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Graduate Student Leaves, Parental Relief and Pregnancy Accommodations

Detailed information about leaves of absence, parental relief and pregnancy accommodations can be found in the University Bulletin. These are listed within each graduate school's section, under the Academic Regulations subsection. Below, please find a table summary of each of these options.

Question / Topic	Health Leave	Personal Leave
How to initiate process?	Talk to the appropriate school dean listed below. Officially make the request in Workday.	Students must apply 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the semester they wish to take a leave. Talk to the faculty leadership of the department/program and/or the appropriate school dean listed above. Officially make the request in Workday. In exceptional situations, a student may request a leave after a semester has begun.
Length of leave	Determined on an individual basis.	Leaves are not granted for more than two semesters unless there are extenuating circumstances. There is a limit of two semesters for Personal Leaves during the student’s time in the program.
Time to degree	Time away does not count towards time to degree.	Time away does not count towards time to degree.
Is financial support maintained?	No, not during the leave. In general, the original offer of financial support at time of admission is continued when you return.	No, not during the leave. In general, the original offer of financial support at time of admission is continued when you return.
Does health insurance continue?	If a student has been enrolled in an academic program for more than 30 days, Brandeis health insurance continues until the end of the coverage period, which typically ends in mid-August. After the coverage ends, students may directly petition the insurer to request an extension. This decision is made solely by the health insurance company, not by Brandeis. Students will be responsible for paying for the premium costs.	If a student has been enrolled in an academic program for more than 30 days, Brandeis health insurance continues until the end of the coverage period, which typically ends in mid-August. After the coverage ends, students may directly petition the insurer to request an extension. This decision is made solely by the health insurance company, not by Brandeis. Students will be responsible for paying for the premium costs.
Access to Brandeis facilities and personnel (library privileges, Brandeis UNET, access to advisors and faculty, among other things)	Students on leave may stay in contact with, and visit, individuals on campus, such as their advisors and other faculty, staff and students. As a general matter, students on leave may participate in Brandeis activities that are open to the public. However, since they are no longer in “active status” while on leave, they do not have access to health services such as the health and counseling centers.	Students on leave may stay in contact with, and visit, individuals on campus, such as their advisors and other faculty, staff and students. As a general matter, students on leave may participate in Brandeis activities that are open to the public. However, since they are no longer in “active status” while on leave, they do not have access to health services such as the health and counseling centers.
Does student status continue?	Students on leave may stay in contact with, and visit, individuals on campus, such as their advisors and other faculty, staff and students. As a general matter, students on leave may participate in Brandeis activities that are open to the public. However, since they are no longer in “active status” while on leave, they do not have access to health services such as the health and counseling centers.	Students on a leave of absence are not active students. While students on leave retain their admitted student status, they are not registered and therefore do not have the rights and privileges of registered students. Because individuals on leave are not active students, taking a leave may have significant implications for student loans as well as for visas for international students.
Learn More	For detailed information about a leave, please check the University Bulletin. Policies are listed within each graduate school's section, under the Academic Regulations subsection. Jessica Basile, Assistant Dean of Graduate Affairs basile@brandeis.edu GSAS: Alyssa Canelli, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs acanelli@brandeis.edu More information can be found on GSAS website. Heller: Ravi Lakshmikanthan kanthan@brandeis.edu IBS: Meredith Robitaille mrobitai@brandeis.edu

Question / Topic	Parental Relief	Pregnancy Accommodation
How to initiate the process?	Talk to the faculty leadership of the department/program and/or the appropriate school dean listed below as early in pregnancy as possible. Officially make the request in Workday.	Talk to the appropriate school dean listed below and/or the office of Student Accessibility Support (SAS). Officially make the request in Workday.
Length of leave	Eight weeks.	Depends on health requirements.
Time to degree	Not applicable	Depends on accommodation specifics
Is financial support maintained?	Yes	Depends on accommodation specifics
Does health insurance continue?	Yes	Depends on accommodation specifics
Access to Brandeis facilities and personnel (library privileges, Brandeis UNET, access to advisors and faculty, among other things)	Yes	Yes
Learn More	For detailed information about these options, please check the University Bulletin. Policies are listed within each graduate school's section, under the Academic Regulations subsection: Jessica Basile, Assistant Dean of Graduate Affairs basile@brandeis.edu GSAS: Alyssa Canelli, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs acanelli@brandeis.edu More information can be found on GSAS website. Heller: Ravi Lakshmikanthan kanthan@brandeis.edu IBS: Meredith Robitaille mrobitai@brandeis.edu SAS: Jaspreet Mahal jaspreet26@brandeis.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope you can find your answer in this FAQs section, if not please contact Jessica Basile, Assistant Dean of Graduate Affairs basile@brandeis.edu

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How do I know which kind of Leave or Relief period to take?

