Support for Harvard Griffin GSAS Student Parents

On this page:

• Direct Support and Advising
• Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) Program 
• Care.com Premium Membership
• Frequently Asked Questions

The Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is committed to supporting student parents as they pursue their graduate studies. The School provides a range of resources to support students throughout pregnancy, adoption, and parenthood, including support in planning and requesting accommodations, two financial stipends (one following the birth or adoption event and one annually), academic flexibility, Year of Graduate Study (G-Year) adjustment support, a free Care.com premium membership, and help with fostering connection through student groups and other campus communities. 

Direct Support and Advising 

Planning for the birth or adoption of a child may feel overwhelming, especially when balancing the many responsibilities of graduate student life. The Harvard Griffin GSAS student-parent resource coordinators are available to meet with students and are a good first stop on your planning journey. We encourage expectant Harvard Griffin GSAS student parents to meet with us early (and as often as you need) to ask questions, discuss resources, and plan your unique path toward parenthood. To schedule a time to connect, please email us or use our booking link. 

Schedule a Meeting 

Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) Program 

All students enrolled in Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD programs are eligible for the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) program following a childbirth or adoption event, which provides a one-time supplemental stipend and academic adjustments. 

How to Participate 

PAFS is not a retroactive program. Students are strongly encouraged to schedule a meeting with student-parent resource coordinators Sarah Glessner, Harvard Griffin GSAS Interim Director of Student Success, and Stephanie Clendenin, Program Officer for Nondiscrimination and Professional Conduct, at least four months in advance of the anticipated birth or adoption event. This advance notice allows adequate time to review guidelines, benefits, and assess student needs. To set up an appointment, please email gsasfamily@fas.harvard.edu or schedule a meeting time via our booking link. 

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After meeting with the student-parent resource coordinators, students should notify advisors and directors of graduate studies so that appropriate arrangements can be made to cover any teaching or research responsibilities. Students interested in receiving advice on how to approach these conversations should discuss this with the student-parent resource coordinators. 

Once the student and their academic department decide on the student’s academic flexibility plan, they should confirm this plan with the student-parent resource coordinators. 

For more information about the funding associated with PAFS, please visit the PAFS funding information page.  

PAFS Funding Information

Note: PAFS funding is separate from the parental benefit stipend available to student parents beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year. The parental benefit stipend is an annual payment of at least $6,500 distributed to student parents to help offset the costs of raising children, whereas PAFS funding is a one-time payment disbursed following a student’s birth or adoption event.

Academic Adjustments 

While participating in PAFS, students may request up to 12 weeks of academic flexibility or accommodation of their academic duties over the 12-month period following the birth or adoption. Academic flexibility may vary based on G-year, department, or other attributes. Students remain fully enrolled during this period. Alternatively, students may also opt to take a leave of absence, as detailed in the Leave of Absence policy found in the Academics and Enrollment section of the Handbook for Students. If a student chooses to take a leave of absence, they will be eligible for the PAFS funding upon their re-enrollment with Harvard Griffin GSAS. 

• During the accommodation period, students may receive relief from academic requirements such as postponement of exams and course requirements. 
• Students are eligible for a departmental G-Year adjustment of one year. The Doctor of Philosophy: Year of Graduate Study (G-Year) policy can be found in the Academics and Enrollment section of the Handbook for Students. 

Care.com Premium Membership 

Harvard Griffin GSAS will provide PhD students with a free Care.com premium membership (typically $165/year) and subsidized access to back up care for children and adult family members. Care.com enables students to use a self-service, digital platform to search for, vet, connect with, and ultimately select caregivers in a reliable and easy way.   

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In addition to the self-service option, Harvard Griffin GSAS will subsidize the cost of in-home and center-based backup care for those times when regular care arrangements are unavailable. A pre-vetted caregiver will be selected by Care.com. In-home care will cost PhD students $5 per hour (compared with the $16 per hour caregiver fee paid by staff and faculty), and center-based childcare will cost $10 per child, per day. PhD students are eligible for a maximum of 10 days of care per year (October 1 through September 30).   

