GSWS Care Work Recommendations for University of Pennsylvania

The following message was sent to President Gutmann and Provost Pritchett on August 11, 2020
 
Dear President Gutmann and Provost Pritchett, 
We, faculty, staff, and students of the University of Pennsylvania, are writing today to call attention to the extreme circumstances of our work lives since the start of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Many of us have been engaged in synchronous work as parents, teachers of our own children, child care providers, and full-time employees and/or students of Penn, without pause, since March. In most cases our workloads have actually increased from our home “offices”, as faculty struggle to meet the demands of transferring courses and advising to online formats, and staff learn new technological skills to move programming online, while also dealing with new reporting requests to document the numbers of attendees and students supported each week. We have been laboring at home, using our own computers and other office supplies, with our children, elderly parents, and other dependents present, in the ultimate entanglement of work and home life. Many of us do not feel that our material conditions have been sufficiently acknowledged, nor has our plight been addressed in any meaningful way, by the University. To date, those of us who have reached out for support have been informed that there is nothing that the University can do to address our situation as caregivers, suggesting instead that we find individual solutions to what is a well-documented structural issue; one that pre-dates the pandemic, and one that, if no immediate action is taken, will surely deepen. Below, we have outlined ten recommendations that, if taken seriously by the University, will help to alleviate some of the pressure many Penn employees and students have felt keenly over the past several months during the “work from home” period, while also supporting local educational facilities. As we prepare for the fall, it is critical that Penn take a leadership role amongst its peers by addressing these issues in a structural, comprehensive, and timely way.
We recognize that Penn employees and students are not alone in their plight. The caregiving crisis exposed by the global pandemic has been the topic of discussion in national forums for months. But we also recognize that the University of Pennsylvania enjoys resources and a privileged location in the community that could enable us not only to meet the demands of this current moment, but to be forward-looking about how we address the care work needs of our employees, students, and the surrounding Philadelphia community in the future.
We recommend the following:

1. The University should create a fund available to graduate students/faculty/staff who are facing increases in child care as a result of COVID procedures/increases in fees, or who need additional dependent care support because of school/day program/other closures. This should be a blanket fund given to all care takers with the possibility for well-remunerated caregivers to opt out. 
2. The University should restructure the arrangement with the Care.com program “BackUpCare” to be by the hour not by the day. Currently, it is specified at 10 days for the year for faculty and staff (7 days for postdocs and students) and up to 10 hours in one day, but it is based on daily not hourly use. The arrangement needs to be restructured by the hour in order to maximize on the needed time throughout the year and it should be substantially increased in response to the austere work conditions of the pandemic. 
3. The University should make targeted and substantial donations to quality child care centers (starting with those in zip code 19104), offsetting the costs of implementing COVID prevention recommendations and contributing to the local community. 
4. The University should pay PILOTS in support of the Philadelphia Public School system, a chronically underfunded school system. This will help the district to provide instruction safely to students during the COVID period and beyond.
5. The University should immediately pause all performance appraisals for staff, allowing staff members to opt in if they choose. 
6. For Academic Departments: all tenure clocks should be extended by at least one year. This should not be an opt-in extension, but a blanket extension that people can choose to decline. (Our current understanding is that this has varied by School. It should be universal and blanket.) 
7. For Academic Departments: service obligations that do not have teaching releases should be re-allocated or more evenly distributed.
8. For Academic Departments: when deciding which classes to cancel because of low student enrollment or the instructor’s inability to teach in person, instructors with care burdens should be prioritized. 
9. For Academic Departments: prioritize co-teaching so that faculty members can share the burden of course development and teaching, and enjoy the security of backup instruction should one faculty member fall ill and/or experience a loss of caretaking support.
10. For Academic Departments: departments should adopt a 'sliding scale' of what is required to secure any given grade in any given class proportionate to how much work time was lost as a result of covid-19/unexpected care work and other acute challenges (such as those posed to Black and international students dealing with the effects of racism and a hostile political situation on top of COVID-19). This would help equalize outcomes and support students through this unprecedented time. 

