Support for Students Experiencing Pregnancy & Pregnancy-Related Conditions
Your Rights
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities, including academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of schools. These protections extend to those who are pregnant or are experiencing pregnancy-related conditions.
Under federal and state regulations, students can:
- Make up missed work, including quizzes and exams, for medically related absences
- Continue participating in classes and extracurricular activities
- Have absences excused due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the student’s medical provider deems necessary
And educational institutions must:
- Allow students to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before medical leave began
- Protect students from harassment based on sex, including harassment based on pregnancy and related conditions
Support for Pregnancy & Related Conditions
Western Washington University students experiencing pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions have rights and support options.
Support is available for:
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Loss or termination of pregnancy
- Lactation
- Other related medical conditions
Individuals who are experiencing barriers due to pregnancy and related conditions that impact their ability to access programs or services may request reasonable modifications.
Reasonable Modifications
Reasonable modifications are adjustments to academic programs and activities that are reasonable and responsive to the student's temporary pregnancy status and needs. Reasonable modifications can include:
- Changes to physical spaces or supplies (furniture, location, seating assignments)
- Access to lactation spaces
- Breaks during class, as needed
- Academic Modifications (attendance, schedule/course load, assignment deadlines and extensions, access to remote participation where available)
- Other changes to policies, practices, or procedures needed to provide equal access
The Interactive Process
Requests: Requests for reasonable modifications should be directed to Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance (CRTC). CRTC can meet with students to explore individual support needs and available modifications. During a meeting CRTC, students can share their needs and any anticipated barriers to explore what support may be most helpful.
Evaluation: A CRTC staff member will assess the student's support requests and determine which modifications can be implemented. Assessment of requests may include consultations with supervisors, faculty and staff, and departments and colleges. Students who feel the initial assessment of their requested modifications does not adequately meet their needs can request an independent review.
Implementation: CRTC supports students in implementing determined support measures and can provide ongoing consultation to monitor the success of measures.
Student's Role in the Interactive Process
It is the student’s role to:
- Identify a need for support and clarify specific needs
- Engage in the interactive process
- Proactively communicate with instructors regarding course needs (absences, making up missed assignments, etc.)
FAQ's for Students
Students are not required to inform faculty, staff, or any member of the administration of their pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions; however, to assess requests for reasonable modifications, disclosure may be necessary.
Students who are experiencing barriers related to disability can reach out to the Disability Access Center (DAC) at any time. Under federal law, pregnancy is not considered a disability by itself. Therefore, reasonable modifications for pregnancy and related conditions fall under the purview of CRTC and its policies.
Private rooms are available for students and employees to breastfeed or express milk. The following locations are available:
- Old Main 100 N – Down the hall from Student Business Office
- Old Main 100 P – Down the hall from Student Business Office
- Academic West 223 - Ground floor of AW just inside the main south entrance from Flag Plaza
- Arntzen Hall 521A – Lounge located in Women’s restroom on 5th floor
- Wilson Library 367B – Lounge located in Women’s restroom on 3rd floor
- Humanities 207 - Room located in Humanities on 2nd floor.
- CRTC is available to meet with individuals to discuss resolution options and support measures that may be available.
- If an individual would like to submit a formal complaint, they can do so verbally or in writing. After a formal complaint is submitted, CRTC will assess whether the complaint meets the jurisdictional requirements under university discrimination policies.
Faculty's Role in the Interactive Process
Faculty and staff play a crucial role in this interactive process. While working with CRTC, it is their responsibility to:
- Ensure the academic integrity of courses is upheld
- Provide feedback to CRTC about the nature of courses (assignments, attendance requirements), essential course requirements, and core learning outcomes
- Explore alternative ways that students can meet course requirements and essential learning outcomes
- Share concerns about requested modifications with CRTC
When a student discloses that they are pregnant or experiencing a related condition, your response matters. Here are some suggested responses:
- Thank you for sharing this with me.
- You deserve support.
- Would you like me to connect you with CRTC to explore options for support?
- What can I do to support you in class?
And here's what NOT to do:
- Suggest the student take time away or withdraw from the university
- Ask for medical information or documentation; if documentation is provided to you voluntarily, keep it confidential
- Penalize students for leaves of absence (medically necessary absences must be excused regardless of standard absence policies)
- Assume the student will be able to complete academic work while on leave
FAQ's for Faculty:
- CRTC is responsible for receiving and assessing requests for reasonable modifications.
- Faculty should not ask detailed questions about the underlying need for modifications or request documentation of pregnancy or related conditions. CRTC will follow up with students to ensure the appropriate verification is present for requests.
- Pregnancy, under federal law, is not considered a disability by itself; therefore, reasonable modifications for pregnancy and related conditions fall under the purview of CRTC and its policies.
- A student who has a serious medical condition because of pregnancy may also qualify for reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and can request additional support through the Disability Access Center (DAC). CRTC and the DAC may collaborate to facilitate modifications and accommodations for more complex needs.
- It is important to note that when the University provides accommodations for students with temporary disabilities, it must, at minimum, provide the same level of reasonable modifications for students experiencing pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions. It is likely that many of the same accommodations provided to students with disabilities should also be considered as reasonable modifications for students experiencing pregnancy or pregnancy related conditions, but each situation must be assessed individually on a case-by-case basis.
- The Faculty of the University makes decisions about curriculum. Faculty can and should share concerns about requested modifications with CRTC to be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
CRTC's Role:
It is CRTC’s role to facilitate the interactive process by:
- Working with students to explore their support needs and potential barriers
- Support measures are individualized, and modifications may vary depending on what options are reasonably available.
- Ensuring a student’s situation qualifies for reasonable modifications as protected by State and Federal law
- Making initial determinations, in coordination with appropriate offices/departments, of what measures can be implemented
- Reasonable modifications are adjustments to academic programs and activities that are reasonable and responsive to the student's temporary pregnancy status and needs. Requested modifications that fundamentally alter the nature of an academic program or activity or burden a party may not be granted.
- Students who feel the initial assessment of their requested modifications does not adequately meet their needs can request an independent review. This review will be completed by an impartial employee other than the employee who made the challenged decision.
- Completing ongoing consultation with appropriate faculty and staff, departments, colleges, etc.
- CRTC serves as a resource for both students and faculty/staff while implementing reasonable modifications and support measures.
- Receiving and assessing formal complaints of discrimination and harassment based on protected class, including pregnancy and related conditions
Retaliation is Prohibited!
Federal and state regulations, in combination with WWU policy, prohibit retaliation against individuals who access support for or raise concerns of discrimination or harassment based on pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions.