Pregnancy and Parenting

Pregnancy-related conditions include, but are not limited to, pregnancy, morning sickness, childbirth, false pregnancy, miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, postpartum, depression, lactation, or recovery from any of these conditions.

Parental status is defined as a biological parent, an adoptive parent, a foster parent, a stepparent, a legal guardian, or an individual who is actively seeking legal custody, guardianship, visitation, or adoption of such a person who is under the age of 18.

Sex-Based Harassment is defined as a form of sex discrimination and means sexual harassment and other harassment on the basis of sex, including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity; sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. This is applicable under Title IX, Title VII, and the Fair Housing Act.

Students are encouraged to self-disclose pregnancy or related conditions. Reasonable modification requests for a student who is pregnant or has related medical conditions because of a pregnancy should be directed to the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB), and Title IX. The staff of the office will discuss the pregnant or parenting individual's needs and may ask for documentation that supports the requested modifications. The Office of DEIB and Title IX can also assist in connecting the student to other individuals on campus who can facilitate reasonable modifications.

If a student voluntarily decides to disclose a pregnancy to the University, the student should contact the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB), and Title IX. Once this disclosure occurs, the student will have several options, as described below.

1. Continue at the University If a student decides to continue in their program and desires to have any reasonable modifications to their academic program due to the pregnancy, the student and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB), and Title IX, along with the Office of Student Accessibility Services as needed, will discuss any reasonable modifications that may be necessary to continue in the program. While reasonable modifications will be made in appropriate circumstances, nothing in this policy requires modification of the essential elements of any academic program. Modifications that have been agreed upon, if any, will be documented and signed by both the student and the Title IX Coordinator/Deputy Title IX Coordinator.

2. Request a leave of absence A student may desire to take a leave of absence due to pregnancy. An undergraduate student deciding to request a leave of absence may do so in accordance with the processes set forth in the Undergraduate Catalogue. A graduate student deciding to request a leave of absence may do so in accordance with the processes set forth in the Graduate Catalogue.

3. Withdraw from the University The student may, in their sole discretion, determine that they must withdraw from the University for an indefinite period of time or permanently due to pregnancy. An undergraduate student deciding to withdraw from the University may do so in accordance with the processes set forth in the Undergraduate Catalogue. A graduate student deciding to withdraw from the University may do so in accordance with the processes set forth in the Graduate Catalogue.

Faculty and staff are also encouraged to self-disclose pregnancy or related conditions. Modification requests for pregnant employees should be directed to the Office of Human Resources. Human resources staff will discuss the individual's needs pertaining to pregnancy and related conditions and may ask for documentation that supports the requested modifications.

If a faculty or staff member voluntarily decides to disclose a pregnancy to the University, the individual should contact the Office of Human Resources. Faculty and staff members may be eligible for maternity leave under short-term disability and/or the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Faculty may take leave in accordance with the processes set forth in the Employment Policies for Faculty. Staff may take leave in accordance with the processes set forth in the Employment Policies for Staff.

University of Mount Union faculty, staff, and students who are nursing mothers have the option of using designated lactation spaces on campus. Use of a lactation room is optional for a nursing mother. These rooms provide a secure space for nursing mothers, they are shielded from view, free from intrusion by co-workers and the public, and are not restrooms.

There are two designated lactation spaces on Mount Union’s campus – in Room 017 of Beeghly Hall (lower level) and in Room 047C of the Kolenbrander-Harter Information Center. Both are ADA-accessible.

Students desiring to make use of these designated lactation spaces should contact the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB), and Title IX to make the necessary arrangements. Faculty and staff members desiring to make use of these designated lactation spaces should contact the Office of Human Resources to make the necessary arrangements.