Covered Students:

• Pregnant students (any stage)
• Postpartum students (up to 12 months after birth, childbirth-related medical event)
• Student with parenting responsibilities (e.g., infant care, child illness)
• Lactating students needing pumping accommodations
• Pregnancy-related absences
• Modifications in the physical environment
• Academic accommodations

Reasonable Accommodations

Upon request, a student who is pregnant or postpartum may seek and receive reasonable accommodations to complete a course of study or research at the College. Such reasonable accommodations may include:

• Rescheduling exams and assignment due dates
• Temporary leaves of absence
• Excused absences for medically necessary reasons
• Adjusted classroom participation requirements (attendance, standing, physical activities)
• Adaptive environment modifications (e.g., seating, rest breaks)

Approved reasonable accommodations will not fundamentally alter the essential requirements of any course.

Initiating Reasonable Accommodations

Request: Contact the Director of Disability Services via email or in person.

Collaboration: The Director of Disability Services will work in coordination with the Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dean of the Department, and the instructor(s), if needed.

Leave & Academic Continuity

A student who is pregnant or postpartum may be granted a leave of absence for a reasonable period of time, which is mutually agreed upon by the student and the College. Upon approval of the leave of absence, the student returning from leave will be reinstated to their pre-leave academic standing, including GPA and earned credits.

Completion of Degrees/Programs of Study

A student who is pregnant or postpartum may be granted an additional, reasonable period of time to complete a degree, credential, or program of study, which is mutually agreed upon by the student and the College. The reasonableness of such an extension may depend on factors such as program accreditation, prerequisite schedules, and other academic considerations.

Lactation & Wellness Facilities

NIACC’s Wellness Hub includes a lactation room (McAllister Hall 206L) that provides a private, clean, and secure space for pumping, equipped with seating, surfaces, outlets, signage, and trash receptacles. Lactating students may use these spaces during scheduled breaks or as needed for pumping.

Complaints & Resolution

If informal discussions with College personnel have not resolved the issue, the individual shall submit a written complaint to the Director of Disability Service, using the Anti-Discrimination Grievance Form.  The Director of Disability Services will attempt to resolve complaints with the parties involved.   The student and involved parties will be notified by the Director of progress, findings, or resolution within 10 business days after receiving the complaint.

If the Student and the Director of Disability Services cannot resolve the conflict, the Student may contact the Vice President of Student Services (VPSS) to request assistance.  The Vice President, in consultation with other involved parties, will evaluate the complaint and determine an appropriate resolution.  The VPSS will inform all involved parties of progress, findings, or resolution within 10 business days after receiving the complaint.

In a founded case where it’s been shown discrimination has occurred, NIACC will take steps to prevent recurrence of any discrimination and to correct discriminatory effects on the complainant and others, if appropriate.

The student is encouraged, when possible, to resolve the complaint by utilizing the steps described above.  If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of this procedure or does not want to utilize the College’s grievance procedure, he/she has the right to file a complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at any time to begin the formal stage of the complaint process.  More information is available from OCR.

Policy Accessibility & Training

• Policy is included in the Student Handbook and posted on Trojan Home and will be presented at orientation or other college sponsored events
• Policy and annual training will be provided to faculty on Title IX responsibilities and pregnancy-related accommodations.

Support & Resources Coordination

The Director of Disability Services will:

• Coordinate academic and health-related accommodations across departments
• Connect students with on-campus resources such as nursing and counseling services, and the food pantry
• Assist with referrals to community resources, including parenting support services
• Maintain current knowledge of the requirements of this policy
• Understand and publicize topics related to pregnancy and parenting, breastfeeding accommodations, and referrals to resources and providers.

Non-Retaliation

Any retaliation against students for requesting accommodations or filing complaints under this policy is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary actions.

Policy Monitoring

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure compliance with SF 288, integration with state and federal law, and ongoing effectiveness.