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NC State Policies and Programs for Families and Parents-to-Be

Parental Leave

Faculty on 9-Month Academic Appointments

New parents (both mothers and fathers) are eligible for paid parental leave. The NC State Policy on Medical and Parental Leave for 9-Month Faculty has detailed information about who's eligible and the amount of time that may be taken with pay.

Staff and Faculty on 12-Month Appointments

New parents (both mothers and fathers) are eligible for parental leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. This leave may be paid for with your accumulated sick and/or annual leave. Details about the length of time you may take and how and when to apply are on the Human Resources website.

Extension of the Tenure Clock

Any tenure-track assistant professor who has a new child in the family may request an automatic extension of the tenure clock. This applies to birth, adoption, or placement of a foster child, and to both women and men. Also, if a faculty member takes Family Medical Leave of two months or longer, the tenure clock will automatically be extended.

In the case of a tenure clock extension, the faculty member will have the option to be reviewed in either the extended mandatory year or the year prior. Both years will be considered normal review years; i.e., not "early."

There are three ways to initiate a tenure clock extension:

  1. Automatic approval: In instances where faculty have a new child in the family, they may request tenure clock extension within one year following the birth, adoption, or placement of a foster child by submitting the Notification of a Birth, Adoption, or Placement of a Foster Child form. Approval is automatically granted.

  2. Automatic: Approved family medical leave of 60 calendar days or longer will automatically extend the tenure clock.

  3. Not Automatic: In all other cases the request for extension may be initiated by the faculty member, department head or the dean. Based on consultation with the faculty member and the department head, the dean will determine whether to request an extension and submit the request to the Provost.

The descriptions above are abbreviated. Full details, definitions of terms, and forms are provided in the university Tenure Clock Regulation.

Flexibility in Time to Tenure

The tenure clock may also be extended for health reasons and to care for an ill or elderly family member. The Tenure Clock Extension Policy states "Extensions are intended to accommodate faculty and the institution in those cases in which compelling circumstances result in the practical impossibility of the faculty member to carry out the development of the faculty member's program on the normal schedule implied by the original appointment term."

In all cases it is important to request the extension as early as possible.

Child Care

The NC State Childcare Center is located at 691 Palmer Drive on the Dorothea Dix campus. The center is managed by Bright Horizons and has a maximum capacity of 47 places. Employees can enroll their children on a first-come, first-served basis. There are a limited number of slots at each age level. The cost to employees will be subsidized by NC State with a sliding scale for the amount of discount based on income. Eligibility for slots in the center is now open to full-time faculty and staff and post-docs.

The HR Benefits Child Care Resources Website provides information about other childcare providers, dependent day care flexible spending accounts, tax information, and discounts.

Lactation and Baby Care Rooms

The Faculty Senate adopted a resolution for the provision of lactation space in NC State facilities on April 21, 2009. NC State is making strides in the provision of lactation and baby care rooms. We now have the following facilities:

  • Talley Student Center - Baby Care Room
  • SAS Hall, Room 5121 (Mathematical and Statistical Sciences Building)
  • Harrelson Hall, Room 333 - dual purpose lactation/child friendly room
  • Administrative Services Building II, Room 100B - Administrative Services Complex interim solution - dual purpose restroom/lactation room. Architect's plans for a dedicated lactation room in Admin II have been drawn and are ready for implementation as soon as budget allows.
  • Administrative Services Building III - dual purpose telephone room/lactation room
  • College of Veterinary Medicine Main Building, Room C115B
  • Randall B. Terry, Jr. Companion Animal Medical Center, Room 1517

Planned Lactation Rooms

  • New Talley Student Center - new baby care room
  • Hunt Library - nursing mother's room
  • Student Health Addition - dual purpose bicycle commuter shower room/lactation room.

Future plans: Provide minimum of one dedicated lactation room in each campus neighborhood.

See also the very informative AIA paper outlining best practices for lactation rooms.

Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP)

The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP), is designed to provide no cost, confidential and professional assessment and referral services for employees who may be experiencing personal or work-related concerns. Examples of problems addressed are emotional, family, marital, alcohol, drug and other personal issues. Referrals, information, and consultations for help with elder care questions are available.