Conceive Magazine has named Cornell one of the top 50 most family-friendly employers in the United States for the second year in a row because of the benefits it offers to employees who hope to be parents.

The magazine's national survey of employers across the country looked at such factors as health insurance coverage for fertility diagnosis and treatment, financial assistance for adoptions, and paid time off for both parents for birth and adoption.

Cornell offers up to $5,000 per adoption and up to $6,000 per special-needs adoption, unlimited prescription fertility drugs and, depending on health care plans, a benefit of $20,000 to $50,000 for fertility treatments, plus programs that allow up to a total of 16 weeks paid and unpaid leave for new parents.

"Our ongoing mission at Cornell University is to provide a supportive environment for all those in our workforce," said Mary Opperman, vice president for human resources. "We are proud to be recognized by Conceive Magazine for our employee benefits and policies with families."

Cornell has won numerous national awards for its benefits to employees, including recognition as a top place for adoptive and birth parents to work from The Dave Thomas Foundation; the best place for people over age 50 to work in the United States from AARP; and one of the top 100 places for working mothers to work from Working Mother Media.