GSA Parental Leave Grant

Introduction

The GSA Parental Leave Grant is designed to provide financial support for full-time and part-time Masters and PhD students who require academic leave for parental leave or other family-related issues. Only those students that were granted academic leave for parental/family-related issues are eligible to apply for the Parental Leave Grant. To be considered for the grant, applicants must demonstrate financial need, not be receiving other forms of leave pay, and show proof of registration for two terms prior to the start of the leave.

The GSA Family Leave Grant is for a one-time amount of $1,000.

Applications will not be processed until all required documentation has been received. Photocopies are acceptable since documentation will not be returned.

Students will be deemed ineligible for this grant where:

• They are receiving Tri-Council paid parental leave.
• They are receiving CUPE 3906 paid parental leave.
• They are receiving Employment Insurance maternity or parental leave benefits.
• They have previously received this grant or a GSA Emergency Grant for the same family-related purpose.
• They cannot demonstrate financial need.

On the application form, you will be asked to provide:

1. Academic and employment information for yourself.
2. Your gross yearly household income for the previous 12 months (for example, if you are applying in September 2024, please provide 12 months of income from September 2023 to August 2024);
3. Documentation of approved academic leave for parental/family-related issues;
4. The names and ages of all your children.

Please note:

The family leave grant applications sent from May to November of each academic year will be reviewed in November, and subsequent applications sent in from December to April will be reviewed in April.

Funds are not guaranteed – the amount available may be exhausted at any time before the end of the academic year.

If funds are not exhausted by the end of the fiscal year, applications sent within this time frame will be reconsidered based on financial need.