Caregiver Travel Grants for pre-tenure, full-time faculty with nursing infants

Presenting at, and attending conferences, is a key means for scientists, engineers, and other professionals to further scholarly activities, build collaborations, and establish reputations in their fields. Nursing parents face unique hurdles in realizing these critical networking opportunities, including age limitations and cost of conference childcare (if childcare is even available/offered), challenges pumping and managing breastmilk throughout the conference, sponsor travel reimbursement restrictions, and the significant financial strain of bringing a caregiver.

We are excited to announce that the Office of Research Programs has launched a trial Caregiver Travel Grant Program to support conference attendance for pre-tenure, full-time faculty, for two years post-birth. (Adjunct positions, post-docs, and graduate students are not covered by this program at this time.). Please not that for the purposes of this grant, "full-time" extends to those who were full-time Assistant Professors but have temporarily changed title or FTE due to an Extension of Continuing Appointment Decision.

Grants will reimburse up to $500 of the caregiver’s air- or train-fare per fiscal year, for the purpose of assisting with the care of a nursing infant during the conference. Designated caregivers can be a co-parent, grandparent, babysitter, or other individual of the faculty member’s choice.

For application materials and additional instructions, please visit ORP.  Applications should be submitted at least one month prior to conference travel.   Reimbursement will occur after the trip is completed.

Kids Day returns! registration now open! Volunteers needed!

After a two year hiatus, registration has opened for ESF’s Take our Kids to Work Day, Thursday, April 28, 2022!   Kids 8-11 years old with an adult that works or studies at ESF are invited to explore ESF fostered-careers through their own class day, starting and ending the day in the Gateway Center.  

Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.  FAQs and Registration Forms (due 4/21) are available at https://www.esf.edu/womenscaucus/kids.htm.  Past adults have requested information to share with schools to request the absence be excused; a form is available at that same page to facilitate that conversation and (if necessary) to coordinate makeup or alternate assignments. 

We are also seeking volunteers to chaperone groups: https://forms.gle/nYXVQYtnZYAadE7x5.  

Kids Day is one of the earliest, and most enduring, programs of ESF's Women's Caucus. The group is pleased to return to an in-person option, as well as to continue to share photos and materials via https://www.facebook.com/ESFKidsDay/.

Questions about the program, accommodations, or volunteering, please contact Heather Engelman,  engelman@esf.edu, 315-470-4752.