We are required under Title IX to provide benefits and services to pregnant students. You can learn more about our obligations under Title IX to support pregnant students. In some cases, students may experience pregnancy-related medical issues that rise to the level of a disability. Students with pregnancy-related disabilities, like any other student with a disability, are entitled to reasonable accommodations so they will not be disadvantaged in their courses of study or research, and may seek assistance from the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility.
The benefits and services available to all students during their pregnancy are approved on a case-by-case basis and can be academic or non-academic. When considering a request for benefits and services, we will look at the facts of each individual student’s situation and consider their application to the law. The inquiry is very case-specific and individualized; a benefit or service that may be reasonable for one student and one situation may not be reasonable for another. In determining whether a requested benefit or service is reasonable, we consider your first hand narrative along with medical documentation.
Academic modifications seek to balance a student’s medical needs and their academic requirements. Examples of potential academic modifications during pregnancy include:
- Professor notification
- Notetaking assistance
- Audio recording lectures
- Test rescheduling and proctoring
- Breaks during class
- Environmental modifications, such as a larger desk or a chair used to elevate one’s feet
- Extensions on assignments
- Consideration for necessary absences
- Extensions on milestone completion for some degrees
Non-academic services may include:
- ADA-accessible parking permit
- Adjustments to on-campus employment
- Adjustments for Tulane-sponsored off-campus activities, such as an internship that is part of a degree program
Here are a couple of examples of what these benefits and services could look like for our students:
Lena is a senior majoring in English who expects to graduate in May and give birth in July. She reaches out to Case Management and Victim Support Services (CMVSS) over winter break to request assistance for the spring semester. One of her classes meets for 3 hours at a time, and CMVSS notified Lena’s professor that she would need to be able to take bathroom breaks as needed during the class. Later in the semester, Lena unexpectedly has to miss 3 days of class due to medical issue related to her pregnancy. CMVSS works with Lena’s professors to excuse these absences and to coordinate reasonable adjustments to any assignments or deadlines she missed. Lena also works part-time at the library. Her job requires Lena to be on her feet for most of her shift and to sometimes lift heavy boxes of books. At the beginning of the semester, CMVSS works with Lena and her supervisor to adjust her job responsibilities so that she no longer has to do any heavy lifting. Towards the end of the semester, Lena has difficulty staying on her feet for her entire shift. CMVSS works with Lena and her supervisor to adjust her responsibilities so that she can be seated for most of her work shift.
Rory is a graduate student in the department of chemical engineering. They are starting the second year of their PhD program and expect to give birth in February. Rory is taking classes, engaging in research, and serving as the teaching assistant for an undergraduate chemistry course. Rory connects with Case Management and Victim Support Services (CMVSS) at the beginning of the semester and shares that they are hoping to be able to continue with all of their duties as normal through the fall semester and then to take a leave for the spring semester. Rory and CMVSS agree to keep in touch should Rory need support during the semester. They also assist Rory in completing paperwork and making arrangements to take a leave of absence for the spring semester. In early November, Rory develops pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome. CMVSS assists Rory in getting access to an ergonomic keyboard for their laptop. CMVSS also gets permission from Rory’s professors for Rory to audio-record lectures so that they can take breaks as needed from taking notes during class. Rory’s research requires data entry, and Rory normally spends 3 hours each Friday afternoon entering data. Rory’s supervisor agrees to adjust their schedule so that they can spread out the data entry over shorter time periods throughout the week. After completing the fall semester with the assistance of these modifications, Rory takes a leave of absence for the spring semester.
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