Pregnancy-Parenting

 

Pregnancy

McLennan Community College would like for all students, faculty, and staff to be aware of their rights and responsibilities under Title IX.  Title IX protections include pregnancy and parenting. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs. The law is a key tool for ensuring that all people have an equal opportunity for education, regardless of their sex. Title IX makes it illegal to discriminate because of sex, which includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, or related conditions, including recovery.

All pregnancy concerns and pregnancy-related absences are coordinated by the Title IX team. You may not anticipate any academic needs associated with your pregnancy; however, your needs may change as your pregnancy progresses. Educational accommodations may be approved to support ongoing and/or changing needs during the pregnancy and recovery.

Newly Parenting

Title IX also supports those who are newly parenting which includes: becoming parents through childbirth, adoption, and/or foster care placement. The Title IX team can create a coordinated approach to short-term accommodations for new parents or those who are experiencing extraordinary parenting or caretaking responsibilities.  Educational accommodations may be approved to support ongoing and/or changing needs for situations that may include but are not limited to medically-related, post-partum complications or for the expression of milk.  Privacy/Lactation Rooms are available for nursing parents. 

Getting Started:

  • Once you know you are pregnant, you are welcome to contact titleix@mclennan.edu to notify our office.  You will be contacted by a member of the Title IX team who will request a meeting with you to discuss your rights and options. 
  • Other reasons you may contact titleix@mclennan.edu include: adoption, foster, miscarriage, etc
  • You may also choose to notify your professors if you will be missing class for pregnancy or related appointments or complications.
  • We may request medical documentation for pregnancy and related situations extending beyond 3 days.
  • No two situations are alike, so we address pregnancy and related situations on a case by case basis. Circumstances can change during the course of the pregnancy/pregnancy-related condition/post-partum.
  • We may need you to work collaboratively with Title IX and your faculty on an educational accommodation plan.
    • Note: This process can vary greatly depending on where the student is in their pregnancy or post-partum recovery, type of documentation, type of courses the student is enrolled in.  This may take days or weeks and may change if complications arise.
  • Before dropping a course for pregnancy or related reasons, please email titleix@mclennan.edu so we may coordinate with the Financial Aid office to determine any financial aid implications withdrawing may have.

Pregnancy/Parenting Legal Protections

  • Excused absences due to classes, assignments, exams, etc. missed for medically necessary reasons related to the pregnancy
  • Excused absences due to classes, assignments, exams, etc. missed for medically necessary reasons related to post-partum issues including well-baby check up following delivery. Parenting does not typically extend beyond the first few months after delivery…there may be case by case circumstances that would be exceptions
  • Students may request a withdrawal for any/all classes
  • Students may request an incomplete for any/all classes
  • Students may have certain academic/educational accommodations or accommodations approved for temporary disabilities related to the pregnancy
  • Students may be excused/take breaks for lactation
  • Legal protections are also extended to students experiencing false pregnancy, miscarriage, or abortion as well as adoption or foster care placement.

Disclosure of your pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition and working with the Title IX team as early as possible will help in making the planning process more proactive. 

To discuss educational accommodations and support or to access one of the 6 Privacy/Lactation Rooms, please email TitleIX@mclennan.edu.