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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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Q. I am pregnant and will give birth next semester. Does GSAS have a maternity leave?
A. The GSAS policy on Suspension of Responsibilities for Childbirth is available here and includes a form we ask you to submit to notify us you will soon be eligible to use what this policy provides. This includes a six week suspension from responsibilities associated with taking classes, being a TA, or working in a lab. It also gives you an extra semester of Columbia housing, registration, and time to complete any degree requirements. Once you've read the policy, if you have questions, email ja2310@columbia.edu.
Q. Why is this not called a maternity leave?
A. A leave, as it is officially defined by the university, means you are not registered and are not a student, thus you are not eligible for housing, student health insurance, or funding. So this is not a leave; it is a suspension period of six weeks to accommodate students who give birth.
Q. Why aren't parents who adopt or male students whose partners give birth included in this policy?
A. Right now the policy is to provide extra time to those who give birth. A plan that would provide a suspension of responsibility period to those who adopt and to those whose partner gives birth has been proposed for the next phase of the policy.
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