PREGNANCY AND PREGNANCY-RELATED ACCOMMODATIONS
Siena Heights University is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for pregnant and parenting students and employees. Pregnant students and employees cannot be excluded from educational or employment opportunities, programs or services and must be treated as others who have temporary medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations must be provided to allow a pregnant student to fully participate in educational and employment opportunities. Oftentimes, pregnant and parenting students and employees can arrange necessary flexibility by working directly with their instructors, supervisors or departments. Requests for accommodations may also be made to the OA/HR.
Lactation Space: Nursing students and employees must be granted reasonable time and space to pump breast milk in a location that is private, clean and reasonably accessible. Bathroom stalls shall not serve as a lactation space. A list of diaper changing and lactation spaces available on campus may be provided by contacting the Office of Accessibility or your Department Chair.
Reasonable Accommodation: The University will provide reasonable accommodations for students and employees to allow them to fully participate in University educational and employment programs and services. A reasonable accommodation is one that does not cause undue hardship on the operation of the department or significant expense for the university.
Examples of Reasonable Accommodations for Students: Students who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related condition, are entitled to reasonable accommodations to allow the student to continue their educational pursuits as long as such accommodations do not create an undue hardship on the program/department or fundamentally alter the nature of the program: Examples of accommodations are:
- flexibility with attendance including excused absences due to pregnancy or childbirth (as long as the doctor says it’s necessary)
- adjustments such as elevator access
- allowing frequent trips to the restroom
- flexibility in the administration of exams
- medical leave of absence, including allowing the student to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before the medical leave began (must be documented need0
- providing pregnant students with the same special services as other students with temporary medical conditions
- allowing the student to continue participating in off-campus programs such as internships, career rotations
Examples of Reasonable Accommodations for Employees: Employees who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related condition, are entitled to reasonable accommodations to allow them to continue employment pursuits, as long as such accommodations do not create an undue hardship on the department. Examples of accommodations are:
- flexibility with attendance including excused absences due to pregnancy or childbirth as long as the doctor says it’s necessary
- adjustments such as elevator access
- allowing frequent trips to the restroom
- parking and transportation issues
- flexibility in work assignments
- allowing a leave of absence
How to Request an Accommodation: If you wish to request accommodations due to pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, please complete the Pregnancy Request Form.
Discrimination: Siena Heights University policy prohibits discrimination against sex/gender which includes pregnant and parenting students and employees. State and federal laws, including Title IX of the Education Act, also prohibit discrimination based upon sex, including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions. If you believe you have been subject to discrimination, including having been denied an accommodation for a pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, you may file a complaint with the OA/HR.
Harassment: University policy prohibits sex-based harassment, including harassment based upon pregnancy. Harassment may include sexual comments or jokes related to pregnancy or gender. If the comments are sufficiently serious that it interferes with the educational or employment environment, the harassment may constitute a violation of university policy. If you experience this sort of treatment, please contact the OA/HR.
Retaliation: University policy prohibits anyone from retaliating against any person for making a request for an accommodation, complaining or otherwise participating in opposing a discriminatory practice.
Questions about discrimination, information about how to request a reasonable accommodation or how to provide accommodations for pregnant and parenting students and employees should be directed to the OA/HR.
Additional Resources:
To schedule a meeting to discuss needed academic adjustments, please see the Director of Accessibility, Julia Cassell by emailing accessibility@sienaheights.edu.
The Title IX Coordinator and the Office of Accessibility Pregnancy Specialist will work in coordination for the actual implementation of this policy and the practices of individual professors involved to avoid discrimination against pregnant students. Harassment (such as sexual comments, jokes, and humiliating or physically threatening or harmful behavior) will not be tolerated—and should be reported the Title IX Coordinator on campus: Sister Mary Jones, OP, McLaughlin University Center HUB, 517-264-7105, mjones11@sienaheights.edu.
Resources:
U.S. Department of Education. Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students; Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. June, 2013.
National Women’s Law Center. Pregnant and Parenting Students’ Rights: FAQ’s for College and Graduate Students.