Handbook
Leave Policies
All vacation/sick time requests should be approved by the mentor and reported to the Program before the student takes leave. Extended leave time requests also must be approved by the Program Director and SGSHS. Stipend payments and insurance coverage will continue while the Graduate Assistant-Stipend student is on approved sick, vacation, or parental leave. Sick, vacation, and parental leave days do not accrue from year to year.
SICK LEAVE
A Graduate Assistant-Stipend student may be granted up to 15 days of sick leave per calendar year.
VACATION LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS
A Graduate Assistant-Stipend student will receive a stipend payment for all UMMC-approved holidays. In addition, they may be granted up to 15 days* of vacation per calendar year.
Vacation days do not accumulate, and the balance resets on January 1. Missing more than 15 business days/year for vacation will result in a loss of pay.
PARENTAL LEAVE
A Graduate Assistant-Stipend student may be granted up to 30 calendar days of parental leave per year for the adoption or birth of a child. Either parent is eligible for parental leave. They may request to use any remaining sick or vacation time to extend their paid parental leave.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
A leave of absence is generally granted to students in good academic standing with the university and approved by the Program Director and Dean of the Graduate School. For students in good academic standing, a leave of absence is generally approved for no more than one academic semester for personal, financial, or medical reasons. For students not in good academic standing, i.e., those whose GPA is less than 3.0 or whose research efforts/results are not satisfactory, leaves of absence will be given at the discretion of the Program Director and Dean of the Graduate School. Such students will be permitted the option of withdrawal. Stipend payment is suspended during a leave of absence. Thus, a leave of absence is designed for highly extenuating circumstances beyond what would normally be considered for short-term health or family issues, for example. Guidance as to whether a planned absence falls within the intent of a full leave of absence should be sought from the Program Director and/or the Graduate School administration.
A Graduate Assistant-Stipend student is required to be actively enrolled and covered by the student health insurance plan for a minimum of three months prior to the beginning of a leave of absence.