UNC Greensboro proudly announces it has been certified by Family Forward NC, an initiative that encourages North Carolina employers to create a family friendly environment for their employees, fostering incentives that boost employee retention and recruitment.

UNCG is the first of North Carolina’s public universities to be recognized, and one of the largest of the 51 employers certified to date in Greensboro. 

Jeanne Madorin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, says, “I am very happy that UNCG has received certification and excited to share this with candidates who want to work in an environment that supports the commitment employees have to their families.” 

The certification speaks to UNCG’s belief that our employees should have every tool at their fingertips to create a healthy work-life balance, and they should not feel they have to pass up career-building opportunities due to a lack of support or prioritization for their families. 

Additionally, decades of research have shown that children need supportive and supported families and communities to build strong brains, and their health and development benefits from regular attendance in high-quality birth-through-age eight learning environments.

Mutual Benefits for NC Children, Families, and Economic Development 

UNCG is a part of a community effort in Greensboro to become the first Family Forward NC certified community in North Carolina. Our Future Ready Greensboro campaign goal is to have 50,000 employees in the Greater Greensboro area. As UNCG is one of the largest employers in Greensboro to be certified to date, it contributes greatly toward the campaign’s goal.

Launched in 2018, Family Forward NC is an innovative initiative to improve children’s health and well-being and keep North Carolina’s businesses competitive. It is employer-led change to increase access to research-based, family-friendly practices – big and small – that improve workplace productivity, recruitment and retention; grow a strong economy; and support children’s healthy development. To date, Family Forward NC has engaged with more than 9,600 employers across North Carolina. 

A Family Forward NC Employer Certification designates employers that offer policies and practices that support the health and well-being of working families and children. To achieve certification, it looks at employer benefits in the following policy and practice categories: 

• Paid leave and wages 
• Accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding workers 
• Childcare supports 
• Health and wellness benefits 
• Scheduling practices 

UNCG’s mission of prioritizing families extends to its students. The University makes earning a degree in higher education accessible to student-parents through its Child Care Education Program. In 2024, it was awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Education’s Access to Child Care Enhances Student Success (ACCESS) Project to provide free childcare for qualifying students.

Additionally, UNCG provides lactation and breastfeeding stations across campus for students and employees who wish for a quiet and private space when they return to work from parental leave.