SCU is committed to creating and maintaining a non-discriminatory learning environment for all students, including students who are pregnant or parenting. This includes childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, and recovery therefrom.
Accommodations
Accommodations may include:
- Excused absences and medical leave that are deemed medically necessary related to pregnancy. The Office of EO and Title IX will work with both the student and the student’s faculty members to create a plan for completion of course work and continuation of the student’s education. Individual plans may be adjusted as circumstances change.
- Opportunity to make up any work missed due to medically necessary absences for pregnancy.
- Reasonable adjustments to an education program or activity which include, but are not limited to:
- Physical space modifications (e.g. a larger desk or table in lieu of a desk);
- Appropriate restroom or lactation breaks;
- Excused absences or tardiness related to medically necessary appointments;
- Academic adjustments (e.g. change in course sequence, rescheduling of exams, extended deadlines, virtual course offering); and
- Accessible parking
Request an Accommodation
If you have questions or concerns about pregnancy accommodations or would like to request an accommodation related to pregnancy, please email the Interim Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator, Brandi Williams, at bwilliams2@scu.edu, or Program Manager, Summer Reid, at sreid@scu.edu
Documentation
A student seeking accommodations related to pregnancy will need to provide official documentation. Documentation must be provided by a licensed healthcare provider who is not a family member of the student. Given the nature of pregnancy and related conditions, the medical documentation may reflect anticipated needs (e.g., anticipated date of delivery/termination, or anticipated routine appointments), ongoing functional needs (e.g., bedrest requirements, lactation needs, mobility or geographic limitations), and/or recent past medical emergencies (e.g., early delivery, unanticipated hospitalization due to complications, etc.).
Documentation must be on the letterhead or the prescription pad of the licensed care provider and must reflect the following:
- Name and signature of licensed care provider
- Name of student being seen by the care provider/requesting modification
- Verification of pregnancy/parental status
- Anticipated date of delivery (or date of procedure/termination)
- Date of issuance of documentation
- Medical necessity/relation to pregnancy: sufficient information to indicate why the absence, need, or limitation is both medically necessary for the student and relates to the pregnancy.
- Nature of absence, medical need, or functional limitation(s): sufficient information to verify how the pregnancy or related condition prevents the student from fully participating in their education.
- Date, time, and duration of absence or functional limitation due to the medically necessary pregnancy-related condition.
- Modifications requested: the nature of the modifications or accommodations being requested by the student to be able to participate in their education
Documentation can be provided to the Office in the following ways:
- In-Person
Bring your documentation materials to the Office at Loyola Hall, Suite 140,
425 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95050
- Via Email
Send an email with documentation attached to titleixadmin@scu.edu or to the Interim Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator, Brandi Williams, at bwilliams2@scu.edu
Additional Resources and Information
- Read more about the U.S. Department of Education’s “Discrimination Based on Pregnancy and Related Conditions” resource under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
- Confidential Resource: Ashleigh Pezzoni in the SCU Wellness Center
- SCU Cowell Center
More information about lactation spaces at SCU to come!