19.1 Request for Leave of Absence

Any request for a leave of absence other than for vacation and sick leave shall be submitted in writing by the employee to his/her immediate supervisor. The request shall state the reason the leave of absence is being requested and the length of time off the employee desires. Authorization or denial shall be furnished in writing to the employee by his/her immediate supervisor. Any request for a leave of absence without pay of less than thirty (30) working days shall be submitted by the employee at least ten (10) working days in advance of the time the leave is requested to begin and answered in writing by the immediate supervisor not later than three (3) working days after the leave is requested. A request for a leave of absence without pay of more than thirty (30) working days shall be submitted at least fifteen (15) working days in advance of the beginning of the leave and answered in writing by the immediate supervisor not later than five (5) working days after the leave is requested.

19.2 Court Appearance and Voting Leave

The employer shall grant paid leaves of absence for service on a jury, appearance before a court in response to a subpoena, official requests from a legislative committee, or other judicial or quasi-judicial body as a witness, court attendance in connection with an employee's official duties, and pre-induction examination conducted within the state by any branch of the armed forces authorized by law. Any employee who is entitled to vote at any statewide general election or at any election to fill a vacancy in the office of representatives to Congress shall be entitled to absent himself/herself from work for the purpose of voting during the forenoon of such election day without penalty or deduction from his/her salary or wages on account of such absence.

19.3 Chemical Abuse Program

When an employee is enrolled in a University run chemical abuse program, he/she shall receive paid time off to attend.

19.4 Parental or Adoption Leave

Employees who have completed nine (9) consecutive months of employment and at an average of twenty (20) hours or more paid work time per week are eligible for parental leave (paid time off). The employee must give notice of intent to use parental leave to his/her supervisor at least four (4) weeks in advance, except under unusual circumstances.

An adopting male or female parent may take two (2) weeks, which can commence no sooner than two weeks before the arrival of the child to within six (6) weeks after receiving the child. This leave must be consecutive and without interruption and must be taken during the term of appointment.

A biological female parent may take two (2) weeks and up to twenty (20) days of accumulated sick leave which can commence no sooner than two weeks prior to the anticipated delivery date to within six (6) weeks after birth. This leave must be consecutive and without interruption and must be taken during the term of appointment.

A biological male parent may take two (2) weeks, which can commence no sooner than two weeks prior to the delivery date to within six (6) weeks after birth. This leave must be consecutive and without interruption and must be taken during the term of appointment.

19.5 Maternity Leave

Pregnant employees who have exhausted their sick leave accruals, or who decline to utilize their sick leave, shall be granted a maternity leave of absence without pay upon request. The leave shall commence at a time requested by the employee and shall continue for a maximum of six (6) months. There shall be no policy requiring the termination of pregnant employees which is based upon a specific number of months of pregnancy. Employees returning from a maternity leave shall be reinstated to their original job or to a position of like status and pay. A maternity/paternity or adoption unpaid leave of absence shall be granted for a period of up to six (6) months, when requested in conjunction with the birth or adoption of a child to an employee who is a biological parent or adoptive parent.

19.6 FMLA Leave

An employee shall be granted up to twelve weeks unpaid leave for eligible leave requests as provided in the Family and Medical Leave Act. During the period of the leave, the employer shall continue to make the employer's contribution to the employee's health insurance as though the employee were on payroll.

19.7 Military Leave

Military leave shall be granted in accordance with state and federal law. Employees shall accumulate seniority during periods of military service.

19.8 Unpaid Leaves

The employer may grant leaves of absence without pay for any reasonable purpose. An employee returning from an authorized leave of absence without pay will be returned to his/her former position if that position exists or, if that position does not exist, to a position of like status and pay.

19.9 Changes to Leave Status

If the reasons and circumstances upon which an employee's leave of absence was granted change while he/she is on leave, he/she must immediately report to the employer to be reinstated or to request continuation of leave, based on the changed conditions. If the employee fails to so report or falsifies his/her report, he/she may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with Article XI.

19.10 School Conferences

An employee shall be granted up to sixteen (16) hours unpaid time per year for school conferences. If an employee has vacation or compensatory time off available for use, the employee may choose to use that leave for this purpose.

19.11 Unpaid Leave for Negotiations

Time spent on an unpaid leave of absence shall not count towards an employee's seniority, except as allowed in Article 19.7 or unless the time was spent serving on the union's negotiating committee for the specific purpose of negotiating this labor agreement.