I. Policy and Scope

The university is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination in educational programs and activities on the basis of pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions). For students who become pregnant or become parents, the university is committed to providing reasonable modifications to support students' efforts to complete their courses of study or research. These efforts support individuals in effectively participating in and receiving the benefits of university educational opportunities and are provided in the time period immediately following those events, as required by law.

All matters are considered on a case-by-case basis. Any matters relating to student employment, and the employment accommodations process, are outside the scope of this policy and should be directed to Faculty and Staff Disability Services and the relevant local human resources representative. Any matters relating to student-athletes engaged in their sports should be directed to the Department of Athletics.

II. Applicable Rationale and Procedures

• Students who become pregnant or become parents may seek university support to continue their educational pursuits.
  1. Reasonable modifications are available when students become pregnant or become parents. For the purpose of this policy, "reasonable modifications" may include taking additional health and safety measures, arranging for rescheduled tests and assignment due dates, allowing leaves of absence, and excusing medically necessary absences.
     1. Should a student request additional time to complete a degree or candidacy for a degree, then the university must permit the additional, reasonable period of time that is consistent with university policy and mutually agreed upon by the student and the university.
  2. Students maintain their autonomy over their academic progression.
     1. At no point will the university require a student enrolled in a course of study or research activity to take a leave of absence, withdraw from a program, or limit the student's participation in academic activities solely due to pregnancy.
     2. Should a student request to take a leave of absence, then the university must permit the absence for a reasonable amount of time that is consistent with the policies of the university and that is mutually agreed upon by the student and the university. When the student returns, the student will be considered to have achieved the same standing as before the student left to the extent reasonably possible.
• To initiate a request for a reasonable modification based on pregnancy or parenting, the following process applies:
  1. The student seeking a modification should request the modification in advance, if possible, or as soon as reasonably practicable. Requests may be made through Student Care and Assistance.
  2. Student Care and Assistance will meet with the student to assist with their unique circumstances, including the nature of their academic program, to determine what reasonable modifications might be available.
     1. Students may be asked to provide documentation from a healthcare provider or health services provider of their choosing to establish their status as someone who recently became pregnant or became a parent. This documentation informs University support. It will be shared only with those university employees who have a need to know and will not be released except as reasonably permitted by the student or required by law.
     2. When there is a question of whether a requested modification for pregnancy or parenting would fundamentally alter the nature of a university program or activity, Student Care and Assistance must convene and consult with a team of campus pregnancy modification coordinators to determine whether the request is reasonable.
     3. In some cases, Student Care and Assistance may also refer the student to Student Disability Services, or seek to partner across offices, to provide overlapping support.
  3. As a result of the student's request, any approved modifications will be reflected in a modifications memorandum provided to the student and uploaded to the student's e-educational record to implement effectively the student's university support.
• Failures to provide approved university support, or other behaviors that harass or discriminate against students who become pregnant or become parents, may be a violation of state and federal law, as well as university policy. Such behaviors may be investigated and sanctioned as described below.

III. Support Resources for Student Pregnancy and Parenting

Responsibility for student pregnancy and parenting support, as well as compliance with the relevant Iowa and federal laws, is within the purview of Student Care and Assistance in partnership with other campus offices. Questions on the process for seeking modifications as provided by Iowa law may be directed here:

Student Care and Assistance
Iowa Memorial Union
Phone: 319-335-1162
Email: dos-assistance@uiowa.edu 

Pregnancy itself is not a disability. For students who experience a medical or psychological condition due to pregnancy, however, Student Disability Services is also available to help implement disability-related reasonable accommodations:

Student Disability Services
141 University Capitol Centre
201 S. Clinton St.
Phone: 319-335-1462
Email: sds-info@uiowa.edu 

IV. Bringing a Complaint

Anyone who wishes to raise complaints may contact the Office of Civil Rights Compliance.

Office of Civil Rights Compliance
455 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 319-335-6200
Email: ui-ocrc@uiowa.edu 

Complaints may be related to matters involving pregnancy or parenting for the complainant or may be regarding an experience of someone else. The complaint will be evaluated under appropriate university policy, which may include the Human Rights policy (Policy Manual II-3), the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct policy (Policy Manual II-4), or both.

The appeal procedures and protections against retaliation from those policies will apply to cases involving students who become pregnant or become parents. Each policy contains information about process and procedures. The Title IX Coordinator will use these procedures to receive and investigate complaints from students alleging a violation of this policy.

V. Confidentiality

Information students disclose to seek reasonable modifications is private and confidential. It will be shared only with those university employees who have a need to know and will not otherwise be released except as permitted by the student or required by law.