Under Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy-related conditions, and requires that all educational institutions provide a range of reasonable adjustments to students who need them due to pregnancy-related conditions. These adjustments should be assessed on a case-by-case basis with interactive dialogue between the faculty/staff member and the student.
Pregnancy-related conditions are defined as anyone undergoing a pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, or termination, recovering from any of the aforementioned conditions, or experiencing medical conditions related to any of the aforementioned conditions.
Students' Rights Regarding Pregnancy-Related Conditions
Title IX requires that the University provide reasonable adjustments to students who need them due to pregnancy-related conditions for as long as is medically required. This may include adjusting a students’ schedule or allowing frequent trips to the restroom when necessary. Other examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Classes and School Activities
- The University must allow the student to continue participating in classes and extracurricular activities, including honors classes, clubs, sports, leadership opportunities, and other activities.
- The University must provide the student reasonable adjustments, like a larger desk, elevator access, or frequent restroom trips.
Excused Absences and Medical Leave
Excused absences for pregnancy-related conditions is a student’s legally protected right; it cannot be made contingent on a student’s grades, prior performance in class, or any other factor such as meeting the criteria of another University Policy.
- The University must excuse absences due to pregnancy-related conditions for as long as a doctor deems it medically necessary.
- The University must allow the student to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before the student’s medical leave began and to make up any missed work due to doctor’s appointments or medical conditions. If a student’s grade is based in part on class participation or attendance, the student should be allowed to make up the participation or attendance credits.
- The University must provide the student with the same special services it provides to students with temporary medical conditions, including online instruction, tutoring, and/or independent study.
Additional Education About Rights
Resources for Undergraduates and Graduates
Lactation and Feeding Spaces
UMD offers private spaces throughout campus to accommodate nursing. Find lactation spaces on the University interactive map at maps.umd.edu/map/.
University Health Center
Their website (health.umd.edu/GRGSH) notes that "Currently enrolled students, as well as faculty and staff, are eligible for Gynecology, Reproductive, Genital, and Sexual Health Services. They are staffed by physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who are trained in the examination, diagnosis, treatment, and support of healthy patients as well as those with common problems and concerns."
They also offer a Sexual Health program with information for Free Safer Sex Supplies, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Contraception and Pregnancy Prevention resources, located at health.umd.edu/wellness-advocacy/sexual-health.
UMD Parents' Listserv
UMD parents can post wants/needs, items for sale, questions, and opportunities for families around campus. Email umdparents@googlegroups.com to request to join.
UMD Student Parent Club
The Student Parent Club aims to foster a sense of community among undergraduate students who are parenting, as well as cultivate a sense of affinity. The Student Parent Club aims to promote parent-centered activities, specifically designed to provide learning opportunities and enrichment for parents, while also facilitating family-friendly events.
https://terplink.umd.edu/organization/studentparentclub
Family Spaces
There is a family study room on the 3rd floor of McKeldin Library that parents can reserve. Find family restrooms throughout campus on the University interactive map at maps.umd.edu/map/.
Child and Elder Care Services
Employees and GAs/TAs can learn about family care services offered at go.umd.edu/FamilyCare. The Bright Horizons Center offers care for children aged six weeks through five years old.
Accessibility and Disability Services (ADS)
Pregnancy itself is not considered a disability, and not all pregnancies result in a disability. However, medical conditions that result from a pregnancy-related condition may meet the definition of a medical disability (e.g. gestational diabetes and preeclampsia) and may result in a short-term disability. If the student develops a medical condition, the student should be directed to register with ADS. Additional information about the medical disability requirement process can be found on the ADS website at www.counseling.umd.edu/ads/.
Self-Identification
Having this self-identification process completed ahead of time encourages the students to have communication with OCRSM so that the students can best position themselves for adjustments and potential correspondence with their professors prior to needing adjustments for a pregnancy-related condition. For example, in the event a student is unable to attend class, having this process in place expedites communication between the student, OCRSM, and instructors.
Student Self-Identification Form for Pregnancy-Related Conditions
