Academic Student Employee Leave
Leave information for salaried Academic Student Employees (BX Contract)
Teaching Assistant | Teaching Fellow | Associate Instructor | Course Assistant
Getting Started
Please review the important leave information on this page and then select the appropriate leave type to review the relevant policies and pay options. Instructions on how to request a leave are located below.
Leave Type
Childbearing
Employees are entitled to up to four (4) months of unpaid Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) for a disability related to pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, as certified by a healthcare provider. For a normal birth the disability period is typically from about two (2) workweeks before until about six (6) workweeks after the birth (eight (8) workweeks for cesarean birth).
Childbearing leaves are normally without pay, however employees may elect to use any of the following options to continue being paid during this leave:
- Long-Term Leave [Article 18.D].
In each academic year (start of fall quarter), salaried employees are eligible for up to eight (8) workweeks of paid long-term leave. This may be used for:
- childbearing
- family medical leave
- own medical leave
- parental leave*
- Disability Pay.
If an employee is CORE benefit eligible, and on an unpaid leave of absence, they may be eligible to receive disability payments from Lincoln Financial (UC’s disability insurer) during a medical leave. An outline of how to apply for benefits and what to expect during the disability period can be found at Your Guide to UC Disability Benefits.
Depending on the length of the leave, employees may elect options #1 and #2 to continue being paid.
*Please note: if you choose parental/baby bonding leave in addition to PDL, the leave must be taken within twelve (12) months of the birth of the child.
Family Medical
Employees may take leave to care for a family member who has a serious health condition such as an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves either inpatient care or continuing treatment by a health care provider and that warrants the participation of the employee to provide supervision or care (which may include psychological care or comfort) during the period of treatment or incapacity.
Family member is defined as:
- FMLA – child, parent, spouse, or domestic partner.
- CFRA – in addition to the family members listed under FMLA, an employee may take CFRA for designated person, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling.
- A “designated person” is any individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the equivalent of a family relationship. The employee may identify the designated person at the time of the leave request, and employees are limited to one designated person per calendar year for family and medical leave purposes.
Family medical leave is normally without pay, however employees may elect the following option to continue being paid during this leave:
Long-Term Leave [Article 18.D].
In each academic year (start of fall quarter), salaried employees are eligible for up to eight (8) workweeks of paid long-term leave. This may be used for:
- childbearing
- family medical leave
- own medical leave
- parental leave
Own Medical
Employees may take leave for their own serious health condition; such as an illness, injury (including on-the-job injuries), impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves either inpatient care or continuing treatment by a health care provider.
Medical leave is normally without pay, however, employees may elect to use any of the following options to continue being paid during this leave:
- Long-Term Leave [Article 18.D]
In each academic year (start of fall quarter), salaried employees are eligible for up to eight (8) workweeks of paid long-term leave. This may be used for:
- childbearing
- family medical leave
- own medical leave
- parental leave
- Disability Pay
If an employee is CORE benefit eligible, and on an unpaid leave of absence, they may be eligible to receive disability payments from Lincoln Financial (UC’s disability insurer) during a medical leave. An outline of how to apply for benefits and what to expect during the disability period can be found at Your Guide to UC Disability Benefits.
Depending on the length of the leave, employees may elect options #1 and #2 to continue being paid.
Parental
Employees are eligible for parental leave to care for/bond with their newborn child, newly placed child, or newly adopted child. This leave must be concluded within twelve (12) months of the child’s birth, placement, or adoption.
Parental leave is normally without pay, however employees may elect to use the following option to continue being paid during this leave:
Long-Term Leave [Article 18.D].
In each academic year (start of fall quarter), salaried employees are eligible for up to eight (8) workweeks of paid long-term leave. This may be used for:
- childbearing
- family medical leave
- own medical leave
- parental leave*
*Please note that parental/baby bonding leave must be taken within twelve (12) months of the birth, placement, or adoption of the child.
Short-Term
Short-Term Leave [Article 18.C]
Salaried employees with a 50% appointment are eligible for up to two (2) days of paid leave per quarter. This leave is approved by your supervisor.
You do not need to request an official leave with apoleave@ucsc.edu.
Other
Other Types of Leave [Article 18.E,F,G]
Employees are also entitled to:
- Bereavement leave
- Jury duty leave
- Military leave
- Other types of leave.
For more information, please see the bargaining contract. If you have questions, please email apoleave@ucsc.edu.
Important Leave Information
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA)
FMLA and CFRA provide for up to twelve (12) workweeks of unpaid leave in the calendar year (January – December) to care for yourself or a family member with a serious medical condition, baby bonding, and pregnancy disability.
To be eligible for leave under FMLA/CFRA, an employee must have worked for the University for at least twelve (12) months and have worked at least 1,250 hours in the twelve (12) months preceding the leave. FMLA/CFRA leave is unpaid unless otherwise noted below.
Graduate Student Health Insurance Program (GSHIP)
A Long-Term leave of absence from your appointment will not impact your GSHIP coverage. GSHIP applies in summer if a graduate student is enrolled in the program during the previous spring quarter.
How To Request a Leave
To start the leave request process, please email the following information to apoleave@ucsc.edu:
- Type of leave (childbearing, family medical, own medical, parental).
- Anticipated start and end date of your leave.
- If you would like to set up a consultation with a Leave Analyst to go over leave options and answer any questions you may have.
You can expect to receive additional information and further instructions regarding your leave request within two business days of sending your email.
Once your request and appropriate documentation have been submitted and approved by the APO Leave Team, and prior to the start of your leave, you will receive an official approval letter outlining the details of your leave.