Pregnant and Parenting Students
At Western Wyoming Community College, we are committed to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students, including those who are pregnant or parenting. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities, which includes protections for students who are pregnant or have recently given birth.
Your rights under Title IX
Under Title IX, students who are pregnant or have recently experienced a pregnancy-related condition are protected from discrimination in all aspects of their education. This includes:
- Pregnancy and Childbirth: Students who are pregnant, have given birth, or are recovering from childbirth are entitled to the same accommodations and support as students with other temporary medical conditions.
- Pregnancy-Related Conditions: Title IX also covers students who have experienced a false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or any other pregnancy-related condition.
- Parental Status: The law extends to protect students from any discrimination related to their parental, family, or marital status. Schools cannot apply rules that treat students differently based on their sex.
Reporting and Assistance
If you believe you have experienced discrimination or need assistance related to pregnancy or parenting, the Title IX Coordinator at Western Wyoming Community College is here to help. We encourage you to reach out for support, whether you need academic adjustments or simply want to understand your rights under Title IX.
Contact Information:
Accommodation and Support
Western Wyoming Community College is dedicated to providing the necessary accommodations to ensure that students who are pregnant or have recently given birth can continue their education without interruption. These accommodations may include:
- Academic Adjustments: Modifications to the classroom environment, such as extended deadlines, online participation options, or excused absences due to pregnancy-related medical needs.
- Leave of Absence: Students are entitled to take a leave of absence for as long as it is medically necessary and return to their academic status as before the leave.
- Support Services: Access to counseling, healthcare, and other support services on campus to help manage your educational and personal needs during and after pregnancy.
Pregnant students may contact the Title IX Coordinator to request assistance with accommodations. Examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to, rescheduling tests or exams, excusing absences, submitting work after a deadline, providing alternatives to make up missed work, or retaking a semester. The Title IX Coordinator may facilitate communications with the student’s instructors or assist with other Western resources.
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. Instructors must provide a leave of absence for pregnant students for as long as it is deemed necessary by their medical doctor. Instructors may require a doctor’s note for pregnancy-related absences only if a doctor’s note is required to excuse other medically-related absences.
Yes, students are entitled to a leave of absence for as long as it is medically necessary. Upon your return, you will be reinstated to your previous academic status.
After an excused absence due to pregnancy, childbirth, or any related medical conditions, instructors must allow a reasonable time for the student to make up missed assignments and tests. This is true regardless of the instructor'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.
A student may not be penalized for absences known to be due to pregnancy, childbirth, or other related medical conditions. An instructor cannot reduce a pregnant student’s grade because of attendance or participation points that the student missed during excused absences due to pregnancy-related conditions. The instructor must give the student a reasonable opportunity to earn back the credit missed due to pregnancy.
Your privacy is important to us. Any information shared with the Title IX Coordinator will be treated confidentially, and your professors will only be informed of the accommodations necessary to support your educational progress.
Western will not tolerate gender-based harassment, including harassment based on pregnancy and related conditions. If a pregnant student experiences harassment based on their pregnancy, they should let the Title IX Coordinator know immediately. If a faculty or staff member witnesses or learns about harassment of a pregnant student, they should immediately notify the Title IX Coordinator so that it can take prompt and effective steps reasonably calculated to end pregnancy-related harassment, prevent its recurrence, and eliminate any hostile environment created by the harassment.
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.