Family Support and Accommodation Plan (FSAP)
At Clemson University, we recognize the important role that family plays in the lives of our faculty members. Additionally, we understand the challenges of maintaining a healthy work-life balance when family life presents unforeseen or difficult circumstances. If you are experiencing or anticipating a family event or situation of this nature (e.g., childbirth, adoption, eldercare, primary care for a serious health condition of a family member), and find that it is impacting the ability to perform your professional duties at the same setting and capacity, the Family Support and Accommodation Plan (FSAP) can help. Find out how this program can help you reimagine your day-to-day tasks and accommodate your needs during this time.
Discover Flexible Working Options and Support Through the FSAP
The Family Support and Accommodation Policy is designed to allow faculty members to request a modification of work duties for a specific time period, or for up to 18 weeks due to an anticipated or unanticipated family event or situation. The intent of the approved provision of modified duties is neither leave nor time away from the job. Rather, this program’s intent is to ensure that you can continue to function and perform as a full contributor within the University while reaping the benefits of a more flexible work experience for a specific time period, and when you need it most. The maximum period of time for a Family Support and Accommodation Plan is 18 weeks.
If you are granted approval for the FSAP, you will continue to be employed at the same status and at the same level as before the plan was implemented, and your compensation will remain the same; you will continue to perform at the same full-time capacity during your period of modified duties while reaping the benefits of flexible working options, including alternative assignments, altered schedules and/or a change in the location of which you normally work.
Request Your Family Support and Accommodation Plan
If you find that you are struggling to maintain work productivity levels and meet deadlines during a family crisis, you might be eligible for modified work duties through the University's Family Support and Accommodation Program. Find out if you qualify for FSAP approval by downloading and submitting the following request form.
FSAP Request FormExplore FSAP Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I have to use FMLA before I can use the FSAP?
No, you are not required to use FMLA prior to requesting FSAP as these two types of leave are completely independent of each other. However, if you choose to take time off from work completely due to a qualifying event or situation that is covered by FMLA (not a modification of duties), you may choose to employ FMLA and/or other forms of leave before requesting FSAP.
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If I’m using FSAP for the arrival of a child, when should I use it? In the semester I am giving birth/adopting or the semester after?
This is personal preference based on factors including spousal leave, due date, adoption date, etc., but please remember that FSAP must be concluded within the 12-month period following the birth, adoption or placement of the child.
We encourage you to begin planning as far in advance as possible for your period of modified duties, and recommend that you consult the faculty testimonials listed below this section for more insight.
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Can the FSAP be altered at all if my situation changes?
Yes, your modified duties may be altered if there are changes to your existing approved plan. However, changes to your plan must be submitted in approval for writing and will need to go through the same review/approval process as your previous request.
We encourage you to consider developing a "contingency" plan as part of the original approval process to proactively address future changes to your circumstance.
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My department chair isn’t sure how to use the FSAP… to whom might I refer them?
Your HR Generalist is a good resource for both department chairs and faculty regarding FSAP development.
Click the button below to find contact information for your HR Generalist and discuss how arrangements work into faculty evaluations by contacting Amy Lawton-Rauh, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, at apfa@clemson.edu.
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My department has a policy that allows for a teaching release after a successful third year review, if I use FSAP does that make me ineligible for that release in a different semester?
No, using an FSAP does not supplant the utilization of other benefits related to leave available to all faculty in the department.
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Can my Chair require me to “make up” work either before FSAP or after?
No, a Chair cannot require you to complete additional duties before or after the plan is implemented; you should not be asked to make up released duties before or after the period of your modified duties.
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What is the maximum length of an FSAP?
Modified duties within your Family Support and Accommodation plan may span no more than 18 weeks per family event or situation.
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How often can I request the use of the FSAP?
Barring extraordinary circumstances, a request for an FSAP may be granted no more than once per rolling 24-month period for each faculty member. Multiple FSAPs for the same family event or situation may be requested within a rolling 24-month period if the combined period of modified duties for the event or situation does not exceed 18 weeks, as stated in the “Plan Duration” section of these guidelines. Exception: as stated within the “Plan Duration” section of these guidelines, an FSAP due to the birth, adoption or placement of a child must be concluded within the 12-month period following the birth, adoption or placement of the child.
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Does use of the FSAP mean my tenure clock is automatically stopped?
No. The FSAP and tenure clock extension are independent policies. Please see the Faculty Manual for details regarding an extension of the tenure clock.
