Initiatives
A student at the University of Chicago Charter School (Woodlawn Campus), part of the Urban Education Initiative
Ideas for new projects and initiatives often come from the faculty, either directly or indirectly. The listing below describes some of the more recent efforts, which, over time, become integrated into the routine fabric of our campus.
- Accessibility Improvements on Campus
- Child Care Initiative
- Darfur Action and Education Fund
- Diversity
- Dual Career Office
- Faculty Climate Survey
- International Travel Resources and Guidance
- Master Plan Extension of 2004
- Provost's Teaching Week
- Urban Education Institute (UEI)
- Women’s Leadership Council
- Work-Life Integration
Accessibility Improvements on Campus
Following a compliance review, the University will upgrade its existing accessibility. Improved building entrances, building features, campus pathways, signage, and transportation systems, among other enhancements, are underway, and, in some cases, already completed.
Please direct inquiries to Ingrid Gould.
Phone: 773.702.8846
Email: igould@uchicago.edu
Child Care Initiative
In collaboration with selected area child care providers, the University of Chicago Medical Center and the University have developed a pilot program to create new infant and toddler day care slots to respond to the needs expressed in a 2003 survey. This approach allows us to work with trusted and respected child care providers to expand resources for our employees and our community.
http://hr.uchicago.edu/benefits/spds/childcare/
Child Care flyer 
Please direct inquiries to Ingrid Gould.
Phone: 773.702.8846
Email: igould@uchicago.edu
Darfur Action and Education Fund
The University has established a fund to stimulate a greater understanding of the conflict in Sudan and to support and encourage creative and entrepreneurial thinking about University-based activities that will broaden knowledge and help prepare our students and the University community—through real world experiences and scholarly work—to advance human rights and the well-being of people around the world.
http://fundfordarfur.uchicago.edu
Please direct inquiries to Keith Moffat.
Phone: 773.702.0344
Email: moffat@cars.uchicago.edu
Diversity
The Office of Deputy Provost for Research and Minority Issues was established in response to a recommendation by the Provost's Initiative on Minority Issues (PIMI) 2003-04 Annual Report. The Office monitors and improves the University's approaches to recruiting and retaining minority faculty, students, and to a lesser extent, staff. It also coordinates and promotes research, teaching, and programming initiatives that address diversity and ameliorate inequality on campus and in the broader community.
Please direct inquiries to Ken Warren.
Phone: 773.834.3861
Email: kwarren@uchicago.edu
Dual Career Office
A significant factor in the University’s success in recruiting and retaining faculty is securing meaningful employment for their partners. Dual Career Office offers assistance to faculty partners seeking employment inside and outside academia. That assistance may include helping to prepare for the job search, developing local networks, and identifying positions of interest.
This service is intended primarily for faculty members who have worked at the University for fewer than two years. The University is also a founding sponsor of the Greater Chicago Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (GC HERC), a web-based compendium of jobs in area colleges and universities, medical centers, and research and cultural institutions.
Greater Chicago Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (GC HERC)
Please direct inquiries to Phyllis Brust.
Phone: 773-834-5440
Email: pbrust@uchicago.edu
Faculty Climate Survey
The faculty in the divisions of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Physical Sciences as well as the Divinity School were invited to participate in a climate survey in spring 2006. Over the course of the next year, and with the guidance of a faculty working group, a number of initiatives have been undertaken at the divisional and university level to respond to issues of concern identified through the survey process and to enhance the environment for research and teaching, especially for faculty new to the institution.
Climate Survey Questionaire, Report, and Recommendations
Please direct inquiries to Mary Harvey.
Phone: 773.702.8806
Email: mharvey@uchicago.edu
International Travel Resources and Guidance
Since its beginnings, the University of Chicago’s dedication to the discovery of new knowledge and openness to diversity and other cultures have drawn our scholars to all corners of the globe. In order to facilitate the research and education that take place on such trips organized and led by faculty, other academics, staff, and student groups, the University of Chicago has assembled a set of resources and guidelines for international trip and internship organizers and for the undergraduate participants on those trips.
Much of the information is equally useful to anyone traveling abroad, and some of it is even valuable to those traveling within the United States. We welcome your questions about trip-specific or country-specific matters and your suggestions for improving this information.
International Travel Resources
Please direct inquiries to Ingrid Gould.
Phone: 773.702.8846
Email: igould@uchicago.edu
Master Plan Extension of 2004
Within 15 years Chicago’s campus is projected to grow 2.3 million gross square feet—on land the University already owns. The Campus Master Plan extension, split into 2008 and 2020 phases, maps out almost 30 projects on west campus and south of the Midway Plaisance, including a new undergraduate dormitory, a ten-story biological-sciences research building, a center for creative and performing arts, and a library addition. Besides accommodating physical needs, top-notch facilities help the University recruit and retain the very best students and faculty in the competitive academic environment.
Please direct inquiries to Blair Archambeau.
Phone: 773.702.8813
Email: barchamb@uchicago.edu
Provost's Teaching Week
Each year the Provost asks the deans to nominate faculty for recognition of their exceptional contributions to the teaching mission of the University. Since a primary goal of Provost’s Teaching Week is to stimulate discussion among the faculty about creative and effective teaching, during Provost’s Teaching Week those who are being recognized open a class to interested colleagues from across the University.
Please direct inquiries to Keith Moffat.
Phone: 773.702.0344
Email: moffat@cars.uchicago.edu
Urban Education Institute UEI
UEI brings together five elements with the common purpose of improving public education in the city of Chicago and the country. The five include the Center for Urban School Improvement (USI), SSA’s Community Schools Program, the Consortium on Chicago School Research, a new academic Committee on Education, and a package of programs in the Office of Civic Engagement. The aim is to bring together the highest quality research on education with practical involvement in the public schools in the expectation that the best research will produce knowledge to identify the most effective practices for urban education.
Please direct inquiries to Timothy Knowles.
Phone: 773.834.0218
Email: tknowles@uchicago.edu
Women’s Leadership Council
The Office of the Provost is dedicated to ensuring an institutional environment that values and sustains the scholarly achievement of women faculty and students. The Women’s Leadership Council offers critical support to these efforts by advising the Provost on policies and programs for attracting and retaining the finest women scholars university-wide. Council members are also a critical link to leadership in the academic units, working with deans to enhance the climate for all faculty members.
Women's Web Site
Please direct inquiries to Mary J. Harvey.
Phone: 773.702.8806
Email: mharvey@uchicago.edu
Work-Life Integration
Recruiting, retaining, and cultivating the finest faculty and staff increasingly requires institutional recognition of the demands and challenges that arise in the personal lives of all University employees. To that end the Provost’s Office announces new and strengthened measures in support of work-life integration. These measures will ensure we have in place policies, practices, and programs to enhance the productivity and job satisfaction of all personnel.
Announcement of Work-Life Integration Initiative
Resources for Work-Life Integration
Please direct inquiries to Mary J. Harvey.
Phone: 773.702.8806
Email: mharvey@uchicago.edu