Section 1. Grant for Graduate Students with Children
MIT shall maintain its Grant for Graduate Students with Children program. This is a need-blind grant program available to employees who are full-time students in MIT PhD programs. Master’s students who are eligible for summer tuition remission are also eligible for the grant. Details regarding application, deadlines, eligibility, and other matters are contained in the program documentation.
The grant amounts for the 2022–23 academic year are $6,500 for one (1) dependent child, $7,500 for two (2) dependent children, and $8,500 for three (3) or more dependent children. MIT will maintain these funding levels for the life of this Agreement.
Section 2. Supplemental Grant for Employees with Dependent Children
In addition to the above grants, effective as of the next full appointment period following ratification of this Agreement or thirty (30) days after ratification of this Agreement, whichever is sooner, MIT will award supplemental needs-based grants to eligible employees with dependent children, up to $10,000 beyond the need-blind Grant for Graduate Students with Children for each academic year. Employee eligibility for this program will match the eligibility rules for the Grant for Graduate Students with Children program. Determination of the amounts of such grants will be left to the discretion of MIT following a needs analysis that considers factors including number of children, family income, and individual circumstances.
MIT will publish details regarding application processes, appeals, and other administrative matters on or before the effective date of the program.
Employees are not normally eligible to obtain simultaneous grants from both this fund and the Doctoral Long-Term Financial Hardship Fund.
Section 3. MIT Childcare Program Access
Employees are entitled to apply for enrollment in one of MIT’s Technology Childcare Centers and will be afforded Level 1 enrollment priority, in accordance with MIT’s policies and procedures.
Section 4. Backup Childcare
Employees are eligible for MIT’s Backup Childcare program, consistent with the terms of the program. Eligible employees can request up to fifteen (15) days of backup childcare per fiscal year (July 1–June 30), before date of graduation, at a rate of $5 per hour for in-home care and $10 per hour for in-center care.
Section 5. Communication about Childcare Resources
MIT shall provide information to all employees and incoming employees about the benefits and programs provided in this Article.
If MIT’s Office of Graduate Education becomes aware that an employee is a parent or is soon to become one, it shall provide the employee with information about the applicable leave benefits and programs provided in this Article.