Family Support
As a Catholic University, Notre Dame is committed to fostering a family-friendly environment for its graduate students, one that makes it possible for those students to balance successfully their parenting responsibilities and their academic pursuits. To that end, the Graduate School at the University of Notre Dame offers the following policies and initiatives.
Graduate studies are incredibly demanding, and they typically occur at a time when many students begin building families. As a result, students often find themselves attempting to balance heavy academic demands with complex and significant family responsibilities. It was with these concerns in mind that I appointed a task force in 2010 to examine family policies for graduate students. In its comprehensive report, Creating a More Family-Friendly Environment for Graduate Students, the task force recommended adoption of the statement reprinted above as a guiding principle. It has been endorsed by the Directors of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Council. The Graduate School has made a number of changes as a result of the report, including the creation of a new childbirth and adoption accommodation policy. The Graduate School will continue to work towards greater support for graduate students with families.
Gregory E. Sterling, Ph.D.
Dean of the Graduate School
Resources
- Request for Childbirth and Adoption Accommodation Form
- Childbirth and Adoption Accommodation Policy
- Policy for Pregnant Graduate Students in Labs
- University Life Initiatives: For Pregnant and Parenting Students
- Creating a More Family-Friendly Environment for Graduate Students (2010 Task Force Report)
- Creating a Family Friendly Department: Chairs and Deans Toolkit (offsite link — UC Berkeley)
- Mothers in Science — 64 ways to have it all (offsite link — Univ. of Chicago)