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Doctoral Student Parental Accommodation Policy

Policy Number: 04.0006

Introduction

The Doctoral Student Parent Accommodation Policy (the "Policy") outlines a set of accommodations for students pursuing a doctoral (PhD) degree at The New School who become parents while pursuing their degree, in recognition of the specific challenges faced by this group of students. The policy’s primary purpose is to ensure that such students will be able to retain the benefits of their full-time student status immediately prior to and after giving birth to or adopting a child.

Purpose

Although various offices and people at The New School currently offer individualized resources and support to doctoral students who become parents, the institution does not currently possess a comprehensive policy framework to address the full range of issues that arise for this group of students. Since these issues cut across multiple colleges, offices, and existing policy areas, there is a need to develop a university-wide policy to clarify the ways in which The New School will support doctoral students who become parents during their degree.

Several higher education institutions with doctoral programs comparable to those offered at The New School have adopted Doctoral Student Parental Accommodation policies. Adopting such a policy brings The New School into line with what is increasingly an industry standard in doctoral education. See also comparator of policies at peer institutions:

Staff and faculty working with doctoral students who become parents need more explicit guidance about how to best support and work in an advisory capacity with them. By stating the accommodations afforded to these students, the policy aims to give staff and faculty clarity and direction in their work with them.

Doctoral students who become parents also deserve to have clarity about the accommodations owed to them and a knowledge that The New School supports them. The policy aims to provide these students with clear information and expectations about the resources available to them in order to continue to make progress toward their degree.

Scope

This policy applies to currently matriculated and incoming doctoral students from fall 2024 forward.

Definitions

Accommodation Period: The parental accommodation period refers to a 6-week period during an individual semester in which a qualifying student is entitled to the release from regular academic responsibilities as a student or fellowship recipient described below.

Full-Time Student: A student’s full-time status is determined by the Full Time, Three Quarter Time, and Half Time Enrollment Policy.

Good Academic Standing: A student’s academic standing is defined by the parameters in the Academic Catalog.

Qualifying Student: Any student who meets all of the following criteria is considered to be eligible to qualify for the benefits described in the policy section below:

  • Has or anticipates becoming one of the following during the semester in which the benefits of this policy are sought: (1) a biological parent; (2) an adoptive parent; (3) a foster parent; (4) a stepparent; (5) a legal custodian or guardian; (6) in loco parentis with respect to such a person.
  • Must be an active student enrolled full-time in one of The New School’s doctoral (PhD) degree programs during the semester in which the benefits of this policy are sought.
  • Must be in good academic standing as defined by the academic standing criteria in the Academic Catalog during the semester in which the benefits of this policy are sought.
  • Must be meeting all divisional and departmental benchmarks during the semester in which the benefits of this policy are sought.

Responsibilities

Curriculum, Learning, and Academic Affairs: Policy owner

Academic deans and department chairs: responsible for ensuring the policy is effectively communicated to relevant students.

Faculty: responsible for working with doctoral students under the terms of this policy.

Policy

Qualifying Students under this policy are entitled to the following benefits:

  • Postponement of Academic Responsibilities: In anticipation of the accommodation period, students should work with faculty in any coursework to develop an academic plan that will allow them to postpone the completion of assignments. The academic plan may also involve exempting a student from in-person class attendance and the development of alternative timelines and self-paced activities to fulfill the fundamental requirements of the course or non-course degree requirement.
  • Extension of Time: Any semester in which a student qualifies for this benefit will not be counted toward the total number of terms when calculating whether a student has reached the term limit for the PhD degree as defined in the Academic Catalog
  • Maintenance of Fellowship Stipend Benefits: During any semester in which a student qualifies for this benefit, their overall fellowship stipend will remain the same during that term. Stipend payments received during the parental accommodation period will count toward the total fellowship stipend that has been awarded to a student at the point of their admission to the PhD.

Procedure

N/A

Policy Administration

Responsible University Official: Senior Vice Provost for Curriculum, Learning, and Academic Affairs

Responsible Office: Curriculum, Learning, and Academic Affairs

Contact Information: koozerm@newschool.edu

Policy History

Effective Date: Fall 2024; approved September 23, 2024

Last Reviewed Date: September 23, 2024

Next Review Date: September 23, 2029

Revision History: N/A

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