We urge you to give these recommendations your fullest consideration. Thank you for your attention.
Signed,

1. Alexander Adames, PhD Student, Sociology
2. Shoshana Adler, Graduate Instructor, English/SAS
3. Julia Alekseyeva, Assistant Professor of English/Cinema and Media Studies
4. Nikhil Anand, Associate Professor, Anthropology
5. Rachel Appel, Penn Libraries, Digital Preservation Librarian 
6. David S  Azzolina, Penn LIbrarians, GSWS
7. Shana Bahemat, Program Coordinator, APC & GSWS
8. Regina Baker, Assistant Professor, Sociology
9. Apurva Bamezai, PhD Student, Political Science 
10. Catherine Bartch, Associate Director, Latin American and Latino Studies 
11. Tayeba Batool, PhD Student, Anthropology
12. Sarah Bauman, Library Assistant, Penn Libraries 
13. Herman Beavers, Professor of English/Africana Studies
14. Gwendolyn Beetham, Associate Director, Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies
15. Nicholas Bell, PhD Candidate, Political Science
16. Nancy Bentley, Professor, English
17. Siarhei Biareishyk, Visiting Assistant Professor, German/REES
18. Julia Bloch, Director, Creative Writing Program
19. Courtney Boen, Assistant Professor, Sociology
20. Stephen Bonett, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Nursing
21. Toni Bowers, Professor, English
22. Ricardo A. Bracho, Artist-in-Residence, GSWS/APC
23. Pearl Brilmyer, Assistant Professor, English 
24. Ashley Brock, Assistant Professor, Romance Languages
25. Jamiella Brooks, Associate Director, Center for Teaching and Learning
26. Kathleen Brown, David Boies Professor of History
27. Loretta Brown, Staff Member, PENN Libraries
28. Veronica Brownstone, PhD Student, Hispanic Studies
29. Robert C. Bryant, PhD Student, Department of Anthropology
30. Ellen Bryer, PhD Student, Sociology 
31. Clarissa Busch, PhD Student, Philosophy
32. Randall C. Burson, MD-PhD Student in Anthropology and Medicine
33. Elizabeth Bynum, PhD Candidate, Music and Anthropology 
34. Kimberly Cardenas, PhD Candidate, Political Science
35. Sarah Carson, PhD Candidate, Anthropology
36. Max Cavitch, Associate Professor, English
37. Kennan Cepa, PhD Candidate, Sociology
38. Chetan Cetty, PhD Candidate, Philosophy
39. Linda Chance, Associate Professor, East Asian Languages and Civilizations
40. Hsiao-wen Cheng, Associate Professor, East Asian Languages and Civilizations
41. Rosemary Clark-Parsons, Associate Director, Center on Digital Culture and Society
42. Jean-Christophe Cloutier, Associate Professor, English
43. Chelsea M. Cohen, PhD student, Anthropology
44. Thomas Collins, PhD student, English
45. Thomas Conners, PhD Candidate, Hispanic Studies
46. Timothy Corrigan, Professor Emeritus, English/Cinema and Media Studies
47. Manuel de la Cruz Gutiérrez, Staff Member, Penn Libraries
48. Anat Dan, PhD Student, Comparative Literature
49. Hadja Diallo, lecturer, Nursing 
50. Agustin Diaz, PhD student, Economics
51. Ezekiel Dixon-Román, Associate Professor, SP2
52. Ivan Drpić, Associate Professor, History of Art
53. Allison Dunatchik, PhD Student, Sociology
54. Abigail Dym, PhD student, Political Science & Education 
55. Jamal J. Elias, Professor, Religious Studies
56. Tomas Elliott, Comparative Literature
57. David L. Eng, Richard L. Fisher Professor, English
58. James English, John Welsh Centennial Professor of English
59. Jane A. Evered, Adjunct Instructor, Nursing
60. Zahra Fakhraai, Associate Professor, Chemistry
61. Huda Fakhreddine, Associate Professor, Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
62. Tulia G. Falleti, Class of 1965 Term Professor Political Science, Director LALS.
