Defines an Academic Accommodation Period for registered and matriculated women graduate students anticipating or experiencing a birth. Provides guidance for students who wish to take a leave of absence for pregnancy, adoption or childbirth-related reasons. Defines a Lactation Accommodation policy for matriculated students and postdoctoral scholars. Complies with the requirements of California Education Code 66281.7.
Stanford University recognizes the importance of balancing the family and academic needs of new parents and provides support for graduate students who are anticipating the birth or adoption of a child. Stanford extends this support to parents expecting a baby, to parents who are adopting a child, to parents through surrogacy, and to parents nursing their infants.
This policy does not replace the communication and cooperation between students and their advisors and departments, and the good-faith efforts of both to accommodate the birth or adoption of a child. It is the intention of this policy to reinforce the importance of that cooperation and to provide support where needed to make that accommodation possible.
Stanford University prohibits discrimination on the basis of any characteristic protected by applicable law, including discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, in the administration of its programs and activities. Stanford will neither require nor prohibit leaves of absence for pregnancy or childbirth. In addition, Stanford will reasonably accommodate its graduate students, including pregnant students, so that they may continue to make progress toward the completion of their degree. The accommodation is defined in this policy.
Any student who believes that they have not been treated equitably under the provisions of this policy may file a grievance with Title IX Office, through the Student Non-Academic Grievance Procedure.
To all matriculated graduate students and the programs in which they are enrolled. The Lactation Accommodation also applies to matriculated undergraduate students and postdoctoral scholars appointed by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
This policy is intended to provide an accommodation for the demands placed on a student by late-stage pregnancy, childbirth, and the care of a newborn. After careful consideration of this policy and discussion of their academic situation with the advisor and department, the parent may choose whether to remain enrolled with a Childbirth Academic Accommodation during the period of time around the birth of the child, to enroll part-time, or to suspend enrollment by taking a Pregnancy or Parental Leave of Absence.
Definition
The term “non-birth parent” as used in this policy includes:
a) Overview of Enrollment Options
The following summary is intended to assist in making this decision. It is important for the graduate student to review the details of this entire policy, as well as the Leave of Absence policy, and to discuss options with their department. International students should discuss with the staff at the Bechtel International Center the impact of this decision on their visa.
CONTINUED ENROLLMENT WITH CHILDBIRTH ACCOMMODATION:
PREGNANCY OR PARENTAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
b) Continued Enrollment with Childbirth Accommodation
A Childbirth Accommodation is designed to make it possible to maintain the parent’s full-time, registered student status, and to facilitate their return to full participation in classwork, and, where applicable, research, teaching, and clinical training in a seamless manner.
All pregnant students and non-birth parent students who are registered and matriculated in a graduate degree program:
c) Requesting a Childbirth Accommodation
Matriculated and enrolled pregnant graduate students or non-birth parent students may formally request a Childbirth Accommodation, including a one-quarter extension of University and departmental academic requirements and up to two-quarters of Academic Accommodation Period around the birth of a child. This Academic Accommodation Period is not a leave of absence from University responsibilities. The expectation is that the student will be in residence, and, assuming good health of the birth parent and the infant, will remain engaged in classwork and research, and, if applicable and feasible, clinical activities, even if at a reduced level.
The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE) administers the Childbirth Accommodation process through an online request. A letter from the birth parent’s health-care provider stating the anticipated delivery date must be provided as part of the request.
The request goes to the student’s advisor for review and the department is notified. Once reviewed by the advisor, the request is then routed to the VPGE Office. VPGE will notify the student, the student's advisor and department, and the relevant University administrative offices regarding the one-quarter extension of University and departmental academic requirements and the Academic Accommodation Period of up to two quarters, normally beginning with the quarter in which the birth is expected.
