Under Title IX, colleges are prohibited from discriminating against students on the basis of pregnancy and related conditions. Students must not be excluded from educational programs or activities, such as classes or extracurricular events, due to pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, pregnancy termination, or recovery.
Title IX Basic Rights
- Equal access to classes and extracurricular activities.
- Access to the Title IX Coordinator and the office of Student Support for assistance with accommodation documentation and navigation of communication with faculty
- Excused absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as your doctor says is necessary. Schools/departments must also reschedule exams missed due to pregnancy or childbirth and provide an opportunity to make up missed work.
- Accommodations or modifications, when requested, for both your pregnancy and childbirth, including excused absences, extra time on assignments, and other reasonable accommodations that would be provided to a student with a temporary medical condition.
- Ability to return to the same academic and extracurricular status you had before you left.
- Protection from being excluded from a special program because you are pregnant or requiring you to take time off if you don’t want to.
- Access to clean and private Lactation spaces on campus. Click here to view the available spaces.
Reasonable Accommodations:
Rowan College at Burlington County 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
- Access to a clean and private lactation space on campus. Click here to view the available spaces.
- 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).
Request Student Accommodations
If you are a pregnant or parenting student, please contact the Title IX Coordinator for more information about your rights under Title IX.
Additional Resources
- NJ State Law Prohibiting Pregnancy Discrimination in Higher Education
- NJ Parent Link: A resource center for early childhood and parenting
- NJ Department of Children and Families
- Office of Civil Rights - Know Your Rights PDF
- US DOE - Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students
- The Pregnant Scholar Website: Pregnancy-Related Accommodations
- The Pregnant Scholar - Accommodation Information and Guides for Faculty and Admin