Faculty Parental Leave Plan

Effective January 1, 2018, the four schools of Columbia University Irving Medical Center (the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, and the School of Nursing) will implement a pilot program that will make available a parental leave benefit to provide up to 13 weeks of paid parental leave.

Eligible faculty members will be entitled to parental leave for up to 13 weeks at full salary. The period of parental leave must begin within the first year after the birth or adoption of the new child but may continue beyond that year. However, parental leave beyond the paid 13 weeks must be taken as unpaid leave according to current university policies. 

While on parental leave, faculty are not permitted to accept assignments, either with or without compensation, outside the University.

The parental leave plan is designed to replace the combination of medical and/or child care leaves for individuals who meet the eligibility requirements. However, eligible faculty may still elect to take those leaves rather than ask for parental leave if they wish.

If parental leave is not preceded by other periods of leave covered by the FMLA, the first 12 weeks are deemed to meet the requirements of that Act.

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