Pregnant & Parenting Students

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status—in educational programs and activities.

According to guidance received from the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”), under Title IX, colleges must not exclude a pregnant student from participating in any part of an educational program. Piedmont Technical College is committed to ensuring that pregnant students receive reasonable accommodations to ensure access to our educational programs. You do not have to drop out of your classes or academic program or change your educational plans due to your pregnancy.

A student should advise the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Coordinator of a potential need for accommodations as soon as she knows she is pregnant. It is extremely important that communication between student, instructors, and the SAS Coordinator begin as soon as possible. Each situation is unique and will be addressed individually.

Title IX accommodations DO NOT apply to Financial Aid. Financial Aid regulations do not give the College any discretion regarding Financial Aid eligibility. Any impact on a student’s Financial Aid due to absences related to pregnancy or childbirth is dictated by Financial Aid regulations, not the college. Therefore, if the student believes the pregnancy may affect Financial Aid eligibility, the student should contact the Financial Aid Office for additional information as soon as possible.

NOTE: Certain educational programs may have strict certification requirements or requirements mandated by outside regulatory agencies. Therefore, in some programs, the application of Title IX accommodations may be limited.

Reasonable Accommodations

Manhattan Tech is committed to an inclusive, equitable environment for all students and employees, including individuals who are pregnant or experiencing pregnancy-related conditions. To facilitate this for students, the college provides the option to request reasonable accommodations. Examples of accommodations may include:

Extended deadlines
Extra time on assignments
Rescheduling exams missed due to pregnancy or childbirth
Classroom modifications, such as accessible seating or elevator access
Considerations related to food, water, or restroom access
Altering experiential requirements like clinical rotations, fieldwork, or internships (within the scope of certification requirements)
Access to a clean and private lactation space on campus
Temporary leave for as long as the student’s physician deems medically necessary (after which the student will be reinstated to the status the student held when the leave began)

Lactation Rooms at Manhattan Tech

Lactation rooms are private spaces on campus that can be used by breastfeeding or lactating students and employees.

Manhattan Tech Lactation Room Map

Additional Resources

Employees are encouraged to contact Human Resources for assistance or accommodations related to pregnancy.
Student Accommodations may be of assistance for students with certain pregnancy-related conditions (sometimes referred to as complications).
The Pregnant Scholar and the National Women's Law Center both provide detailed information on Title IX and pregnant and parenting students, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions.
ChildCare Aware of Kansas provides information on local childcare options.
US DOE - Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students