Southeast Missouri State University has newly upgraded lactation rooms across campus, providing convenient access for nursing mothers, ensuring students, faculty and staff can balance their academic commitments with their needs for comfort and privacy.
The lactation rooms are in Academic Hall room 211, Kent Library room 419, Dempster Hall room 119, and at Houck Stadium.
According to Dr. Nora Bouzihay, the assistant to the president for equity initiatives and Title IX coordinator, the decision to enhance these facilities stemmed from a commitment to improve campus resources for not only students, but also for faculty, and staff as well.
"The existing spaces needed improvement to better serve our community," said Bouzihay, “and we were fortunate to fund with additional support from a micro-grant provided by the Cape Girardeau Zonta Club and funds from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.”
Bouzihay says all existing lactation rooms have undergone updates and refurbishment to ensure they are comfortable and functional. SEMO will also introduce two state-of-the-art lactation pods on campus this fall. These pods will be installed on the third floor of the University Center and at the Dobbins Center, offering even more accessible options for nursing mothers.
Students who are parents or currently pregnant and need additional accomdations can do so through the Title IX Accommodation Request Form.