Kalamazoo College supports staff who have the dual responsibility of maintaining their work and family obligations through the Parental Leave policy. The purpose of Parental Leave is to provide an eligible employee with paid time off to recover from childbirth and/or to care for and bond with a newborn or newly placed/adopted child.
In circumstances where a new child arrives and where there are differences between Short-Term Disability and Parental Leave, the Parental Leave provisions will prevail.
Eligibility
An eligible employee is a staff member who welcomes a new child into their household, has completed at least one year of service prior to the date Parental Leave is expected to begin, and is employed in a regular position of at least 1,040 hours annually (0.50 FTE.)
Provisions
An employee who has, or shares, primary responsibility for the care of a newborn child or a newly-placed/adopted child is eligible for up to twelve weeks of Parental Leave including paid and/or unpaid time.
- Paid Parental Leave time
- Parent who gives birth, or one parent in the event of an adoption or foster placement: Eight weeks at 100% of pay and benefits.
- Parent who does not give birth: Five days at 100% of pay and benefits.
Parental Leave may be used at one time or intermittently over the course of one year. Paid and unpaid time taken under Parental Leave is credited against any available Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave time. All parents may use available vacation, sick/emergency time for up to an additional four weeks of pay.
In the event that both parents are employed at Kalamazoo College when the child arrives, parents are entitled to combined leave of 12 weeks with eight weeks at 100% pay and benefits.
Applying for Parental Leave
Employees should give notice of the approximate leave dates at the beginning of the third trimester, or as soon as possible, by submitting a written request for Parental Leave on the College’s Leave of Absence form available through Human Resources. Supporting documentation will be required, such as medical certification or court order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the eight weeks of Parental Leave intermittently or must I take full-time leave?
Parental Leave may be taken intermittently, regardless of the circumstances in which the child arrived – birth or placement for the birthing or non-birthing parent.
Would an employee need to be in a 0.50 FTE position for one year before attaining eligibility for Parental Leave?
Not necessarily. The employee needs to be employed for one year, regardless of the full-time equivalent status length, and be employed in a 0.50 FTE position at the time of leave.
I am pregnant and employed in a full-time position at Kalamazoo College for the past year. How do I maximize my paid time off?
Congratulations! You are eligible for eight weeks off at 100% of your regular pay. You are also entitled to an additional four weeks off without pay. You could use available vacation and sick/emergency time for pay during those four weeks. Be sure to work with the HR department to get the paperwork in order.
Related Information
Workload Policy for New Faculty Parents
Effective July 1, 2025