The University of Minnesota's Parental Leave for Employees policy provides six weeks of paid leave related to the birth, adoption, or gestational surrogacy of children. This policy applies to graduate students as well. During a parental leave, students remain enrolled full-time and do not need to take a leave of absence.
Graduate students are expected to notify their advisors, supervisors, and the Director of Graduate Studies at least four months in advance of the anticipated event, so appropriate arrangements can be made to cover any TA or teaching responsibilities.
Students must have the parental leave certified in order to qualify for paid leave. Please contact the department Administrator, Alexis Cuttance ([email protected]), to discuss options regarding the timing of the leave and to ensure all appropriate documentation is completed for the certification.
Beginning Fall Semester 2018, the Department of Political Science will support certified parental leaves by providing one extra semester of funding - in the form of a TA appointment - at end of a student's funding package (usually five years).