Graduate students sometimes need to take time off from their studies to attend to a personal, financial, employment, or medical situation. Use this comparison tool to discover your options for taking leave as a graduate student. See which option meets your needs best, keeping in mind that impacts on things like employment and insurance will vary depending on your situation.
The tool has three columns. It compares the standard leave of absence for graduate students, the Family Medical Leave for graduate students and graduate assistants employed for less than a year, and Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave employed longer than one academic year. Visit the HR website for questions about Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave.
1. Eligibility and requirements
A. Who may apply
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Leave of absence
Graduate students and GAs
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Graduate students and GAs employed for less than one year
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
GAs employed for one full academic year or more, must be on a current appointment or have been on an appointment in the term immediately prior to the leave of absence
B. Timing
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Leave of absence
At least two weeks before the start of the term
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
All requests and medical documentation must be received by the final day of the term.
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
All requests and medical documentation must be received by the final day of the term.
C. Reasons for leave
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Leave of absence
Personal, financial, employment, medical
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Parental, or other serious health condition of self or immediate family member
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Parental, or other serious health condition of self or immediate family member
D. Time to degree
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Leave of absence
Does not pause your time to degree clock. Review catalog for degree completion timelines.
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Pauses your degree completion clock by one term for each term of approved leave. Review catalog for degree completion timelines.
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Pauses your degree completion clock by one term for each term of approved leave. Review catalog for degree completion timelines.
E. Duration and frequency
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Leave of absence
One to three times at the time during an academic year.
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Parental: Maximum of 12 continuous weeks per birth or adoption. Serious health concern: Maximum of 12 continuous weeks once per academic year (summer though spring). If leave ends mid-term, Office of Graduate Education can extend leave through end of term. Intermittent leave not allowed.
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Parental: Maximum of 12 continuous weeks per birth or adoption; to be shared by both parents if they are both covered under this policy. Serious health concern: Maximum of 12 continuous weeks once per academic year (summer though spring). If leave ends mid-term, Office of Graduate Education can extend leave through end of term. Intermittent leave not allowed.
F. International students
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Leave of absence
Consult with Office of International Services (OIS) for immigration considerations
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Consult with Office of International Services (OIS) for immigration considerations
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Consult with Office of International Services (OIS) for immigration considerations
G. Work at OSU as a Graduate Assistant or student employee while on leave
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Leave of absence
No
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
No
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
No. Graduate Assistants also utilizing Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave should consult Human Resources and the Director of Graduate Success for guidance.
H. Enrollment while on leave
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Leave of absence
No
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
No. Graduate Assistants also utilizing Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave should consult Human Resources and the Director of Graduate Success for guidance.
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
No. Graduate Assistants also utilizing Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave should consult Human Resources and the Director of Graduate Success for guidance.
2. Benefits
A. Student status
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Leave of absence
Retains active student status; seamless return to academic program
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Retains active student status; seamless return to academic program
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Retains active student status; seamless return to academic program
B. Employment status
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Leave of absence
n/a
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Departments are not required to hold graduate assistantships while student is on leave.
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Graduate Assistantship position is held for the duration of the contract, but leave does not extend the contract.
C. Insurance
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Leave of absence
Available through COBRA. Corvallis students can access the Student Health Center and CAPS for one term by paying the Student Health Fee
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Corvallis students can access the Student Health Center and CAPS for one term by paying the Student Health Fee
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Graduate Assistants pay the same rate while on leave to maintain their same coverage. Corvallis students can access the Student Health Center and CAPS for one term by paying the Student Health Fee
D. Salary
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Leave of absence
n/a
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Graduate Assistants receive three weeks of pay at their current FTE. Graduate Assistants can use accrued paid sick leave. Graduate Assistants may request up to 50 hours of donated sick leave by emailing the Protected Leave Office. Remaining leave would be unpaid. Graduate Assistants may be eligible for Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave.
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Graduate Assistants receive three weeks of pay at their current FTE. Graduate Assistants can use accrued paid sick leave. Graduate Assistants may request up to 50 hours of donated sick leave by emailing the Protected Leave Office. Remaining leave would be unpaid. Graduate Assistants may be eligible for Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave.
3. How to apply
Complete the application in section A and also fill out the medical certification form listed under section B.
A. Application
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Leave of absence
Submit application to Office of Graduate Education, with departmental signatures
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Submit the medical leave form by emailing the Protected Leave Office.
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Initiate request in EmpCenter via My Time Off, view instructions
B. Documentation requirements
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Leave of absence
n/a
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Graduate Student Family Medical Leave
Submit the medical certification form to the Protected Leave Office.
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Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave
Submit the medical certification form to the Protected Leave Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit a Leave of Absence after the term starts?
No, all of Leave of Absence requests must be received before the term starts.
Can I take Graduate Student or Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave while on Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave?
Yes.
If I take Graduate Student or Graduate Assistant Family Medical Leave while on Oregon Paid Family Medical Leave am I automatically dropped from my courses?
No, you will need to drop your courses if it is still within the drop period or withdraw from your courses. You can choose to submit a late change of registration petition if applicable.
Do I need to submit a Leave of Absence for summer term?
No, there is no continuous enrollment requirement for graduate students during summer term.