d) Coursework, Research and Clinical Activities
A Childbirth Accommodation will provide a two-quarter period for the birth parent and a one-quarter period for the non-birth parent of scheduling flexibility in regard to assignments due, reports anticipated, or other class- and research-related requirements. It does not, however, waive class attendance requirements for students in the Law School or clinical training or other requirements for students pursuing an M.D. or other degrees in the Medical School that require clinical training. Students in other schools are expected to attend class and participate in seminars to the extent that the health of the birth parent and newborn and the demands of caring for an infant allow. Faculty or relevant staff are expected to work with the student to make arrangements for submitting work for completion of requirements, and to grade it promptly so as to remove any "Incomplete" notations as rapidly as possible. Faculty members are encouraged to assign "N" and "L" grades, where appropriate.
e) Part-Time Enrollment
A Childbirth Accommodation makes it possible for pregnant and non-birth parent graduate students to maintain their full-time student status, so that they continue accumulating units toward their residency requirement, and to avoid triggering any interruptions in on-campus housing, insurance coverage, eligibility for student loans, and deferment of student loan repayment. By remaining full-time students, the visa status of international students is not affected.
While it is usually better for the student to remain enrolled full-time, in some cases, depending on the coursework appropriate to the stage of their academic program, part-time enrollment would be appropriate. This will require careful consultation, in advance, with the students’ advisor, the department student services administrator and possibly Bechtel International Center. The consultation will ensure that the implications for academic progress, visa status, loan eligibility and deferment, etc., have been thoroughly investigated. In completing the petition for the Childbirth Accommodation, the student may request up to two quarters of part-time enrollment by means of a Graduate Petition for Part-Time Enrollment. If part-time enrollment status is approved, the student will retain all privileges of the Childbirth Accommodation.
Stanford neither requires nor prohibits a Pregnancy or Parental Leave of Absence. All provisions of the Leave of Absence policy (see GAP 5.3) will apply.
Any pregnant graduate student may request a Pregnancy Leave of Absence in order to suspend their student enrollment around the time of the birth. Any matriculated pregnant graduate student requesting a Pregnancy Leave of Absence will automatically be approved for a leave period of four quarters (12 months). Students may choose to return to enrolled status before the Pregnancy leave period expires.
Non-birth parents may request a Parental Leave of Absence. Non-birth parents who request a Parental Leave of Absence will automatically be approved for a leave period of one academic quarter.
As defined in that policy, the following conditions are permitted for Pregnancy and Parental Leaves of Absence:
|
Pregnancy Leave - Birth Parent |
Parental Leave - Non-Birth Parent |
Leave Period |
12 months (Four Quarters) |
Three Months (One Quarter) |
Candidacy Period Extensions |
|
|
• Pre-candidacy Period |
12 months (Four Quarters) |
Three Months (One Quarter) |
• Candidacy Period |
12 months (Four Quarters) |
Three Months (One Quarter) |
University Housing |
Remain in housing for one to two quarters during leave and enroll the quarter following leave |
Remain in housing for one quarter during leave and enroll the quarter following leave |
*Questions about University housing should be directed to R&DE Student Housing .
As part of a Childbirth Accommodation, pregnant graduate students in their first six years of graduate study who are supported by teaching and/or research assistantships will be excused from their regular TA or RA duties for a period of one quarter (three months), normally during the quarter in which the baby is born, without any loss of financial support. If the student is funded by a fellowship or training grant, this support will typically remain unchanged during the accommodation period.
Graduate students who do not have an ongoing commitment of financial support in the form of fellowships or training grants, or teaching or research assistantships, may request a Childbirth Accommodation, including an Academic Accommodation Period and an automatic one-quarter extension of academic requirements, but are not eligible for tuition or other funding from the Childbirth Accommodation Fund.
Assistantships
For most graduate students for whom a teaching assistantship (TA) is part of their support package, it should be possible to arrange the timing of teaching assignments to accommodate childbirth. During the one quarter (three month) period, students supported by teaching assistantships may choose to continue in some limited capacity (e.g., grading, preparing course materials, or other non-intensive duties), in order to finish out an academic quarter, but cannot be required to do so. With advance planning, most research assistantship (RA) assignments can similarly be adjusted to accommodate childbirth. Most granting agencies provide for a short period of reduced activity due to health or personal issues. The support of students while they are writing or otherwise preparing the development or defense of a dissertation is typically an allowable expense on a research grant or contract if the student has already been funded to do the work related to that project.