Can my Leave or Parental Relief be extended?

Personal Leaves are rarely granted for more than two semesters. The length of a Health Leave is determined on an individualized basis. If you have taken the Parental Relief, you may have the option to change this to a Personal Leave if you would like more time than the allotted eight weeks. Please talk with your Assistant/Associate Dean of Student/Academic Affairs and/or the Director of Graduate Studies or Program Advisor.

I took one Leave and now wish to take a different type–how can I do so?

In general, taking one type of Leave will not impact a student’s ability to take another type of leave. Please talk with your Assistant/Associate Dean of Student/Academic Affairs and/or the Director of Graduate Studies or Program Advisor. Furthermore, if you have taken Parental Relief, you may have the option to change this to a Personal Leave if you would like more time than the allotted eight weeks. Please talk with your Assistant/Associate Dean of Student/Academic Affairs and/or the Director of Graduate Studies or Program Advisor.

How long can I take a Personal Leave of Absence?

Can I take different kinds of Leave/Relief/Accommodation at the same time?

How does Parental Relief interact with the Health Leave of Absence, Personal Leave of Absence, and Pregnancy Accommodation policies?

If a student is taking Parental Relief, it must begin on the date of birth, adoption, or placement in foster care and will run for up to eight-weeks. Parental Relief can run concurrently with accommodations taken under the Pregnancy Accommodation policy. As you must be a full-time graduate student to utilize Parental Relief, a student cannot be on a Personal or Health Leave at the same time. If a student wishes to take a Personal or Health Leave following Parental Relief, they should be in touch with their Assistant/Associate Dean to learn more.

If both parents are graduate students at Brandeis, can we both have Parental Relief?

If I receive guaranteed funding as part of my package (including a fellowship, teaching assistantship, or research assistantship),will I continue to receive the same level of funding during the Parental Relief period?

Yes, but if you are scheduled to work as a Teaching Assistant or Course Assistant you will not be paid the additional stipend for that work during the Relief period. Students employed by Brandeis on an hourly basis will not continue to receive pay for time they are not working their positions. Note that if a student’s guaranteed funding includes funds from a source external to Brandeis and the source does not permit payment during Parental Relief, Brandeis will provide the student with the equivalent amount. Students who secure their own outside funding (not guaranteed by Brandeis as part of the package) should be in touch directly with the agency to determine how Parental Relief will impact their funding.

If I wish to take less than eight weeks of Parental Relief, how do I do so?

If I confer with an Assistant or Associate Dean about the possibility of taking Parental Relief, will that conversation remain private?

Can I maintain my health insurance through Brandeis while I am on Leave or a Parental Relief?

If you are taking a Personal or Health Leave of Absence and have been enrolled in an academic program for more than 30 days into a semester, Brandeis health insurance continues until the end of the coverage period, which typically ends in mid-August. After the coverage ends, students may directly petition the insurer to request an extension. This decision is made solely by the health insurance company, not by Brandeis. Students will be responsible for paying for the premium costs. If you are taking a Parental Relief, you remain enrolled as a full-time student and Brandeis health insurance will continue until the end of the coverage period.

Can I be employed at Brandeis while on Leave?

How do I apply to take a Leave or Parental Relief?

Can Leaves be granted retroactively?

Can a Leave or Parental Relief start in the middle of a semester?

A student can go on a Health Leave of Absence at any point during the semester, as this depends on the medical issues involved. A Personal Leave must be granted two weeks prior to the semester’s beginning except in extenuating circumstances. Parental Relief must be planned for in advance, but can begin at any point during the semester.

I’m ready to return from Leave, what do I do?

Can I take a Leave if I am not in good academic standing?

Yes, you can take a Leave regardless of your academic standing. However, if your program is currently reviewing your academic performance and/or a withdrawal due to academic performance is likely, these processes will continue. Be sure to speak with your assistant/associate dean and/or advisor for further clarification.