Announcing the New Paid Family Sick Leave Policy

March 27, 2025

Dear Faculty and Academic Staff,

We are pleased to share the formalization of MSU’s Paid Family Sick Leave Policy for Faculty and Academic Staff for salaried faculty and academic staff to support family caregiving needs related to medical issues including but not limited to diagnosis, illness, treatment, and preventative care. This policy brings clarity and consistency to longstanding practices and aligns with the Michigan Earned Sick Time Act (ESTA), addressing an area of MSU’s leave policies that previously lacked clear definition.

Throughout the policy development process, we engaged with key stakeholder groups, including the University Committee on Faculty Affairs (UCFA), the Academic Specialist Advisory Committee, and the Council of Faculty Affairs Deans. Their feedback was instrumental in shaping this policy.

Key Highlights

• Academic Year (AY) faculty and academic staff will receive 9 days of paid family sick leave per year.
• Annual (AN) faculty and academic staff will receive 12 days per year.

Recognizing that that faculty and academic staff have flexibility in their schedules, this policy establishes a designated bank of time for caregiving while maintaining that time-tracking is not required. However, individual units may implement their own procedures as needed.

To support support faculty and academic staff in understanding this new policy, we have developed a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) resource which provide details on key provisions and implementation.

Additionally, we are creating a Personal and Family Leave Summary, a comprehensive reference outlining all available leave options for personal and family-related circumstances.

We understand that taking time off—specifically for those with teaching responsibilities—can present challenges. To support instructional continuity, we are working with stakeholders to compile a resource document with effective strategies and practices from units across MSU and other universities.

We appreciate your dedication to your roles and your contributions to MSU’s academic community. If you have any questions about this policy, please reach out to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs at (517) 353-5300 or FASAffairs@msu.edu.

Sincerely,

Teresa Mastin, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Associate Vice President for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
Michigan State University