Expectant parents

Prepare your CA/PA request five months before your planned due/placement date.

Preparation: Connect with your Grad Administrator and academic advisor to discuss

• Alternative coverage for RA, TA, or IG assignment during the accommodation period
• Deadlines for time-sensitive research presentations or reports or publications
• Required coursework and deadlines for course completion
• Time frames for qualifying exams, fieldwork, and other milestones
• Reasonable allowances for work flexibility leading up to the accommodation date
  • Master’s students, Sloan doctoral students, and international students should consult their department or the ISO office to determine how their accommodation might impact their program completion or visa status.

Submission: Submit your CA/PA request four months before the due/placement date with your Grad Administrator’s approval.

Notification: Wait for the Office of Graduate Education (OGE) approval letter — granted to graduate students who satisfy the eligibility and application requirements. The OGE will confirm the Accommodation with the student’s department and will notify the International Students Office (if the student is international) of the leave period. 

Accommodation: The planned start date of your CA will be the anticipated date of birth, adoption, or placement.

Academic

An approved accommodation for CA & PA will stop the academic research clocks for assignments related to class and/or research requirements. Departments and faculty will work with you to reconfigure deadlines to accommodate your time away.

Financial

During the approved CA or PA, students supported by an RA or TA appointment or MIT-funded fellowship award will continue to receive the benefits of their academic appointment or award (tuition, salary/stipend, and health insurance, if applicable) at the same rate as their RA, TA, or MIT-funded fellowship would have provided.

For students with external fellowships

Students with external fellowships must follow the rules and regulations of their granting agency.  For assistance navigating your fellowship’s CA and PA policies, please reach out to the OGE fellowships team.

For self-funded students

Students not supported by an RA, TA, IG, or MIT-funded fellowship will receive the academic accommodations of Childbirth and/or Parental Accommodation, but will not receive financial support. Tuition and fees will still apply. 

On-campus housing considerations

Students residing on campus with approved Childbirth Accommodation and/or Parental Accommodation may remain in campus housing. Expecting couples living in non-family housing should contact the Housing Office 6 months before their due/placement date to make arrangements to transition to family housing.

Health and safety considerations while pregnant

Each department has an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Coordinator who can help you think through the implications of your work environment on your and your baby’s physical health and safety.

Discussing your parental accommodation plan with your department/advisor

CA and PA is an entitlement benefit granted to all graduate students. A simple rule of thumb is to focus your conversation on the work: how to wrap up or hand off critical work elements before your accommodation begins, and how you will reintegrate to work upon your return. If you would like support around how to approach this conversation, reach out to the Graduate Families Program Administrator at gradfamilies@mit.edu or your Grad Administrator. 

Financial considerations

To see all the financial resources available to families, visit the family financial resources page. Here you will find information on the Grant for Graduate Students with Children and workshops on financial literacy budgeting and planning, as well as resources like the iGrad Portal and the MIT Federal Credit Union.

Additional support

If you need help understanding the full policy, you can contact the Graduate Families Program Administrator.