Schulich Enables Breastfeeding Mothers
During her time at Schulich, Melanie Rodriguez (Accelerated MBA ’20) found tremendous support as a new mother.
“Every step of the process, from speaking with the admissions team to having my first tour, made it clear to me that Schulich prioritized mothers,” said Rodriguez. “There were even five mothers in my row during orientation!”
Her first tour of Schulich wasn’t the typical prospective student’s tour.
“I was shown where I could breastfeed, pump, and store milk with privacy. There was a place to sit in privacy, a table so I could read notes while pumping, and a fridge/freezer to store milk during classes.”
She was also shown everything needed to clean and sanitize breastfeeding equipment and bottles.
“These important gestures made continuing my breastfeeding journey so much easier. This thoughtful setup is rarely found and yet, I would argue, is urgently needed at all business schools and all workplaces,” she says.
Rodriguez was happily surprised by how accommodating and supportive each member of the Schulich faculty was – whether she needed to take an unexpected break to pump or miss a class because her son was sick. Professors were empathetic and understanding.
“The amazing experience in the classroom gave me the confidence to participate in extra-curricular experiences during my MBA, such as the G7 Youth Summit in France,” she said. “Completing the MBA with a baby who breastfed was not easy. However, when you have supportive faculty, policies, and environments in place, more than you can imagine is possible.”