Graduate students who are employed as Academic Student Employees (ASEs) or Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) are eligible for limited paid and unpaid leave options related to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Additionally, ASEs and GSRs may apply for reimbursement of some eligible childcare expenses. All of the policies and benefits outlined on this page are administered by the UCSB Academic Personnel office.
To view academic accommodations available to graduate students with children, including a leave of absence and an extension on time to degree, visit the Academic Parenting Accommodations page.
Guiding Principles
The Parenting Accommodation Policy for Graduate Students is by no means designed to replace the communication and cooperation between student and advisor, and the good-faith efforts of both to accommodate the arrival of a new child in the home by birth, adoption, or foster placement, or the care of a child with a serious illness. It is the intention of this policy to reinforce the importance of that cooperation, and to provide support where needed to make that accommodation possible.
See also the Parenting Accommodation Policy for Academic Accommodations
Employment Accommodations
UAW Academic Student Employee Contract Specifications
Academic Student Employees are represented by the UAW-2865 union, whose contract with the University of California includes information related to paid and unpaid leave options for pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Please refer to Article 17 of the current contract for more information. You may also view the full contract here.
See also this chart from Academic Personnel that summarizes information about different types of ASE leaves, including leave related to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.
Accommodations for New Parents Employed as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR Title)
The following financial accommodation is available from the Graduate Division, dependent on the availability of funding.
Note: Students with an ASE appointment are supported through the UAW process, which is administered by the student’s department. Students supported by university fellowships will experience no change in their funding during parenting accommodation within a quarter (does not apply to a formal leave of absence). Students who do not already hold a fellowship or graduate student research academic or leave appointment will not receive support under this provision.
For more information, please review the Parental Leave Policy.
Graduate Student Researchers are eligible for up to four weeks of paid leave due to the Graduate Student Researchers own serious health condition, or to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. In addition, a parent other than the birth-parent is eligible to use this paid leave for baby-bonding and will be eligible for up to another two weeks of unpaid leave for baby-bonding. The total paid period of combined pregnancy, childbirth, medical and sick leave may not exceed six-weeks within an academic year.
For most GSR assignments, with advance planning, we encourage the principal investigators to consider modified assignments and/or reduced activity to accommodate the physical limitations during pregnancy and childbirth. For example, principal investigators may continue to support students while they are writing or otherwise preparing the development or defense of a dissertation. Such activity is typically an allowable expense on a research grant or contract if the student has already been funded to do the work related to that project.
If it is necessary to hire a replacement while the GSR is on parenting accommodation or if the grant disallows payment during the accommodation periods, the Graduate Division will work with the PI to ensure that the parent’s funding is maintained.
Childcare Reimbursement Program
Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) and Academic Student Employees (ASEs) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, are eligible for reimbursement of some child-care expenses through programs established by the UC Office of the President and administered on the UC campuses. Each eligible GSR and ASE may receive up to $1,100 per quarter for expenses incurred during the GSR's or ASE's appointment period during the regular academic year. A student must have a valid GSR or ASE appointment for a minimum of 25% time for the duration of the period for which the reimbursement is submitted.
In addition, a GSR or ASE who meets the eligibility criteria for a summer session appointment can be reimbursed up to $1,100 for eligible expenses incurred during the summer session term. The $1,100 maximum applies regardless of the number of summer terms a GSR or ASE may work in a calendar year. To be eligible for reimbursement during the summer term, the GSR or ASE must also be a registered student in the regular academic terms preceding and following the summer session appointment.
For more information, please refer to the Childcare Reimbursement Factsheet and the Childcare Reimbursement Form.
For More Information
- For questions related to parenting accommodations and benefits for ASEs, you may contact Billy Ko in Academic Personnel or a member of the UAW-2865 union chapter at UCSB.
- For questions related to parenting accommodations and benefits for GSRs, you may contact Billy Ko in Academic Personnel.