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 Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants 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 for graduate students
Graduate students and GAs
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
Graduate students and GAs employed for less than one year
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
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. Reasons for leave
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Leave of absence for graduate students
Personal, financial, employment, medical
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
Parental, or other serious health condition of self or immediate family member
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Parental, or other serious health condition of self or immediate family member
C. Academic requirements
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Leave of absence for graduate students
In good standing, 3.0 GPA minimum, must have completed one term
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
In good standing, 3.0 GPA minimum, must have completed one term
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
In good standing, 3.0 GPA minimum, must have completed one term
D. Duration and frequency
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Leave of absence for graduate students
By term, up to three terms at a time during academic year, limits vary by degree level and term of admission. See the catalog for term limits. Intermittent leave not allowed.
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
Parental: up to 12 week continuous block for each birth/adoption. Other serious health: up to 12 week continuous block per academic year. If leave ends mid-term, Graduate School can extend leave through end of term. Intermittent leave not allowed.
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Parental: up to 12 week continuous block for each birth/adoption; to be shared by both parents if covered under this policy. Other serious health: up to 12 week continuous block, one time only. If leave ends mid-term, Grad School can extend leave through end of term. Intermittent leave not allowed.
E. International students
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Leave of absence for graduate students
Consult with Office of International Services (OIS) for immigration considerations
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
Consult with Office of International Services (OIS) for immigration considerations
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Consult with Office of International Services (OIS) for immigration considerations
F. Work at OSU or enrolled while on leave
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Leave of absence for graduate students
No
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
No
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
No
2. Benefits
A. Student status
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Leave of absence for graduate students
Retains active student status; seamless return to academic program
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
Retains active student status; seamless return to academic program
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Retains active student status; seamless return to academic program
B. Employment status
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Leave of absence for graduate students
n/a
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
If GA, departments not required to hold position upon return.
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Holds GA position upon return for the duration of contract; does not extend contract.
C. Insurance
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Leave of absence for graduate students
Available through COBRA One term option for Student Health Fee for access to SHS, CAPS; Corvallis campus only.
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
Available through COBRA One term option for Student Health Fee for access to SHS, CAPS; Corvallis campus only. Grad assistants email Grad Health.
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Same coverage, GA pays at same rate while on leave. One term option for Student Health Fee for access to SHS, CAPS; Corvallis campus only.
D. Salary
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Leave of absence for graduate students
n/a
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
If GA, three weeks of pay at the Graduate Employee’s current FTE. After that may use accrued paid sick leave. May request donated sick leave up to 50 hours by emailing the Protected Leave Office. Any remaining leave would be unpaid.
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Three weeks of pay at the Graduate Employee’s current FTE. After that, may use accrued paid sick leave. May request donated sick leave up to 50 hours by emailing the Protected Leave Office. Any remaining leave would be unpaid.
E. Tuition remission
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Leave of absence for graduate students
n/a
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
If GA, tuition remission eligible if 126 or more hours worked in term. If leave begins mid-term, consult with Business Center for hours worked.
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Tuition remission eligible if 126 or more hours worked in term. If leave begins mid-term, consult with Business Center for hours worked.
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 for graduate students
Submit application to Graduate School, with departmental signatures
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
Submit the medical leave form by emailing the Protected Leave Office.
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Initiate request in EmpCenter via My Time Off, view instructions
B. Documentation requirements
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Leave of absence for graduate students
n/a
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Family Medical Leave for graduate students
Submit the medical certification form to Human Resources
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Family Medical Leave for graduate assistants
Submit the medical certification form to Human Resources
Download the eligibility comparison as a table in a PDF.