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Pregnancy and Related Conditions Policy (Students)
  • I. Purpose

    Macalester College (the “College”) is dedicated to providing equal access to its education programs and activities for all applicants and students and to fostering a community that welcomes and supports pregnant and parenting applicants and students. This Policy outlines the College’s commitment to comply with applicable Federal and state laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Minnesota Protections for Pregnant and Parenting Students Law (Minn. Stat. § 135A.1582), and any other applicable law and establishes the College’s intent to protect applicants and students against unlawful discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions. The Policy also describes reasonable modifications and resources that may be available to students. Nothing in this Policy is intended to create or define the terms of a contract between the College and any applicant, student, or other individual or entity. The College reserves the right to alter, amend, or deviate from the provisions in this Policy at any time, with or without notice to the College community.

  • II. Scope

    This Policy generally applies to applicants for admission (“applicants”) and admitted students (“students”) at the College, though some provisions are limited to students where indicated. This Policy applies to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation; medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation; and recovery from pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, or related medical conditions (collectively, “pregnancy or related conditions”). Generally, recovery from childbirth will be presumed to include the six (6) weeks following childbirth. However, recovery time will be extended when deemed medically necessary by an applicant’s or student’s healthcare provider. Recovery time from other conditions will be determined based on the time deemed medically necessary by an applicant’s or student’s healthcare provider. This Policy applies regardless of the gender identity or expression of an applicant of student.
  • III. Nondiscrimination, Harassment, & Retaliation

    In accordance with Title IX and other applicable Federal and state laws, the College does not unlawfully discriminate against any applicant or student or exclude any applicant or student from its education program or activity on the basis of sex, which includes an applicant’s or student’s current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions, in its education programs and activities. Additionally, in accordance with Title IX, the College will not apply any rule concerning an applicant’s or student’s current, potential, or past parental, family, or marital status which treats applicants or students differently on the basis of sex.

    The College will not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, including on the basis of current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions, in its community and will promptly and equitably respond to reports of discrimination and harassment. The College also prohibits retaliation against any individuals for reporting discrimination or harassment prohibited by this Policy or for exercising or attempting to exercise a right under this Policy. Reports of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should be made to the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected]. Any member of the College community can make a report. Reports of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation will be handled according to the applicable grievance procedures outlined in the College’s Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Policy or Nondiscrimination Policy, as is appropriate based on the allegations in the report.
  • IV. Title IX Coordinator Role

    The Title IX Coordinator or their designee is responsible for coordinating all actions by the College under this Policy and ensuring that the College’s obligations under Title IX and the Minnesota Protections for Pregnant and Parenting Students Law are carried out. When this Policy refers to actions of the Title IX Coordinator, these actions may be fulfilled by the Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator’s designee. Students who wish to request action by the College under this Policy or other resources related to their pregnancy or related condition should contact the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected].
  • V. Reasonable Modifications

    As appropriate, the College will make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures based on a student’s pregnancy or related conditions as necessary to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the College’s education program or activity, provided that such modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of the College’s education program or activity. The College will treat pregnancy and related conditions in the same manner as it treats other temporary disabilities or temporary medical conditions and will provide modifications based on a student’s pregnancy or related conditions that would be provided to a student with a temporary disability or temporary medical condition. A student in need of a reasonable modification on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions should contact the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected]. The Title IX Coordinator will work with the student and faculty to identify and implement appropriate reasonable modifications that are necessary to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the College’s education program or activity, and that do not fundamentally alter the nature of the education program or activity. In any situation where an agreement regarding a modification cannot be reached, the Title IX Coordinator has the discretion to determine whether a particular requested modification is reasonable and will be provided. Each reasonable modification will be based on the student’s individualized needs. The determination of reasonable modifications involves an interactive process between the College and the student. The College may require supporting documentation related to reasonable modifications. While not exhaustive, the following sub-sections provide additional information about reasonable modifications that may be available.

    a. Absences and Missed Coursework

    Course absences due to pregnancy or related conditions, including absences to attend medical appointments, may be excused. However, depending on the length and frequency of the absence and the area of instruction (e.g., courses with lab requirements, off-campus requirements), it may not be feasible, even with reasonable modifications, for a student to complete a particular course at a particular time. The College may limit excused absences to those deemed medically necessary by the student’s healthcare provider and may require documentation from a student’s healthcare provider confirming the necessity of the absence(s). As discussed under the “Leave of Absence” section below, when the student returns to the College, to the extent possible, the College will reinstate the student to the status the student held when the absence began.