63. Siyen Fei, Associate professor, Department of History 
64. Marcia Ferguson, Theatre Arts Program
65. Kim Fernandes, PhD student, Graduate School of Education and Anthropology
66. Arlene C. Fernández, PhD student, Annenberg School for Communication
67. Lauren Ferreira Cardoso, PhD Candidate, SP2
68. Sebastián Figueroa, PhD Student, Hispanic Studies
69. Dalmacio Flores, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
70. Mike Gadomski, PhD candidate, Philosophy
71. Alba Solà Garcia, PhD Student, Hispanic Studies
72. Samantha Gillen, PhD Candidate, Romance Languages 
73. Sebastián Gil-Riaño, Assistant Professor, History and Sociology of Science
74. Juliet Glazer, PhD Student, Departments of Anthropology and Music
75. Loren Goldman, Assistant Professor of Political Science
76. Marie Gottschalk, Professor of Political Science
77. Pilar Gonalons-Pons, Assistant Professor of Sociology
78. Linda Grabner Travis, Lecturer, SPAN & Managing Editor, Hispanic Review
79. Kendra Grimmett, PhD Candidate, History of Art
80. Chao Guo, Associate Professor, SP2
81. India Halstead, Teaching Associate / Graduate Student, SAS
82. Sa Min Han, PhD Candidate, Stuart Weitzman School of Design
83. Hanne Harbison, Lecturer, School of Nursing
84. Shaquilla Harrigan, PhD Student, Sociology
85. Lauren Harris, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology
86. Katelyn Hearfield, PhD Student, Department of Music
87. Taylor Heath, PhD Student, Sociology
88. Kathryn Hellerstein, Professor, GRMN & Director of Jewish Studies, SAS
89. Matty Hemming, PhD Student, Department of English
90. Paul Hendrickson, Senior Lecturer, Department of English
91. Amy Hillier, Associate Professor, School of Social Policy & Practice
92. Sukaina Hirji, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy
93. Frances Hoenigswald, Library Clerk, Van Pelt Library
94. Sophie Hochhäusl, Assistant Professor, Architecture 
95. Caroline Hodge, PhD Candidate, Anthropology
96. Morgan Hoke, Assistant Professor, Anthropology & Population Studies
97. Amey Hutchins, Librarian, Kislak Center, Penn Libraries
98. Roberta Iversen, Assoc. Prof., Social Policy & Practice
99. Sarah J. Jackson, Annenberg School for Communication
100. Jasmine Johnson, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies
101. Grace Sanders Johnson, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies
102. Richard James, Penn Libraries, Nursing Liaison Librarian
103. Margaret Janz, Penn Libraries
104. Audrey Jaquiss, PhD Student in Political Science 
105. Jeff T. Johnson, Lecturer, English
106. Sanjay Jolly, Penn Law JD ‘21, Annenberg School for Communication PhD Candidate
107. Gillian Maris Jones, PhD Student, Anthropology and Africana Studies
108. Staci Jones, PhD Student, Annenberg School for Communication 
109. Indivar Jonnalagadda, PhD Student, Anthropology and South Asia Studies
110. Sarah H. Kagan, Professor-CE of Gerontological Nursing, School of Nursing
111. Archana Kaku, PhD Candidate, Political Science
112. Ayako Kano, Professor, East Asian Languages and Civilizations/GSWS
113. Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, Professor, History
114. Jonathan D. Katz, Interim Director, GSWS/APC, Associate Professor of Practice, History of Art
115. Jeffrey J. Katzin, PhD Candidate, History of Art
116. Suvir Kaul, A M Rosenthal Professor of English
117. Amanpreet Kaur, Staff Member, Penn Libraries
118. David Kazanjian, Professor of English and Comparative Literature
119. James Ker, Associate Professor of Classical Studies
120. Fariha Khan, Associate Director, Asian-American Studies 
