Jax State Adopts Paid Parental Leave Policy for Employees

10/24/2025

The Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees has approved a new Paid Parental Leave Policy, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to providing a supportive and family-friendly workplace. 

Effective January 1, 2026, the policy provides paid leave for eligible full-time faculty and staff following the birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. The benefit applies to both parents, allowing each to take dedicated time away to care for and bond with their new child. Qualifying employees will receive their full salary during the approved leave period and will not be required to use accrued sick or annual leave.  

“This is a significant step forward for our university family,” said President Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. “Supporting our employees during major life events is essential to maintaining a strong and compassionate campus culture. I want to personally thank the faculty and staff task force for their hard work and thoughtful recommendations, which made this possible. They took the time to explore what’s being done across the country, listen to employee needs, and make recommendations that are right for Jax State.” 

The new policy reflects months of research and collaboration by a cross-campus task force composed of faculty and staff members. As part of its work, the group reviewed best practices across higher education and drew inspiration from Alabama’s Paid Parental Leave Act, enacted earlier this year, for K–12 employees. Using that framework as a guide, the task force developed a policy that captures the same spirit of support while tailoring it to meet the needs of Jax State’s faculty and staff. 

Under the new policy, eligible employees who have completed at least 12 consecutive months of employment at Jax State will qualify for paid parental leave when a qualifying event occurs. The policy provides: 

• Eight weeks of paid leave for eligible female employees experiencing a birth, stillbirth, or miscarriage; 

• Four weeks of paid leave for a male parent under those same circumstances; and 

• Eight weeks of paid leave for the new adoption or foster care placement of a child age three or younger. 

Leave must be used within one year of the qualifying event and may be taken continuously or in segments, depending on departmental needs and supervisory approval. During the leave period, employees will continue to receive 100 percent of their base salary, and benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions will remain in effect. The policy also ensures that taking parental leave will not impact annual raises, promotion eligibility, or service credit. 

“This is a policy we can be proud of,” said Emily Davey, Chief University Counsel, who led the task force. “Our goal was to create a policy that truly meets the needs of Jax State employees. We examined how other institutions and organizations approach paid parental leave and built something that not only supports our employees but also strengthens the sense of care and belonging that makes this university special.” 

With the adoption of this policy, Jax State is setting a new standard for employee support in higher education across Alabama. The benefit provides paid time off for both parents, full continuation of benefits, and protection of service credit, demonstrating the university’s proactive approach to meeting today’s workforce needs. Employees are encouraged to review the full policy, including eligibility requirements and procedures for requesting leave, at: 
👉 https://public.powerdms.com/JSUAL/documents/3572799