Pregnancy & Parenting

Title IX protects against discrimination related to pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. It prohibits an institution from applying any rule related to a student’s parental, family, or marital status that treats students differently based on their sex. Title IX ensures the right to take medically necessary leave and to be free of harassment, intimidation, or other discrimination because of pregnancy.

Roberts Wesleyan is dedicated to creating an environment that is welcoming, accessible and inclusive for pregnant and nursing mothers. Students may request reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and nursing mothers.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@roberts.edu.

For Students

Title IX covers any gender-related issues, including pregnancy, birth, and postpartum needs, and the Title IX Office can support the student’s understanding of what kind of accommodations and supports are available. Here are several examples in which it may benefit the pregnant student to seek accommodations:

  • Pregnancy-related conditions interfering with schoolwork (e: morning sickness, fatigue, hyperemesis gravidarum)
  • Planning the recovery from delivery well in advance of your due date, including potential complications that need additional support
  • Consider postpartum symptoms such as mood disorder, depression, and anxiety

The Title IX Office is available to assist and suggest pregnant students proactively seek solutions to meet their specific needs. Consider the following options:

  • Reach out to professors directly to arrange for short-term extensions to deadlines
  • Consider online courses
  • Enroll in independent study classes
  • Take fewer classes per semester (but keep in mind enrollment and financial aid requirements)
  • Consider requesting an incomplete in the course to allow for extra time to complete the course
  • Consider a leave of absence if appropriate.

For Employees

University employees are protected under Title IX and various employment laws that protect the health and income during pregnancy and parenthood. The laws protecting your rights, including non-discrimination include:

  • Title IX
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • NYS PUMP at Work (Expressing Milk) Protections FLSA

Talk with the Benefits Administrator in the Office of Human Resources to discuss available workplace accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions.

Know my pregnancy and parenting rights

The University is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities. This prohibition includes discrimination on the basis of excluding students who may be pregnant, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions.

Title IX Basic Rights:

  • As a pregnant student, you have equal access to classes and activities
  • The pregnant student is entitled to accommodations for both the pregnancy and childbirth, excused absence, extra time to complete assignments, and other reasonable accommodations that would be provided to a student with a temporary medical condition
  • The institution must excuse an absence due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the doctor deems necessary.
  • The institution must permit the student to return to the same academic and extracurricular status prior to the pregnancy leave. The institution must permit the student the opportunity to make up missed assignments
  • The Institution cannot make the student take time off if the student does not want to
  • The Institution cannot exclude the pregnant student from a special program due to pregnancy

Supportive Accommodations

The University is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities. This prohibition includes discrimination on the basis of excluding students who may be pregnant, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. Reasonable accommodations cannot be refused based on individual faculty policies or university policies that indiscriminately prescribe attendance without pregnancy, disability, or medical condition consideration.

The University provides reasonable and responsive adjustments to ensure that a student who is pregnant may access educational programs. Accommodations are made on an individual, case-by-case basis and may include, but are not limited to:

  • A larger desk
  • Breaks during class, as needed
  • Permitting temporary access to elevators
  • Rescheduling tests or exams
  • Excused absences due to pregnancy or related conditions
  • Flexible deadlines for submitting work due to pregnancy or childbirth
  • Providing alternatives to make up missed work
  • Excused absences for parenting students (both mothers and fathers) who need to care for their sick children
  • Use of lactation rooms

How to request an accommodation.

The pregnant or parenting student may seek accommodations from the Title IX office in lower Rinker, Office 122, or with the Director for Access and Accommodations in the Learning Center. The pregnant/parenting individual's needs will be discussed, and documentation that supports the requested adjustments may be requested. The Title IX office or Office of Access and Accommodations can coordinate the student’s needs with the campus.

Reasonable accommodations provide appropriate allowances for the student to succeed while preserving the integrity of the course. Accommodations are individualized depending on the needs of the student and the nature of the course. Please be aware that the Title IX Office cannot request an accommodation that fundamentally alters the course.

Pregnancy-related portions of the Title IX regulations also apply to athletic students and the University will treat student-athletes with pregnancy-related conditions the same as other ill or injured student-athletes. Financial awards to pregnant student-athletes who remain engaged with the athletic department will be renewed. Formerly pregnant student-athletes must be returned to the status that they held when the leave began.

