Policy
Lower Columbia College has a responsibility to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the College’s education programs and activities. As required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, this policy prohibits discrimination against any student, employee, applicant for employment, or anyone who was participating or attempting to participate in the College’s education program or activity based on their current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions.
Responsibility to Inform Students
When a student informs any college employee of the student’s pregnancy or related conditions, the employee must:
- Provide the student, verbally or in writing, the Title IX Coordinator contact information, and
- Inform the student that the Title IX Coordinator can coordinate specific actions to prevent sex discrimination and ensure the student’s equal access to the college program or activity.
Title IX Coordinators:
- Kendra Sprague, Administrative Building Room 115, (360) 442-2121, title9@lowercolumbia.edu
- Sue Orchard, Admissions Center Room 159, (360)442-2301, title9@lowercolumbia.edu
*The Title IX Coordinator(s) will then request Disability & Access Services to facilitate reasonable accommodations for students.
Do Not:
- Request medical documentation or inquire about medical details.
- Say any of the following,
- “You should take the quarter off to be with your baby.”
- “You won’t be able to keep up with a newborn.”
- “You’ll have to return to school immediately after you have the baby.”
- “You can’t participate because you’re pregnant.”
Reasonable Modifications for Pregnant/Parenting Students
Reasonable modifications are based on a student’s individualized needs and are determined in consultation with the student. Reasonable modifications may include, but are not limited to:
Classroom accommodations:
- Larger desk/ergonomic seating
- Increased restroom breaks
- Ensuring elevator access
- Access to online education
- Breaks to express milk/breastfeed (Lactation Room available for students- refer students to DAS for location and code).
Excused absences/extensions due to medically necessary leave:
- Medical Appointments
- Miscarriage or termination of pregnancy
- Conditions related to pregnancy (preeclampsia, sciatica, migraines, high blood pressure, etc.)
- Childbirth
- Complications/conditions after childbirth
Guidelines for Student Medical Leave:
1) Excuse absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as the doctor says it’s necessary.
2) Allow students to submit work after deadlines without penalty because of pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, or childbirth (this includes assignments, exams, presentations, participation points, etc.).
3) Allow students to return to the same academic status as before the medical leave, which should include giving the student the opportunity to make up any work they missed.
Title IX Notifications to Instructors
When a student is approved for accommodations or medically necessary leave, you will receive an official notification from Disability and Access Services outlining what is required of you. Examples:
Subject: Title IX Notification
*Instructor,
Student Name, a student in your BUS 100 class, is approved for ergonomic and increased breaks from class.
ERGONOMIC SEATING: An ergonomic chair will have been moved and labeled in your classroom. Please designate chair use for this student during your class.
BREAKS FROM CLASS: This student may take increased breaks from class as needed. Please do not penalize the student for any missed class participation. If you have any concerns about the break amount please contact DAS and we can address your concerns.
Thank you,
Disability & Access Services
Subject: Title IX Notification
*Instructor,
Student Name, a student in your BIO 241 class, delivered a baby on Tuesday, 7/11. For the next 1-2 weeks, please excuse absences and provide extensions for coursework. The student should be in close communication with their instructors and our office during this time. I will notify you if additional adjustments need to be made.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Disability & Access Services
Subject: Title IX Notification
*Instructor,
Student Name, a student in your CHEM 121 class, missed classes on Tuesday 10/21 and Thursday 10/23 due to a pregnancy-related condition. Please excuse these absences and allow a 2-day extension on the assignment due on 10/23.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
Disability & Access Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there is a reserved room on campus for students to use. This space also has refrigerator access and additional supplies/resources. Please refer the student to Disability & Access Services for the location and code.
Do not penalize the student for these absences. Refer the student to Title IX Coordinator/DAS for support. We will provide guidance to instructors regarding excused absences and possible extensions.
No. If you receive an official notification from DAS, outlining these absences are pregnancy-related, then you cannot penalize the student regardless of your policy.
No. If you receive an official notification from DAS, outlining this absence was pregnancy-related, then you must allow the student a reasonable amount of time to take the exam without any deductions.
You must provide these breaks as an accommodation and cannot grade the student down. If class participation is an important part of the grade, then DAS would work with faculty to create an opportunity for the student to show participation through an alternative/comparable assignment.
No. Please contact DAS with your concerns about these absences. It is the role of our office to obtain/house medical documentation in support of student requests. If the student has missed the amount of classes/coursework that would jeopardize their ability to finish the course, we can discuss the best possible options for the student.
Contact DAS about your concerns. It’s important to inform the student of the possible safety risks/concerns that the lab might pose (make sure you have Health and Safety’s reproductive warning in your lab content- contact Janel Skreen if you don’t). But we cannot deny access or tell the student they cannot participate. If the student doesn’t feel safe to participate, we would explore other options like online labs, alternative/comparable assignments, schedule changes, etc. If alternatives are not possible, we would ensure a spot to participate in the lab when they are able to.
No. You cannot request medical clearance for the student to participate in clinicals simply because they are pregnant. But if the student has been hospitalized due to a pregnancy related condition, childbirth, or surgery, you may request medical clearance to participate in a clinical because you request all students who have been hospitalized medical clearance to participate. If a student is not cleared to safely participate in clinicals by their medical provider, then we would ensure that this student has an available spot in the same clinical when they are medically able to participate.
If the student elects to remain in class during this time, DAS would work with the instructor to create a plan that could include the student zooming in for lectures, receiving/submitting coursework online, taking exams from home, alternative ways to participate in class, etc.
First consult with DAS about the situation. The best option in this circumstance would be to grant the student an incomplete rather than grading them down or suggesting they withdraw. This way, they have a chance to complete the work when they are able to without penalty.