there are 2 main obstacles:

1- Reimbursements for childcare expenses would be taxable. For some reason this is an obstacle, even though moving expenses are taxable but still reimbursed and some travel reimbursements to foreign nationals are taxable but still reimbursed.

This one upsets me because you know what I bet our President @SVGarimella did need when he moved here? But you know what I bet he doesn’t ever need? And so on. They will find a way to reimburse cishet white men for their important costs, the rest though is too hard.

2- They will need to allow dependent care reimbursements from all funds not just research funds. Now I don’t think of that as an obstacle or a negative but of course I understand money and this could lead to higher costs for the university maybe...

But here, and I’m speculating and would be happy to learn more but of course why would they explain to a poor woman like me the very complicated things, is what I think is super gross. Because for context almost all reimbursements are made on a budget.

What I mean is that when we travel for the university they don’t say “we’ll reimburse all your expenses no matter what they are!” NO they say “you have $1300 of professional development funds you can use to travel, the rest you will pay out of pocket”

In a situation like this allowing more expenses is not going to bust the university’s budget! And if it does they can lower the amount they make available! Easy-peasy then the rest of us can use our funds to pay for our childcare expenses.

I can imagine two categories of university employees who get reimbursed for all their expenses: the higher ups and staff. That’s not so many people. So two things can be the case
1- expected disbursements for dependent care expenses will be low

Then of course it should be allowed, the cause of allowing more caregivers to fully participate in their profession is certainly worth moving a little bit of money around; or
2- expected disbursements for childcare expenses are significant. This sounds very rational...

BUT IT’S IN FACT THE WORST. Does UVM expect its employees to spend significant amounts of money on dependent care expenses just to be able to do their job?? And they are happy not to be reimbursing that?? How accessible does that make a job at @uvmvermont??

Can a single parent take a job at UVM? Are they expected to do well without being able to attend any dinners?? Can a member of a family with no generational wealth who is unable to pay for extra childcare work at UVM?

This is not for me. I’m upper middle class and white. My dad can afford to fly to California to take care of my son so I can participate in a workshop. I can afford $100 for babysitting 4 TIMES IN 1 MONTH to have dinner with all our job candidates.

But who is welcome in this system? Who can afford to fully participate? And why is @uvmvermont refusing to do the work to make itself a tiny bit more accessible to all?

cc @uvmcems, my college which is struggling to attract faculty who is not white and male and @uvmdei who I hope will take over for me in this fight because I’m already exhausted from having it once, I can’t have it again

And cc @juniperlov, unfortunately I can’t organize a workshop for women in math & data science at UVM if we can’t reimburse childcare expenses. I cannot be associated to an event that is inaccessible in this way I’m sorry bc I was really excited abt where we could go with this

Oh and also cc @ChrisDanforth who always has my back in these situations. Your support is always appreciated and I hope you agree with me that this is a silly silly rule with important consequences for some and UVM should change it.