Resources

University Resources

Title IX Coordinator
P: 585-594-6408
E: titleix@roberts.edu

Director of Access & Accommodations
Golisano Library, Learning Center
Rhonda Lanni
P: 585-594-6270
E: Lanni_rhonda@roberts.edu

Assistant Director of Undergraduate Student Success
Office of Student Success
Rinker Building, Office 120
Tabitha Arrendell
P: 585-594-6228
E: arrendell_tabitha@roberts.edu

External Resources

Resources for Pregnant & Parenting for Sexual Assault Survivors

Frequently Asked Questions

You can contact the Title IX Office by:

  • Calling the Title IX Coordinator at 585-594-6222
  • Stopping by the Title IX Office located in lower Rinker, Office 122
  • Email at titleix@roberts.edu

While the Title IX Office primarily oversees pregnancy accommodations, there are other offices on campus where pregnant students can find support and resources.

Director of Access & Accommodations
Golisano Library, Learning Center
Rhonda Lanni
P: 585-594-6270
E: Lanni_rhonda@roberts.edu

Wellness Center
Voller Athletic Center, Suite 231
P: 585-594-6360
E:wellnesscenter@roberts.edu

No. The Department of Education’s regulations implementing Title IX specifically prohibits discrimination against a student based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions.

More specifically, it prohibits a university from applying any rule related to a student’s parental, family, or marital status that treats students differently based on their sex.

Yes. Title IX prohibits harassment of students based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions.

Harassing conduct can take many forms, including verbal acts and name-calling, graphic and written statements, and other conduct that may be humiliating or physically threatening or harmful.

Particular actions that could constitute prohibited harassment include:

  • making sexual comments or jokes about a student’s pregnancy
  • calling a pregnant student sexually charged names
  • spreading rumors about her sexual activit
  • making sexual propositions or gestures

Universities must take prompt and effective steps reasonably calculated to end pregnancy related harassment, prevent its recurrence, and eliminate any hostile environment created by the harassment.

The university violates Title IX if sexual harassment or other pregnancy-related harassment by employees, students, or third parties is sufficiently serious that it interferes with a student’s ability to benefit from or participate in the school’s program, and the harassment is encouraged, tolerated, not adequately addressed, or ignored by school employees.

If you feel that you are subject to harassment or discrimination due to pregnancy please contact the Title IX Coordinator directly so that the university may address the issue.

No. Any such requirement would violate Title IX.

The university may provide information to its students about the availability of an alternative program or course, but it may not pressure a pregnant student to attend that program.

A pregnant student must be allowed to remain in their regular classes and school if they so choose.

No. You only need to inform the university of your pregnancy status if you are seeking academic accommodations related to pregnancy.

If you are seeking accommodations, please contact the Title IX office for more information and assistance.

The University will excuse your absences from class for pregnancy or childbirth, for the period during which your doctor deems medically necessary.

When you return to school, you will be reinstated to the status you held when you left and given the opportunity to make up missed work.

You may choose how you want to make up the missed work, such as:

  • Retaking the semester
  • Taking an online course to recover credits
  • Taking additional time in the program to continue at the same pace or finish at a later date
  • Rescheduling of tests or exams

If your grade is based in part on class attendance or participation, you must be given the opportunity to earn back the credits you missed due to medically necessary pregnancy or childbirth absences, so that you are reinstated to the status you held before your absences.  

Every university that receives federal financial assistance is bound by the Title IX regulations. Universities must ensure that the policies and practices of individual professors do not discriminate against pregnant students. For example, a professor may not refuse to allow a student to submit work after a deadline that she missed because of absences due to pregnancy or childbirth.

Additionally, if a professor’s grading is based in part on class attendance or participation, the student should be allowed to earn the credits she missed so that she can be reinstated to the status she had before the leave.

The university should ensure that professors and staff are aware of and follow Title IX requirements.

Reasonable accommodations cannot be refused based on individual faculty policies or university policies that indiscriminately prescribe attendance without pregnancy, disability, or medical condition consideration.

If you are denied a pregnancy or childbirth accommodation by your professor, you are encouraged to speak with the Department Chair or Dean.

If your concern is not satisfactorily resolved by the Department Chair or Dean or if you do not feel comfortable addressing the concern with the Department Chair or Dean, you may contact the Title IX Coordinator to seek an appropriate resolution.

If your program requires an internship or other opportunity to “work in the field”, you cannot be denied participation based on your pregnancy.

You may be required to submit a doctor’s note for continued participation, if required for all students who have other medical conditions.

Yes. For students, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Director of Access and Accommodations.

For employees, contact the Office of Human Resources for more information.