For birth parents whose doctoral program is funded by a 50% FTE RA or TA, in most cases, they will be funded for one quarter during the period of accommodation. The student’s financial support will be provided in the form of a stipend payment to the student from the Childbirth Accommodation Fund.
It is expected that the Childbirth Accommodation Funding would replace one quarter of RA/TA funding. If the date of birth makes that untenable, the VPGE Office will work with the department and provide the balance of a 25% FTE RA/TA appointment for two quarters in the form of a stipend and tuition payment. Matching department RA or TA funding for two quarters may provide flexibility for the student and department to arrange funding around the birth.
Once a Childbirth Accommodation has been processed, the VPGE Office will determine if the regulations of the funding agency supporting the assistantship allow a period of reduced activity and occasional absence. If it does not, the student's salary and/or stipend and associated tuition for the funding accommodation period will be paid from the Childbirth Accommodation Fund, administered by the VPGE Office. If continued funding would be allowed by the granting agency, but project deadlines require that a Principal Investigator hire a temporary replacement, the support for the birth parent may be charged to the Childbirth Accommodation Fund for the funding accommodation period.
The student, their advisor, and the department should recognize that it might not be feasible to return to a regular TA or RA assignment immediately after the Childbirth Accommodation period. In that case, arrangements should be made to move a teaching assignment to another quarter, to assign limited on-site duties to a research assistant, or to find an alternative form of support. These issues should be negotiated sensitively with the student's needs in mind. The student should work proactively with their department to make arrangements for ongoing support beyond the childbirth funding accommodation period if they cannot return to normal duties.
Fellowships
Students who are supported by fellowships internal to Stanford normally have their stipends distributed as lump-sum payments at the beginning of each quarter. Students supported in this manner will see no change in their fellowship support.
Students who are supported by fellowships external to Stanford must adhere to the rules of the granting agency with respect to absences from academic and research work. If the granting agency requires suspension of fellowship benefits during the one quarter period, the student will be eligible for substitute payment from the Childbirth Accommodation Fund.
This policy applies to undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars (faculty, staff, or campus visitors should contact the WorkLife Office).
Stanford University supports the importance of health and bonding for parents nursing their infants. To promote a family-friendly work environment and to ensure access for students and postdoctoral scholars who wish to breastfeed, the university will provide reasonable accommodations to enable parents to express breastmilk.
Lactation spaces are available to all members of the university community, including students, postdoctoral scholars, and third parties who participate in Stanford programs and activities. The WorkLife Office maintains a list of campus spaces that may be used for lactation. Additional resources for lactation support are available through the WorkLife Office.
Step One – Request: Student or postdoctoral scholar discusses a lactation accommodation the GLO or the OPA representative. The request does not need to be made in writing nor is a doctor’s note required.
Step Two – Discussion: The GLO or OPA representative will meet with the student or postdoctoral scholar to acknowledge the request and help develop an accommodation. The representative should confirm that the student or postdoctoral scholar has a private, clean and secure place to express breastmilk (see Identifying Space). If the student or postdoctoral scholar has questions or concerns about the available accommodations on campus, questions should be referred to the Title IX Office.
Step Three – Follow up: The GLO or OPA representative should confirm the accommodation in writing and offer to revisit the plan with the student or postdoctoral scholar after two to three weeks to see if any changes are needed.
A reasonable accommodation includes time taken as needed by the student or postdoctoral scholar to express breastmilk in a space that complies with state and federal requirements (see Identifying Space). When possible, time should be taken during regularly scheduled meal and rest periods. The number of breaks needed to express breastmilk may vary. A nursing parent will typically need two or three breaks during an eight-hour period; however, additional break times may be necessary. The break schedule should be based on the parent’s needs and the operational needs of the department.
Appropriate space that complies with state and federal requirements includes any clean space that can be made private, shielded from view and free from intrusions, and is not located in a bathroom. Appropriate space can include a private office, a conference room with a locking door, or any other compliant space that can be secured and shielded from view.