Academic Programs Catalog

Graduate Education

Enrollment and Registration

Maximum and Minimum Credits
Graduate Assistant (not covered by the Graduate Employees Union Contract) Illness, Injury, and Pregnancy Leave Policy

A graduate assistant unable to fulfill the duties of their appointment because of illness or injury shall notify the administrator of their major unit as soon as circumstances permit.  Similarly, a graduate assistant unable to fulfill the duties of the appointment because of pregnancy shall notify the administrator of their major unit as soon as circumstances permit.

During the illness, injury, or pregnancy the major unit shall adjust (reduce, waive, or reschedule) the graduate assistant's duties as those duties and the assistant's physical circumstances reasonably dictate.  If total absence from duties becomes necessary, the major unit shall maintain the stipend of the appointment, provided the graduate assistant is still enrolled, for a period of two months, or to the end of the appointment period or of the semester, whichever should occur first.

The graduate assistant shall have the right to return to the assistantship, within the original terms of the appointment, at such time as they are able to reassume the duties of the position.

A graduate assistant planning to take a leave under this policy shall notify the administrator of their major unit as soon as circumstances permit.

A graduate assistant who adopts a child shall be entitled to adoption leave of up to two (2) months, the first week of which will be paid by the major unit and the balance of which will be unpaid, to commence on or before the date of adoption as determined by the graduate assistant.  

A graduate assistant who becomes a parent by birth and is not otherwise covered by the pregnancy leave policy, shall be entitled to parental leave of up to two (2) months, the first week of which will be paid by the major unit and the balance of which will be unpaid to commence on or before the date of birth as determined by the graduate assistant. Additional unpaid leave may be arranged on an ad hoc basis, as mutually agreed with the major unit.

Eligibility for adoption leave or parental leave is determined under the following conditions: (1) It must be completed within six (6) weeks of the birth or adoption of a child under the age of six (6); (2) It may not extend beyond the graduate assistant’s previously scheduled appointment end date; and (3) It must be requested in writing no less than four (4) weeks prior to the scheduled start of the leave.