To take advantage of this benefit, students must log in and complete the required release form. In order to protect Care.com caregivers, back-up care may not be available if your child is sick. Please review Care’s website for full details about the sick policy for in-home and center-based care. 

Learn About Care.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility and Financial Support 

• Who is eligible for the Parental Accommodation and Financial Support (PAFS) stipend? All actively enrolled Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD students who are anticipating the birth or adoption of a child are eligible. Master’s students are not currently eligible for the financial stipend but are encouraged to meet with the student-parent resource coordinators for advising and resource coordination. 
• How do I receive the $7,484 PAFS stipend? The stipend is authorized once the child arrives. Simply reply to your initial correspondence with the student-parent resource coordinators (gsasfamily@fas.harvard.edu) to confirm the birth or adoption, and the funds will be processed as a stipend on the next available pay date. 
• Is the PAFS stipend taxable? Yes. Like all other stipends, the PAFS payment is considered taxable income. Please consult the Taxes section for general guidance. 
• What if I want to take a leave of absence? Can I still get the PAFS stipend? Yes, students who elect to take a leave of absence for a birth or adoption event are eligible for the PAFS stipend upon their return and re-enrollment with Harvard Griffin GSAS following their leave of absence. 

Academic Flexibility and Leaves of Absence 

• What is the difference between academic flexibility and a leave of absence? The academic flexibility afforded by PAFS allows you to remain enrolled full-time and receive your regular funding while adjusting your schedule (exams, deadlines, teaching) for 12 weeks through coordination with your academic department. A leave of absence (LOA) is an official status that pauses your enrollment and funding. Most students prefer the 12-week flexibility window to maintain academic continuity. 
• Do the 12 weeks of academic flexibility need to be taken all at once? While most students use the 12 weeks immediately following the arrival of a child, the flexibility can be applied as needed over the 12 months following the birth or adoption, based on a mutual agreement with your academic department. 
• What is a G-year adjustment? A G-year adjustment grants you one additional year to complete departmental milestones (e.g., qualifying exams or dissertation prospectus). The adjustment "stops the clock" on your academic requirements without changing your original financial support package. 
• What if I need medical or other related accommodations during my pregnancy? There are several University resources that can support you if you need medical-related accommodations: the Office of Student Services and the Disability Access Office are available to assist students. The student-parent resource coordinators, Sarah Glessner and Stephanie Clendenin, are also available to connect you with either office.

Advisors and Academic Departments 

• How do I tell my advisor I am expecting a child? We recommend meeting with your advisor at least four months in advance of the birth or adoption event. To make this easier, the student-parent resource coordinators can support you through conversations about research continuity, authorship, and communication boundaries.
• What if my advisor has questions or concerns about my 12-week academic flexibility window? The PAFS program is a school-wide initiative. If you have concerns about your request for accommodations being met, please contact the student-parent support team.

Childcare and Logistics 

• Does Care.com provide care when my child is sick? Generally, no. Care.com caregivers and most childcare centers require children to be fever-free (without medication) for 24 hours. Please review Care’s website for full details about the sick policy for in-home and center-based care. 
• How do I access campus lactation rooms? Any Harvard-affiliated parent can register through the Harvard Lactation Room portal. You will receive access codes to rooms across campus, most of which are equipped with hospital-grade pumps. 
• Can my spouse/partner access any of these resources for student parents? Spouses and partners are encouraged to join the Harvard Students’ Spouses & Partners Association (HSSPA) and access campus lactation rooms. However, the $7,484 stipend and Care.com subsidies are reserved for the registered Harvard Griffin GSAS student parent. 
• Can I add my child to my Harvard health insurance plan? Yes, when adopting or giving birth to a child, you must enroll the child in your Harvard health plan within 45 days of the birth or adoption event. For more information about health insurance, visit the HUHS maternity page.