What is the impact of the Parental Leave (PL) policy for eligible graduate students?

What is the impact of the Parental Leave (PL) policy for eligible graduate students?

Currently, graduate students who give birth (“birth parents”) are eligible for up to two months of Childbirth Accommodation (CBA). Parental Leave (PL) expands the policy so that all parents who have significant responsibilities for a newborn or a child newly placed with them (as above) are eligible for one month of leave from academic, research, and teaching responsibilities. If the student is currently supported by a RA, TA, or fellowship, the leave will be paid, as described below. Birth parents are also eligible for Parental Leave, bringing their total potential leave duration to three months.

Note: prior to the implementation of this policy, some schools and departments offered a third month of Childbirth Accommodation to their students who give birth. With this policy, this third month is classified as “Parental Leave” rather than an extension to Childbirth Accommodation, with no net change in benefits for birth parents in these areas.

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