Pregnant & Parenting Students Guide

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

Title IX at a Glance

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (鈥淭itle IX鈥) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs and activities. All public and private educational institutions that receive any federal financial assistance must comply with Title IX.

Title IX makes it illegal to discriminate because of sex, which includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, miscarriage, abortion, or related conditions, including recovery. Title IX also ensures the right for pregnant and postpartum students to get changes at school when needed, and to take medically necessary leave. The law bans harassment, intimidation, or other discrimination in schools because of pregnancy-related conditions. 

More Information

You have the right to stay at the College.

You have the right to stay in your same classes and extracurricular activities

  • You may not be excluded from any classes or activities because of your pregnancy or a related condition, such as childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, or lactation.

You are not required to provide supporting documentation about your pregnancy or related condition unless necessary and reasonable to determine reasonable modifications or other specific actions.

  • The College must offer you modifications unless it can show that the modifications would 鈥渇undamentally alter鈥 the nature of the school鈥檚 program or activity.
  • Examples of modifications may include:
    • Breaks during class to take care of pregnancy-related health needs, like eating, drinking, using the restroom, or expressing milk
    • Excused absences to attend medical appointments
    • Access to online or remote educational programs
    • Extensions of time on coursework, tests or exams
    • Changes in physical space or supplies, like a larger desk or footrest
    • Elevator access
    • Other changes to College policies, practices, or procedures
  • The College will not force you to accept a modification you do not want or need.

You have the right to excused absences for pregnancy related needs, including childbirth, without penalty.

  • Your absence will be excused for at least as long as your health provider says it is medically necessary.
  • When you return to class, you will be restored to the same academic status (and where possible, extracurricular status) as before you went on leave.
    • You will be given the opportunity to make up work you missed while away.

You have a right to a clean, private lactation space that is not a bathroom.

  • You may take breaks during class to pump milk or breast/chest feed.
  • To request access to a private lactation space, email Kim Pacelli, Interim Title IX Coordinator at kim.pacelli@tngconsulting.com.

You have a right to learn in a space free from harassment or sex discrimination based on your pregnant or parenting status.

You have a right to speak to the College鈥檚 Title IX Coordinator to learn about your rights.

You may have rights under other nationwide laws.

  • For example, if you have a pregnancy-related disability, you may have additional protection from discrimination at school under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  Or, if you are also a student employee, you might have rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act or PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act.

Parental status means the status of a person who鈥攊n relation to someone younger than 18 years or older than 18 years but incapable of self-care due to physical/mental disability鈥攊s:

  • A biological parent;
  • An adoptive parent;
  • A foster parent;
  • A stepparent;
  • A legal custodian or guardian;
  • In loco parentis; or
  • Actively seeking legal custody, guardianship, visitation, or adoption.

Pregnancy or related conditions means:

  • Pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation;
  • Medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation; or
  • Recovery from pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, or related medical conditions.
  • College must not discriminate against any student based on the student鈥檚 current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions.
  • College must not adopt or implement any policy, practice, or procedure concerning a student鈥檚 current, potential, or past parental, family, or marital status that treats students differently on the basis of sex.
  • The College must treat pregnancy or related conditions in the same manner & under same policies as other temporary medical conditions with respect to benefits, services, policies, participation, and admission, among others.
  • The College must not require supporting documents unless necessary and reasonable to determine reasonable modifications or other specific actions.
  • The College must not require certification from healthcare provider that the student is physically able to participate in class/program/activity, subject to exceptions.

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