Pregnancy and Parenting
Continue to main contentPregnancy and Parenting
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status—in educational programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education. The term pregnancy is used to include childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions.
How Title IX Protects Pregnancy and Parenting Students
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status—in educational programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education. The term pregnancy is used to include childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions.
With regards to supporting pregnant students, institutions are required under Title IX to:
- Excuse a student’s absences because of pregnancy or childbirth for as long as deemed medically necessary.
- Afford the same protections to pregnant students as students who have temporary medical conditions.
- Make reasonable and responsive adjustments.
- Allow a student to continue participating in classes and extracurricular activities.
- Allow a student to return from their leave to the same academic status as before their leave.
- Offer options for making up the work missed and allow the student to decide.
Lactation Rooms
SEMO offers several spaces on campus dedicated to supporting student and employee parents with their breast, chest, or body-feeding needs. If you have questions about accessing, the following spaces or need additional accommodations, please contact equity@semo.edu
Lactating parents have the right to feed or pump in any place they are otherwise allowed to be, both private and public. For employees' and students’ convenience, there are several private spaces dedicated to lactation purposes. Locations: Academic Hall 211, Kent Library 419, Dempster Hall 119, Houck Stadium.
If you need access to an additional location, or if you need a lactation accommodation, please contact Nora Bouzihay, Assistant to the President for Equity Initiatives and Title IX Coordinator at 573-651-2524 or equity@semo.edu.
Resources
To better understand your rights related to pregnancy, the U.S. Department of Education has published these guides: ·
From the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission):
From the NCAA:
From the National Women’s Law Center: