PREGNANCY & PARENTING
Title IX
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the
basis of sex in an education program. Among the types of gender discrimination
covered by this statute, Title IX protects against discrimination related to pregnancy
or parental status. Protection extends to students who are pregnant or who have
either had a false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, have gone through
childbirth, or are recovering from any of those conditions. Title IX
regulations also prohibit a school from applying any rule related to a
student’s parental, family or marital status that treats students differently
based on their sex.
Coastal Bend College has designated the following person to coordinate its efforts to protect, accommodate, and provide resources to our pregnant and parenting students.
Kayla Devora-Jones, Ed. D.
Dean of Student Services & Accessibility/ Student Parenting Liaison
RW Dirks Student Services Bldg., Ste. 111
Beeville, Texas 78102
(361) 354-2532
kdjones@coastalbend.edu
The roles of the liaison officer shall provide to student information regarding support services and other resources available to the students at CBC. For more information, visit https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._educ._code_section_51.9356.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHERE
CAN A STUDENT SEEK ASSISTANCE FOR PREGNANCY-RELATED ACCOMMODATIONS?
Students who are pregnant can reach out to the
Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) at oas@coastalbend.edu for support with
accommodations. Possible accommodations include rescheduling tests or exams,
excusing absences, extending deadlines for assignments, providing alternatives
for missed work, or retaking a semester. The OAS can help communicate with
professors on behalf of the student and connect them with other college
resources if needed.
PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH, AND RELATED CONDITIONS MAY
NECESSITATE ABSENCE. WILL THOSE ABSENCES BE EXCUSED?
Yes. Absences due to pregnancy, childbirth,
or related medical conditions must be excused and cannot be treated or
penalized like unexcused absences. Depending on the length of the absence and
area of instruction, it may be academically necessary for the student to take a
leave of absence. The instructor/professor must provide a leave of absence for
pregnant students for as long as it is deemed necessary by their medical
doctor.
WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN A PREGNANT STUDENT MISSES AN ASSIGNMENT(S), TEST(S), EXAM(S) ETC.
DUE TO AN EXCUSED ABSENCE?
After an excused absence due to pregnancy,
childbirth, or any related medical conditions. The instructor/professor must
allow a reasonable time for the student to make up missed assignments and
tests. This is true regardless of the course’s typical makeup assignment
policy. Depending on the nature of the course, making up the exact missed
assignment might not be feasible. The makeup work does not have to be exactly
the same as the missed work, but needs to be reasonably equivalent.
CAN
PREGNANT STUDENTS BE PENALIZED FOR THEIR ABSENCE IF GRADES IN CLASS ARE BASED
ON ATTENDANCE OR PARTICIPATION?
A student may not be penalized for absences known to be due to pregnancy,
childbirth, or other related medical conditions. An instructor/professor
cannot reduce a pregnant student’s grade because of attendance or participation
points that the student missed during excused absences due to her pregnancy-related
conditions. The faculty member must give the student a reasonable opportunity
to earn back the credit missed due to pregnancy.
CAN A INSTRUCTOR/PROFESSOR PREVENT A PREGNANT STUDENT FROM ATTENDING CLASS?
No. Under Title IX, the College cannot
exclude someone from class based on their pregnancy. The College can only
require a pregnant student to provide a doctor’s certification of fitness
to continue in an education program or activity if the same requirement is
imposed on all other students with medical conditions requiring a doctor’s
care.
CAN A
PREGNANT STUDENT PARTICIPATE IN INTERNSHIPS AND OTHER OFF-CAMPUS PROGRAMS?
Yes. Pregnant students cannot be excluded
from College-related off-campus programs, such as internships, off-campus
activities, College-sponsored activities, and other extracurricular activities.
An instructor/professor cannot require a doctor’s note to show fitness to
participate unless it is required for all students in the program.
DOES THE
COLLEGE HAVE TO PROVIDE SPECIAL SERVICES TO PREGNANT STUDENTS?
Yes, Coastal Bend College must provide the same services to
pregnant students that it provides for other students with temporary
disabilities.
WHAT IF
A STUDENT OR INSTRUCTOR/PROFESSOR MAKES AN OFFENSIVE OR INAPPROPRIATE REMARK
ABOUT A STUDENT’S PREGNANCY?
Coastal Bend College does not tolerate
gender-based harassment, including harassment based on pregnancy, the student
should notify the Student Parent Liaison immediately. If a faculty or staff
member witnesses or learns about harassment of a pregnant student, the should
also immediately notify the Title IX Coordinator so that prompt and effective
steps end the pregnancy-related harassment, prevent its recurrence, and
eliminate any hostile environment created by the harassment.
The same grievance procedures are applicable to complaints of
sexual misconduct also apply to discrimination based on pregnancy or parental
status.
Title IX prohibits a school’s retaliation against an individual
for filing a complaint or raising concerns about the rights of a pregnant and
parenting student.
CAN A
PREGNANT STUDENT LOSE THEIR SCHOLARSHIP DUE TO PREGNANCY?
As long as the student remains enrolled at CBC and in good
standing when the student is not medically required to be absent, the student
will not lose the scholarship
RESOURCES
Pregnant & Parenting Students’
Rights Toolkit, National Women’s Law Center
Supporting the Academic Success of
Pregnant & Parenting Students, Dept. of Ed