[Faculty Handbook Category #1]
The College grants up to twelve (12) weeks of pregnancy and parental leave over a rolling 12-month period to eligible faculty in accordance with the Minnesota Parental Leave Act (MPLA). In most cases, absences under this policy will be covered by PFML, the FMLA, and MPLA at the same time. As a result, PFML, FMLA, and MPLA leave will run concurrently, and the leave will be counted against your leave allowances under all three policies.
Reasons for Leave
Leave under this policy can be taken for the reasons listed below:
- All parents: in conjunction with the birth or adoption of a child
- Birth parents: in conjunction with prenatal care, incapacity due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related health conditions (time taken for prenatal medical care appointments will be provided as a pregnancy accommodation and will not be counted against your 12-week pregnancy and parental leave entitlement)
Eligibility
All faculty are eligible for leave under this policy starting on their date of hire.
Benefits During Leave
While you are on leave, we will continue your medical, dental, and other benefits during the leave period at the same level and under the same conditions as if you had continued to work. For information about premium payments during your leave, see our Impact of Leaves of Absence on Employee Benefits policy.
Unpaid Leave
Leave under this policy is unpaid. However, we require that you use all available paid time off during any parental leave, except when you are receiving short-term disability or similar wage replacement benefits. If you do not want paid time off to be applied towards your covered absences, you must promptly submit a written request stating that paid time off should not be applied. Note that paid time off is taken as part of the 12 weeks of parental leave, not in addition to it.
Notice of Leave
You must provide us with 30 days’ notice of a planned leave of absence under this policy. If it is not possible to give 30 days’ notice, you must give as much notice as is practicable. If you plan to take leave for your own medical treatments, you must make a reasonable effort to schedule the treatments so that they do not unduly disrupt our operations.
In cases of leave related to medical incapacity, we may ask for certification to verify the need for leave. You must respond to such a request within 15 days of the request or provide a reasonable explanation for the delay. Failure to provide certification may result in a denial of the leave.
Returning From Leave
You will be returned to the same job you held when your leave began. If this is not feasible, you will be returned to a position that entails substantially equivalent skill, effort, responsibility, and authority as the position you previously held. The only exceptions to this rule will be in circumstances of layoffs or reorganizations where your position would have been eliminated even if you had not been on leave.
If you have questions regarding this policy, contact the Human Resources Office.
Effective Date: 1/1/2026