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November 26, 2005
stanford chemistry offers forward thinking pregnancy policy for graduate students
I am somewhat behind in my journal reading, so while this may be somewhat older news it was something that I wanted to share with the blog-o-sphere.
According to C&EN News (Chemical and Engineering News – November 7, 2005 issue), Standford University’s chemistry department recently implemented a very forward thinking pregnancy policy (PDF of policy) for graduate students.
The pregnancy policy provides that graduate students receive 12 weeks of paid leave “to accomodate late-stage pregnancy, childbirth, and the care of a newborn.” The pregnancy policy also allows graduate students to maintain full-time student status (important for school loans and financial aid) and provides for the facilitation of return to classwork, research and teaching duties.
Jackie Tyson, executive director of the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students, said she was very pleased about the move at Stanford because most universities do not have formal policies. "Many women have felt penalized by having to ask, and the reality is that a lot of men still leave everything to women or most everything to women, so this has a real impact," Tyson said.
This is an incredibly powerful step Stanford has taken – as the spouse of a former graduate student, I know how stressful and trying it can be to juggle a pregnancy, graduate work and research. Stanford’s policy will hopefully spur similar policies at every university and academic research institution.
It always comes back down to the simple things – treat people fairly and with compassion and you will reap the rewards ten-fold.
For additional information, follow the links:
Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 07:26 AM.
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