Fellow members of the Columbia community:

I am pleased to announce several new initiatives intended to enhance quality of life for the employees in our University community. With these work/life initiatives, we affirm Columbia's commitment to building an environment that allows us to achieve excellence in our work and to have an abundant life outside of our professional endeavors.

Recently, we announced the appointment of Carol Hoffman, Columbia's first associate provost and director of work/life. Hoffman joins us from the University of California at Berkeley, where she served as director of work/life, founded their employee assistance program, inaugurated the university's elder care program, and expanded child care opportunities--all with an understanding that there are a broad range of family life issues all of us must contend with outside the workplace.

Hoffman has already made great strides for Columbia's work/life balance. Since her arrival, she has finalized the upcoming launch of a new program called "Backup Care Options." Beginning in June, this extensive support program will provide temporary care for dependents in cases when regular care arrangements are interrupted.Services include access to specialists 24 hours a day, seven days a week, who can quickly arrange temporary care to support eligible employees and their spouses/partners, elders and dependent children. Beyond a small co-pay, the University will cover all costs.

Hoffman also will be directing several other work/life initiatives such as expanding our affiliated child care centers to include infant and toddler care; adding new centers to our child care affiliates network; establishing a work/life Web site that will invite continued feedback and suggestions; and developing multiple housing assistance initiatives, including a housing counselor for all employees regarding rental and purchase decisions.

Columbia's strength as an institution is inextricably linked to the health and well-being of the people who work here. I would like to thank Provost Alan Brinkley, Vice President of Human Resources Cindy Durning, and Vice Provost Jean Howard for their collective leadership in helping us take the next step in making Columbia one of the best places in higher education to work.

Sincerely,

Lee C. Bollinger