    The College will provide students extensions of time and/or changes in schedule to complete or make up coursework that is due or was missed as a result of an absence due to pregnancy or related conditions. The method and timing for making up missed course work may depend on the nature of a particular course or activity. For example, courses with lab work or off-campus requirements may need to be made up by taking or retaking part or all of a course during a subsequent semester. The College will provide students extensions of time to complete assignments in the same manner as the College allows for students with temporary disabilities or temporary medical conditions.

    Students are responsible for contacting faculty members to notify them of their intent to miss class or to be on a leave due to pregnancy or related conditions. In the event that prior notice is not possible due to an emergency, students are responsible for contacting faculty as soon as possible after the fact. Students should work with faculty to determine how they will make up any work that was missed during the absence.

    Faculty are responsible for ensuring that all students have equal access to the College’s education programs and activities. This includes, where appropriate, working with the Title IX Coordinator to make reasonable modifications for students to make up any missed coursework, fieldwork, and any points or credits that are based on course attendance or participation. When appropriate, faculty may assign different coursework to replace coursework, fieldwork, or attendance/participation points that were missed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Policy is intended to fundamentally alter course requirements or other aspects of the education program or activity.

    b. Remote Learning

    When appropriate, remote or homebound learning may be a reasonable modification that is needed due to pregnancy or related conditions. The availability of remote or homebound learning as a modification will be based on the nature of the course, the availability of needed technology, and the needs of the student. The College will provide a student with access to instructional materials and video recordings of lectures for classes for which the student has an excused absence due to pregnancy or related conditions to the same extent that such materials and recordings are made available to any other student with an excused absence. Generally, remote or homebound learning will be provided as a reasonable modification only for a limited period of time based on medical necessity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Policy is intended to fundamentally alter course requirements or other aspects of the education program or activity.

    c. Physical Modifications

    Physical modifications, such as more comfortable seating, a larger desk, a footrest, elevator access, more frequent breaks or allowances to sit, stand, drink water, eat, use the restroom, or rest, etc., during class time or fieldwork may also be made available for students as needed due to pregnancy or related conditions, provided that such modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of an education program or activity.

    d. Lactation Modifications

    Reasonable modifications are available for lactating students who need to express milk for their nursing child or for medical reasons relating to the student’s pregnancy or related condition. If possible, students are encouraged to express milk between classes or outside of instruction time, in order to minimize disruption to the student’s learning. In cases where that is not possible and a student must miss class or field work to express milk, such absence will be excused, the student will not be penalized for the time missed, and the student will be provided an opportunity to make up any time or work missed during the absence, provided that such modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of an education program or activity. Students should work with faculty to determine how they will make up any time or work that was missed during the absence. For more information, see the “Absences and Missed Coursework” section above.

    e. Health and Safety Modifications

    Reasonable modifications related to the health and safety of a student and the student’s unborn child may also be available, including allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from substances, areas, and activities known to be hazardous to pregnant women or unborn children, provided that such modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of an education program or activity.

    f. Early Registration

    As the College provides early registration for courses or programs at the College for some students, the College will provide early registration for those courses or programs for students who are pregnant or have a related condition or parenting students in the same manner.

    g. Other Reasonable Modifications

    The descriptions of reasonable modifications above are not an exhaustive list of reasonable modifications available from the College. Reasonable modifications may also be available in the areas of counseling, changes to test or exam dates, changes to course sequence, extensions of deadlines, and many other aspects of the College’s education programs and activities, provided that the modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of an education program or activity. Students are encouraged to identify and request reasonable modifications that are not discussed in this Policy. The availability and reasonableness of a requested modification will be determined on a case-by-case basis, regardless of whether they are specifically mentioned in this Policy. The Title IX Coordinator will work with the student and faculty to identify and implement appropriate reasonable modifications that are necessary to prevent sex discrimination and provide the student with equal access to the College’s education program or activity, and that do not fundamentally alter the nature of the education program or activity.

