Pregnancy Policy for Students

This policy applies to Earlham students who are pregnant or who have either had a false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, have gone through childbirth, a change in parenting status, or are recovering from any of those conditions.

Title IX protects students from discrimination on the basis of sex — including pregnancy and all related conditions — in education and in programs. Students who become pregnant have a right to remain enrolled, attend classes, and fully participate in the life of the College.

It is Earlham’s goal is to help the pregnant student have a healthy, comfortable and supportive living environment throughout the pregnancy. While students are under no obligation to inform anyone of their pregnancy or parental status, they are are also encouraged to contact Health Services and Residence Life offices so that Earlham may provide support for the physical and mental health of the student.

Campus Housing

Students who become pregnant are eligible for an automatic exemption from on-campus housing.

Earlham’s facilities are limited to single-student housing and are unable to accommodate infants or children in residence; therefore, it is important that the student make necessary arrangements for housing for the infant prior to delivery.

Earlham employees and students must not discriminate against any student, or exclude any student from education programs or activities, including any class or extracurricular activity, based on a student’s pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom.

Discrimination on the basis of a student’s pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom constitutes a violation of Earlham’s Sexual Harassment Policy and may result in sanction.

According to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, institutions must treat pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, and recovery therefrom the same as any other temporary disability.

Students may request reasonable accommodations as a result of pregnancy or related conditions. Accommodation requests should be made to Disability and Accessibility Services. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to, a larger desk, rescheduled tests or exams, excused absences, extended deadlines or alternatives to make up missed work.

Students have the right to excused absences related to pregnancy, child birth or related medical conditions. Students who become pregnant have the right to make up any work missed due to medically necessary absences related to the pregnancy. Faculty must allow a reasonable amount of time to make up missed assignments and tests.

Students who believe they may have been discriminated against based on pregnancy or related conditions, including termination of pregnancy, may contact the Office of Title IX or the Disability and Accessibility Services.

In addition, anyone can file a complaint with the U.S. Dept of Education Office of Civil Rights, including students, parents and guardians, employees, community members, and others who experience or observe discrimination in education programs or activities based on sex, including pregnancy and related conditions, as well as based on race, color, national origin, disability, and age.

To file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, use the online form at this link.

Under OCR’s Case Processing Manual, complaints typically must be filed within 180 days of when the discrimination
took place.

To ask OCR to provide language access services or resources, which may include oral technical assistance or written translation of a publicly available OCR document, free of charge, contact us at 1-800-421-3481 (TDD: 1-800-877-8339), or email us at [email protected].

If you would like more information about the Department’s interpretation or translation services, please call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (TTY: 1-800-437-0833) or email [email protected].

To request documents in alternate formats such as Braille or large print, please contact the Department at 202-260-0852 or [email protected].

Updated September 27, 2023 to include guidance from the Office of Civil Rights.