Graduate Student Leave

The Department's graduate student leave provisions are in alignment with those of  the Graduate School, and are universally applied to all graduate students even if they are not on the payroll of the University.

The Graduate School's "Graduate Assistant Policies and Guidelines", state that "Graduate Assistants are not eligible for vacation or sick leave credit." However, since the Department or individual faculty typically contribute to the provision of stipends after the Assistantship expires, we offer the following leave options:

1. Any students wishing to take up to one week off from laboratory work, coursework or other school duties must get prior approval from their advisor and the Graduate Program Director.  In the absence of a permanent advisor, the Graduate Program Director should be consulted.  With prior approval, stipend payments will be unaffected. Students who do not seek prior approval will be removed from the payroll for a duration equivalent to their absence.
   
2. Any students wishing to take more than one week off must notify their advisor and the Graduate Program Director.  In the absence of a permanent advisor, the Graduate Program Director should be consulted. Students who do not seek prior approval will be removed from the payroll for a duration equivalent to their absence. Students may be removed from payroll for the duration of their absence unless the Graduate Program Office is notified otherwise by the advisor or Graduate Program Director. With prior approval, stipend payments will be unaffected.

Guidelines

When a student is departmentally funded, only one long absence will be approved in every two year period unless there are extenuating circumstances.