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What are examples of modified work duties?
Preparation of research proposals, papers and course materials; devotion of full-time effort to research; development of curricula and/or course materials; work on accreditation and/or certification materials; supervision of graduate student research; and academic service that is compatible with the need for modified work duties. In addition, please see examples of FSAPs used by Clemson faculty on the resource page.
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Is the FSAP only available to tenure track/tenured faculty?
No, FSAP is available to all regular full-time equivalent (FTE), temporary time-limited and temporary grant faculty members.
“Instead of teaching two courses in the fall semester and two courses in the spring semester, the academic year after my son was born, I taught one course in the fall that was condensed and three courses in the spring. The condensed course began in mid-October (instead of the "regular" August start date), so I essentially had maternity leave from July to mid-October.”
Erin HawkinsAssistant Professor of AccountingClemson Faculty
Faculty Testimonials
Hear from peers who have been through the process of requesting Family Support and Accommodation at Clemson University, and know first-hand the benefits of a modified work schedule due to family circumstance.
Elizabeth Jemison
Assistant Professor
Philosophy and Religion
ejemiso@clemson.edu
When, why and how did you use FSAP?
I used the FSAP the spring semester after the late December birth of my child. I used FMLA and paid sick leave for the first six weeks of the semester, and then began my FSAP plan. I chose this route because I did not want to have any work responsibilities during those first six weeks of the semester and that was manageable since my FSAP plan relieved me of teaching responsibilities.
What did your FSAP plan look like?
My FSAP plan relieved me of all teaching responsibilities. I handled my advising responsibilities and various other service that could be managed from home. I also took on several service jobs for a colleague who was on sabbatical. The FSAP plan specified that I would make significantly more progress on my research than any previous semester although at the same time there was a verbal acknowledgment that this likely was not a reasonable expectation of a new parent without childcare.
Danny Weathers
Associate Professor
Marketing
pweath2@clemson.edu
When and why did you use FSAP?
I used FSAP in the fall after adopting a daughter in January.
What did your FSAP plan look like?
My plan involved teaching online instead of in person. Teaching online provided flexibility so that my wife and I could arrange work schedules and child care.
Additional advice?
An unforeseen consequence was the substantial amount of time required to teach online, especially when teaching courses for the first time online. Before modifying your work schedule, carefully consider the potential effects.
Michelle Smith
Assistant Professor
English
mcsmth@clemson.edu
When, why and how did you use FSAP?
I used FSAP the fall of 2019 after my child was born in April 2019.
What did your FSAP plan look like?
I was on leave from teaching. I redirected the 40% of my workload normally assigned to teaching to research and service.
Additional advice?
I'm happy to talk especially about challenges around the timing of births and leaves, given nine-month faculty contracts, summers, etc.
Vivian Ezeh
Lecturer
Chemistry
vezeh@clemson.edu
When, why and how did you use FSAP?
I used FSAP during the spring semester for a spring birth of my child.
What did your FSAP plan look like?
A faculty colleague was my assistant during my FSAP. We devised a plan where the physical on-campus aspects of my job were carried out by this colleague. I had responsibility for work that could be done remotely.
Mashal Saif
Assistant Professor
Philosophy and Religion
msaif@clemson.edu
When, why, and how did you use FSAP?
I used FSAP in the fall of 2019 after giving birth in July 2019
What did your FSAP plan look like?
For the first month of the fall semester I used paid sick leave to relieve me from all work responsibilities. No teaching duties for the semester, replaced with additional research during this period. Continued to advise students via Skype.
Ellen Breazel
Senior Lecturer
School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
ehepfer@clemson.edu
How did you use FSAP?
I used FSAP in the fall and gave birth in the fall (November).
What did your FSAP plan look like?
My plan included moving my classes to asynchronous online courses after October 31. I recorded lecturers and provided Canvas notes for my students, I had a Graduate Student assigned to me to grade homework and the 3rd test, with an answer key and rubric that I created. The graduate student also hosted office hours and answered discussion posts. I graded the final exams and posted final grades.
Additional comments.
I was fortunate that my child was born within days of my due date. In hindsight, I should have had a plan B if things had not gone as smoothly. My FSAP plan required a great deal of work on my part right up until I gave birth, but for me, it was worth shifting duties so that I could spend time with my newborn during his first months of life and recover from childbirth.
