Parental Leave

Benefits-eligible employees are eligible for the parental leave outlined below.  An employee on paid parental leave must return to employment at Mines for at least six weeks after the conclusion of the parental leave period. An employee who does not fulfill this condition will be required to repay the full amount of compensation (salary plus employer-provided benefits) received from Mines during the paid parental leave period.  During any paid portion of parental leave, benefit coverage under Mines’ group health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance plans shall continue in effect, consistent with the terms of the applicable insurance contracts and Mines policies regarding such benefits.  During the unpaid portion of a parental leave, benefit coverage under Mines’ group health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance plans shall continue in effect, consistent with the terms of the applicable insurance contracts and Mines policies regarding such benefits, provided that the premiums, including any amount normally contributed by Mines, are paid monthly by the employee.

The provisions of Medical Disability Leave and Parental Leave are intended to be interpreted in conjunction with Family Medical Leave.  Family Medical Leave runs concurrently with other Mines-sponsored leave plans and may be with pay, unpaid, or a combination of both, depending on the circumstances.  For a complete description of family medical leave and its relation to other Mines leave policies, please contact the Human Resources Office, benefits@mines.edu.

Paid Leave Following the Birth or Adoption of a Child
This paid leave will run concurrently with family medical leave, if applicable. A benefits-eligible employee may take up to six weeks of paid parental leave for the purpose of caring for and nurturing their newborn, newly adopted child, or a child placed in foster care as a pre-adoption requirement.  The leave will be paid at the employee’s regular base rate of pay.  Once starting paid leave, it must be taken consecutively and without interruption; paid parental leave may not be used on an intermittent basis.  Use of parental leave must occur and be completed within the twelve months immediately following the birth or adoption of a newborn or child.For uses of parental leave due to the birth of a child, a employee’s leave requests must be made to his or her immediate supervisor, with copy to the Benefits Office, at least sixty (60) days prior to the start of the anticipated leave period. Leave requests given with less than sixty (60) days notice will not be granted absent extraordinary circumstances. For uses of parental leave due to the adoption of a child, leave requests should be made to the immediate supervisor, copy sent to the Mines’ Benefits Office, with as much notice as possible. Only that period of the leave that falls within the employee’s term of appointment shall be paid.If the requested leave interrupts, or is expected to interrupt a semester in which an academic faculty member is normally scheduled to teach, the faculty member may choose to request relief from teaching for one entire semester, which shall be granted.  Such request must be made to the faculty member’s Department Head, in writing, at the same time as the request for Parental Leave.  For the period of the semester that the faculty member is not on medical disability or parental leave (paid or unpaid), the faculty member is expected to resume non-teaching duties, such as committee work, administrative work, and academic advising.  Paid Holidays will not extend the length of paid leave.  Paid leave from all sources shall not exceed 13 weeks per occurrence.

Unpaid Leave Following the Birth or Adoption of a Child
This unpaid leave will run concurrently with family medical leave. A benefits-eligible employee may request unpaid parental leave (in addition to paid parental leave) for the purpose of caring for a newborn or newly adopted child to be used immediately following the paid parental leave provided above. Such request must be submitted, in writing, to the employee’s immediate supervisor and the Mines’ Benefits Office as part of the request for paid Parental Leave. Taking into consideration the employee’s needs and those of the departments or offices most affected by their absence, the employee and their supervisor may negotiate a mutually acceptable length of time for the unpaid leave. If the employee qualifies for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act, they shall be entitled to take up to the amount of leave still available to the employee for the relevant twelve-month period.

Unpaid Parental Leave for Temporary Faculty (adjuncts, administrative, athletics, and research faculty)
While leave benefits are not normally part of a temporary employee’s employment with Mines, recognizing the special needs and circumstances attendant to the birth or adoption of a new family member, employees may request unpaid parental leave for the purpose of caring for a newborn or a child placed in foster care as a pre-adoption requirement. Such leave, if granted, is to be used immediately following the birth or adoption (including a child placed in foster care as a pre-adoption requirement). To be granted this leave, the temporary employee must make their request in the same manner as required of benefits eligible faculty outlined in Parental Leave above.

Please email benefits@mines.edu for information on eligibility, use, and how to apply.