The University of Miami will mark the official opening of its lactation rooms for nursing mothers with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m. in the lobby of Gables One Tower, 1320 South Dixie Highway, across from the Coral Gables campus. A reception and unveiling of a lactation room will follow.

Scheduled to speak at the ceremony are UM President Donna E. Shalala, Vice President for Human Resources Nerissa E. Morris, and Marie Denise Gervais, assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Miller School of Medicine.

The University values the importance of breastfeeding and is proud to join hundreds of other institutions and businesses across America that provide lactation support for their employees. To date, nine rooms have opened at the University: four on the Coral Gables campus, two on the Miller School campus, two at University of Miami Hospital, and one at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

In December 2011 the Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade recognized the University and Jackson Memorial Hospital for contributing to the countywide effort to decrease infant mortality and improve programs for prenatal, postnatal, and infant health care and education. The University was also recognized as a “Breastfeeding-Friendly Worksite” and honored with a “Florida Breastfeeding-Friendly Employer” award.

“We are pleased that our nursing mothers will be able to successfully balance their important priorities of family and work through on-site lactation support, and encourage supervisors and co-workers to lend their support to allow nursing mothers to have dedicated time for this important initiative. Healthy families make productive employees,” said Morris.

Details of the program, which is open to faculty, staff, and students, can be viewed in the Break Time for Nursing Mothers policy.

Faculty, staff, and students who need a private place to express milk may reserve space on a first-come, first-served basis and should complete a Nursing Mother Accommodation Request Form. Once completed, Equality Administration will coordinate with the nursing mother to identify the space closest to her work site. A master calendar is available to schedule employees who have desired times to use a nursing room. Nursing mothers are, however, encouraged to use their personal office space or space identified by their departments when possible.

To attend the ribbon cutting ceremony, please RSVP online at www.miami.edu/ea by Wednesday, April 25. For questions regarding scheduling or related policy, contact the Equality Administration Office at [email protected].