121. Dana Khromov, PhD student, Romance Languages
122. Regan Kladstrup, Kislak Center, Penn Libraries
123. Davy Knittle, PhD Candidate, English 
124. Hilah Kohen, PhD Student, Comparative LiteratureCandidate
125. Ann Kuttner, Associate Professor, History of Art
126. Shaleigh Kwok, Lecturer, Critical Writing Program
127. Yingchen Kwok, PhD Student, History and Sociology of Science
128. Nathalie Lacarrière, PhD , Romance Languages
129. Chris LaMack, PhD. Student, Anthropology
130. Andrew T. Lamas, Faculty, SAS & SP2
131. Isabelle Langrock, PhD student, Annenberg School for Communication
132. Kirsten Lee, Ph.D. Candidate/Graduate Instructor, English
133. Anna Lehr Mueser, PhD Candidate, History and Sociology of Science
134. Robin Leidner, Associate Professor of Sociology
135. B. Tyler Leigh, PhD student, Communication and Political Science
136. Michael Leja, Professor and Chair, History of Art
137. Lidia León-Blázquez, PhD, Lecturer in Foreign Languages, Department of Romance Languages (Hispanic & Portuguese Studies)
138. Elisheva Levy, PhD. Student, Architecture
139. Jeanne Lieberman, PhD Student, Anthropology
140. Jessa Lingel, Associate Professor, Annenberg School for Communication
141. Ania Loomba, Professor, English.
142. Heather Love, Professor, English
143. Samantha Love, Phd Student, Sociology
144. Mili Lozada, Lauder Institute 
145. David M. Lydon-Staley, Assistant Professor, Annenberg School for Communication
146. Brendan Mahoney, PhD Student, Annenberg School for Communication
147. Casey Mahoney, PhD candidate, Political Science
148. Zain R. Mian, PhD Student, Comparative Literature
149. Megan Matthews, Assistant Professor, Chemistry
150. Autumn Melby, PhD Student, Anthropology 
151. Meredith Methlie, Administrative Director, Organizational Dynamics
152. Alicia Meyers, Ph.D. Candidate, English
153. Lisa Miracchi, Assistant Professor of Philosophy
154. Kristina Mitchell, PhD Candidate, Hispanic and Portuguese Studies
155. Daniel Morales-Armstrong, PhD student in Africana Studies and History
156. Sheila Murnaghan, Professor of Classical Studies
157. Maria Murphy, Interim Associate Director, Alice Paul Center
158. Megan Murray, PhD Student, Political Science 
159. Paul Musso, PhD Student, Philosophy
160. Robert Naborn, Lecturer, Dutch Studies, Germanic Languages and Literatures
161. Pris Nasrat, PhD Student, Annenberg School for Communication
162. Olga Nechaeva, PhD Student, Comparative Literature and Literary Theory
163. Julie Nelson Davis, Professor, History of Art
164. Laura Nickrosz, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships, Annenberg School for Communication
165. Elizabeth Oakley, PhD Candidate, Anthropology
166. Amy C. Offner, Associate Professor, History, SAS
167. Josephine Park, Professor, English and Asian American Studies
168. Litty Paxton, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, Annenberg School for Communication
169. Victor Pickard, Professor, Annenberg School for Communication
170. haley pilgrim, PhD Candidate, Sociology
171. Kevin M. F. Platt, Professor, Russian and East European Studies
172. Sara Purinton, PhD student, Philosophy
173. Isaac Rabbani, PhD Student, Economics
174. Ken Raining, Circulation Desk Administrator, Van Pelt Library
175. Karen Redrobe, Professor, History of Art
176. Emily Regier, PhD Candidate, Political Science
177. Alejandra Regla-Vargas, PhD Student, Sociology
178. Elizabeth Rhoades, Professor, Chemistry
179. Nat Rivkin, PhD Student, English
180. Nancy Roane, PhD Candidate, Comparative Literature
181. Megan Robb, Assistant Professor, Religious Studies
