Expecting a new child
A step by step guide to preparing to welcome a new child while at Stanford.
Your enrollment options
Stanford will neither require nor prohibit leaves of absence for pregnancy or childbirth. Below are your options for continuing or discontinuing your enrollment as you navigate the journey of welcoming your new child to your family.
Continued enrollment. With continued enrollment your housing, health insurance, and other rights and privileges of enrolled students are not impacted. Depending on your academic program and where you are in your degree progress, part-time enrollment may be appropriate and can be requested for up to two quarters. Consult with your advisor, your student services administrator and Bechtel International Center (if appropriate). Ensure that the implications for academic progress, visa status, loan eligibility and deferment, etc., have been thoroughly investigated. See also academic accommodation.
Leave of absence. Any graduate student who is welcoming a new child may request a Pregnancy or Parental Leave of Absence to suspend their student enrollment. Any matriculated pregnant graduate student requesting a Pregnancy Leave of Absence will automatically be approved for a leave period of four quarters (12 months) and may choose to return to enrolled status before the leave period expires. Any matriculated non-birth parent who requests a Parental Leave of Absence will automatically be approved for a leave period of one academic quarter.
Academic accommodations for childbirth
With continued enrollment, either full-time or part-time, your academic requirements can be rescheduled or rearranged for up to two quarters if you are the parent giving birth, and up to one quarter if you are a non-birth parent. Academic milestones, such as candidacy requirements, may be extended by one academic quarter for both parents giving birth and non-birth parents. Submit your request for an academic childbirth accommodation to VPGE.
Your housing options
Stanford has specific housing options for students with children. If you are not already living in a residence for students with children, you may apply for Student with Children Housing for the quarter that corresponds to the second trimester of pregnancy. Students on a Pregnancy Leave of Absence may petition to remain in campus housing for up to two full quarters. Approval requires good academic standing, degree program recommendation, and no outstanding financial obligations to Stanford. Address questions to Housing Assignment Services.
Your health care options
With continued enrollment, either full-time or part-time, your health insurance is unaffected. If you take a Pregnancy Leave of Absence, your Cardinal Care health insurance may continue during a plan year in which you have already enrolled in Cardinal Care, but at your own expense. See the additional resources listed below for dependent health insurance information.
Your funding options
- Students on fellowship. If you are funded on a fellowship, and continue to remain fully enrolled and make satisfactory academic progress, your fellowship will be unaffected. Part-time enrollment or leave of absence may affect funding eligibility and you should consult the funding source for more information.
- Students on assistantship. If you are funded through a graduate research or teaching assistantship and are the parent who is giving birth, and you continue to remain fully enrolled and make satisfactory academic progress, you are eligible to be excused from your regular TA or RA duties for a period of one quarter (or 3 months) around the time of the time of the due date; VPGE will provide financial support in the form of a stipend. (Submit your request for a stipend.) If you are a non-birth parent you are eligible to be excused for your regular TA or RA duties for two weeks, which you should arrange with your assistantship supervisor. Request a 1:1 consultation to discuss your options.
Accommodations for physical health
The office of accessible education (OAE) is an excellent resource should you need accommodations for continued academic success while navigating any health changes you may be experiencing throughout pregnancy or after giving birth. Reach out to OAE.
Lactation spaces
Stanford seeks to provide an accommodating and supportive environment for students who wish to carry out their breast/chestfeeding goals after returning to work or study. The WorkLife Office maintains a list of essential resources, including a list of lactation spaces.