    h. Accommodations for Pregnancy-Related Disabilities

    Reasonable accommodations may also be available for students with a pregnancy-related disability. Students with a pregnancy-related disability are encouraged to contact the Center for Disability Resources, Kagin Commons, [email protected], 651-696-6748. More information regarding disability support can be found on the Center for Disability Resources website. To the extent possible, the Title IX Coordinator and Center for Disability Resources will work together to provide reasonable modifications and reasonable accommodations to students with a pregnancy-related disability.

    i. Assistance for Other Expectant and New Parents

    While most provisions in this Policy apply to expectant or new birth/gestational parents, assistance and adjustments may be available for expectant or new parents other than birth/gestational parents, such as expectant or new co-parents and expectant or new adoptive or foster parents, as appropriate. Students in need of assistance or adjustments because they are an expectant or new co-parent or expectant or new adoptive or foster parent should contact the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected]. Additionally, resources available to all expectant and new parents are described in the “Resources” section below.
  • VI. Lactation Space

    The College will ensure that students can access a lactation space, which will be a space other than a bathroom, that is clean, shielded from view, free from intrusion from others, and may be used by a student for expressing milk as needed. Such lactation space is available located:

    • Kagin Commons – Room 017 (Basement level)
    • Theater & Dance Building – Room T106 (1st Floor)
    • Humanities Building – Room 115J (1st Floor)
    • DeWitt Wallace Library – Room L09 (Basement)

    Students in need of an alternative location should contact the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected].
  • VII. Leave of Absence

    Students who are pregnant or have a related condition and parenting students may take a voluntary leave of absence for up to two semesters. Students who are pregnant or have a related condition may take a leave of absence for a longer period of time if deemed medically necessary by the student’s licensed healthcare provider. At the conclusion of a leave of absence, to the extent possible, the student will be reinstated to the academic status and, as practicable, to the co-curricular status, that the student held when the leave began. However, depending on the length of the leave and the area of instruction (e.g., courses with lab requirements, off-campus requirements, etc.), it may not be feasible for a student to return to a particular course at a particular time, and it may be necessary in some circumstances for a student to restart a course from the beginning.

    Students who are in good academic standing at the time of taking a leave of absence will be permitted to return to their degree or certificate program without being required to reapply for readmission.

    Before granting a leave of absence, the College may require supporting documentation related to the leave of absence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Policy is intended to fundamentally alter course requirements or other aspects of the education program or activity.
  • VIII. Comparable Treatment to Other Temporary Disabilities or Temporary Medical Conditions

    The College will treat pregnancy or related conditions in the same manner and under the same policies as any other temporary disabilities or temporary medical conditions with respect to any medical or hospital benefit, service, plan, or policy the College administers, operates, offers, or participates in with respect to students admitted to the College’s education program or activity. Likewise, in determining whether a person satisfies any policy or criterion for admission, or in making any offer of admission, the College will treat disabilities related to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom in the same manner and under the same policies as any other temporary disability or physical condition or temporary medical condition.
  • IX. College Employment

    If a student is also employed by the College, the student should review the College’s Employee Handbook and contact Human Resources, 77 Macalester Street Room 201, 651-696-6280 regarding any pregnancy-related questions or concerns pertaining to the student’s employment.
  • X. Resources

    The College is committed to supporting students who are expecting or new parents, including birth/gestational parents and, as applicable, expectant or new co-parents and expectant or new adoptive or foster parents. Several resources are available on and off campus. The Title IX Coordinator serves as the College’s Navigator for current or incoming students who are parenting students. Students can contact the Title IX Coordinator at [email protected] for more information regarding resources.

    a. On-Campus Resources

    b. Off-Campus Resources
  • XI. Contact Information

    To make a report of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, to request reasonable modifications, or to ask questions regarding this Policy, please contact:

    Laura Creech
    Title IX Coordinator & Nondiscrimination Officer
    651-696-6258
    [email protected]
    Markim 108