182. Brett Robert, PhD Student, History
183. Cara Rogers, Administrative and Events Coordinator, Libraries Advancement
184. Shantee Rosado, GSAS Alum, Sociology
185. Atenea Rosado-Viurques, Joint PhD Student, Anthropology & Education
186. Marlen Rosas, PhD Candidate, History
187. Wendy D. Roth, Associate Professor, Sociology
188. Angelina Ruffin, PhD Student, Social Welfare
189. Megan Ryerson, UPS Chair of Transportation, Associate Professor, City and Regional Planning/Weitzman, Electrical and Systems Engineering/SEAS
190. Rashi Sabherwal, PhD Student, Political Science
191. Paul K. Saint-Amour, Professor, English
192. Gabriel Salgado, PhD Candidate, Political Science
193. Melissa E. Sanchez, Donald T. Regan Professor of English
194. Utpal Sandesara, PhD Alum, Anthropology
195. Adam Sax, PhD Candidate, Comparative Literature and Literary Theory
196. Rachael Schechter, staff, Fisher Fine Arts Library
197. Raka Sen, PhD Student, Sociology
198. Michael Martin Shea, PhD Candidate, Comparative Literature and Literary Theory
199. Jess Shollenberger, PhD Candidate, English
200. Maja Sidzińska, PhD student, Philosophy
201. Troels Skadhauge, PhD Candidate, Political Science
202. Miranda Sklaroff, PhD Student, Political Science
203. Zachary Smith, PhD Candidate, Political Science
204. Eva Del Soldato, Associate Professor, Romance Languages
205. Emily Steinlight, Associate Professor, English
206. Helen Stuhr-Rommereim, PhD Candidate, Comparative Literature and Literary Theory
207. Mary Summers, Senior Fellow, Fox Leadership Program; Lecturer, Political Science
208. Jeanna Sybert, PhD Student, Annenberg School for Communication
209. Genevieve Tan, PhD Student, History 
210. Martine Tchitchihe, Comparative Literature
211. Dawn Teele, Associate Professor of Political Science
212. Jorge Tellez, Assistant Professor of Romance Languages
213. Deborah A. Thomas, R. Jean Brownlee Professor of Anthropology
214. Jolyon Thomas, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
215. Evelyn Thomson, Associate Professor, Physics & Astronomy
216. Julia Ticona, Assistant Professor of Communication
217. Patrina Sexton Topper, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Nursing
218. Carolyn J. Trench, Lecturer, Critical Writing Program
219. Kimberly Trout, Assistant Professor of Women’s Health, School of Nursing
220. Catherine Turner, Senior Associate Director, Center for Teaching and Learning
221. Catalina Udani, PhD Student, Political Science
222. Roopa Vasudevan, PhD Student, Annenberg School for Communication
223. Robert Vitalis, Professor, Political Science
224. Heidi Voskuhl, Associate Professor, History and Sociology of Science
225. Lexi Voss, Staff Member, Penn Libraries 
226. Kathryn Watterson, Lecturer, Creative Writing Program
227. Anna Weesner, Weiss Professor of Music
228. Alex Weisiger, Associate Professor/DGS, Political Science
229. Steven Weitzman, Professor, Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
230. Stephanie Wesson, PhD student, Philosophy
231. Hilary Whitham Sánchez, PhD Candidate, History of Art
232. Melissa Wilde, Professor, Sociology
233. Emily Wilson, Professor, Classical Studies/Comparative Literature
234. Yin Ling Irene Wong, Professor, School of Social Policy & Practice
235. Dagmawi Woubshet, Associate Professor of English
236. Reut Yarnitsky, PhD Candidate, Weitzman School of Design
237. Youngbin Yoon, PhD student, Philosophy
238. Haoxin Zeng, Masters Student, Master of Liberal Arts
239. Naomi Zucker, PhD Candidate, Anthropology

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