Reporter
CSU Bakersfield faculty and staff received an email in February reminding them that they should not bring their children to the workplace during working hours.
Kellie Garcia, Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Administrative Services, said this policy has been in existence for at least 25 years, though to some staff members, the policy was a new implement.
“This is not a new policy. I just re-date it and send it every several years,” said Garcia.
The reissuing of this policy was due to an incident in the Doré Theatre when a staff member’s child was hurt.
CSUB has liability insurance that covers incidents involving staff and students on campus.
“The University does not carry liability coverage for unauthorized individuals on campus,” according to the policy.
To decrease the possibility of an incident happening on campus, staff members are asked to not bring their children with them to the workplace.
According to Garcia, not allowing children in the workplace also allows for a more productive work environment.
According to Garcia, this does not mean faculty and staff members cannot bring their children into the university indefinitely. She said that children are welcome to events on campus where the staff member is not working, such as graduation.
The Children’s Center, located on the west side of campus across the street from the old dorms, is also available for staff.
They are currently working on a nursing station that will allow them to care for children as little as six months.
They care for children as old as five years of age. Their hours of operation are from 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“The Children’s Center currently serves 70 percent students’ children, 20 percent staff and 10 percent community,” said Children’s Center Director Gladys Garcia-Jara.
A staff member, however, cannot use the Children’s Center as emergency childcare.
“There is a registration process which is the same for everybody,” said Garcia-Jara. “The Children’s Center is not a drop-off care facility.”
The prices staff members pay vary depending on how often they bring their children to the Children’s Center.
Chris Cruz-Boone, who has worked at CSUB since 2006, was surprised by CSUB’s policy for children in the workplace.
“There has not been a semester when I have not brought my children to school with me,” said Cruz-Boone.
Both of Cruz-Boone’s children went to the Children’s Center when they were the appropriate age.
“I would bring my children to school early with me, have then in my office, then I would take them to the Children’s Center,” said Cruz-Boone.
“I have come at night and in the weekend. This requires I bring them to be more accessible to my students,” said Cruz-Boone, whose office contains toys and a filing cabinet covered with her children’s drawings and notes.
“I love that I turn around and there are messages from my children all around me,” said Cruz-Boone.
“Having toys in my office makes the room more welcoming for students who also bring their children with them to campus,” Cruz-Boone said.
The policy can be found on the CSUB Human Resources page under HR policies and procedures.
