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Title IX Protects Pregnant and parenting students.

Title IX makes it illegal to discriminate because of sex, which includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, or related conditions, including recovery. Title IX also ensures the right to take medically necessary leave and to be free of harassment, intimidation, or other discrimination because of pregnancy-related conditions.  

Any rules concerning parental, family, or marital status may not apply differently based on sex. For example, universities cannot provide women with time to bond with or care for their children and not men.

The law against sex discrimination covers all aspects of an educational program.  This includes school-sponsored extracurricular activities and internships, athletics, financial aid and scholarships, career counseling, and lab and clinical work.

Leave and Absence

Students must be allowed to take time off of school for pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, abortion and/or recovery for as long as their doctor says is medically necessary. That could mean a few absences for necessary medical appointments, or a longer leave of absence for a high-risk pregnancy or childbirth. This rule applies even if taking medically necessary leave would require an absence for longer than the school’s leave policy ordinarily allows.  Students cannot be penalized for taking leave, and must be able to return to school in the same status they held before taking leave.

Schools are required to provide pregnant students, and students with related conditions such as childbirth, or false pregnancy, with at least the same special services as it provides to students with other temporary conditions.  For example, if a school provides homebound instruction or take-home assignments to students who miss school for illnesses, they must do the same for a student who misses school as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. Pregnant students and those with related medical conditions may also be eligible for disability protections and services under the ADA, depending upon their condition. If you have questions, you may contact the Chief Diversity Officer/ Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça Williams at williamslr@apsu.edu or by calling (931)-221-7690, the  Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Sheila M. Bryant at bryantsm@apsu.edu. or by calling (931)221-7178

Complaint Process

If you believe that you have been discriminated against on the basis of pregnancy and/or parenting, you may contact the Chief Diversity Officer/ Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça Williams at williamslr@apsu.edu  or by calling (931)-221-7690, Sheila M. Bryant, Deputy Title IX Coordinator at bryantsm@apsu.edu . The complaint procedure and complaint form can be found in APSU Policy 6:004(Discrimination and Harassment Complaints (other than Complaints of Sexual Violence and Stalking) - Complaint and Investigation Procedure.