Pregnant and Parenting Students
The University seeks to treat all students equitably, regardless of their actual or potential parental or familial status. It is the policy of the University to provide appropriate, reasonable adjustments to educational programs and activities to support pregnant or parenting students. This policy establishes a process for pregnant and parenting students to request and obtain adjustments to educational programs and activities allowing them to continue their education at the University. This policy applies to those seeking admission, currently admitted and those students enrolled at the University.
Requests for Adjustments for Pregnant and Parenting Students
A student in need of an educational adjustment should submit a request to the Office of the Dean of Students. If a student is unable to submit a request because of her condition, an appropriate representative of the student may contact the Dean of Students on her/his behalf and the student may confirm the request when s/he becomes able to do so.
A written medical recommendation must be submitted to the Dean of Students. The Dean of Students will consult with the student/appropriate representative and appropriate University officials, including faculty members and department chairs, to fashion an educational adjustment that is appropriate for the student. In the event the Dean of Students receives a request for adjustment that may be covered by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the request will be determined between the Dean of Students and the Office of Accessibility Services.
The University must excuse a student’s absence because of pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences medically necessary. This must be granted irrespective of classroom attendance requirement set by a faculty member, department, school/college or division.
A faculty member cannot demand from a student a copy of the medical recommendation given by her doctors.
Necessary absences
Title IX requires professors and administrators to treat pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions in the same manner and under the same policies as any other temporary disability. An educational adjustment under this policy may include an excused absence for as long as medically necessary.
At the end of the absence, upon a student’s return, she must be given a reasonable amount of time to make up the work she missed and must be allowed to return to the same academic status as before her medically necessary absence. Whether or not it is reasonable to grant a student extra time to make up course work and tests missed will be determined by the Dean of Students, appropriate faculty member(s), and the department chair. This determination will be based on, among other things, the length of the absence requested and the ability of the student to complete coursework outside of the classroom.
If it is unreasonable for a student to receive extra time to complete a course, the student will be given the option to withdraw from the class without penalty.
Pregnant or parenting students who must take a medically necessary absence (generally no longer than 180 days) shall be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before the leave began.
Reporting Harassment or Discrimination Due to a Qualifying Condition
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex – including pregnancy, parenting and all related conditions – in education and in programs and activities that receive federal funding. Pregnant or parenting students who believe they have been discriminated against or harassed because of a qualifying condition may file a complaint with the Deputy Coordinator of Title IX for Students (Dean of Students). Complaints of discrimination or harassment under this policy will be processed in accordance with the university’s Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Definitions
Pregnant or Parenting Student: For the purpose of this policy, pregnant or parenting student refers to those applying for admission, admitted, or enrolled in classes who have a qualifying condition.
Qualifying Condition: Conditions covered by this policy are pregnancy, complications related to pregnancy, false pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery from any of these conditions.
Medical Absence: An absence from the classroom or extracurricular activities because of a qualifying condition that is deemed necessary as documented by an appropriate health care professional