Title IX and Pregnancy
Pregnancy and Related Conditions
Title IX’s prohibition against sex discrimination includes discrimination against students experiencing pregnancy and related conditions. Title IX also prohibits treating one sex differently than another based on parental status. The George Washington University does not discriminate on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions and such discrimination is not tolerated in the university community.
Pregnancy and related conditions include:
- Pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation;
- Medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation; or
- Recovery from pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, or related medical conditions.
Title IX requires that the university provide reasonable modifications for students experiencing pregnancy and related conditions. These reasonable modifications are designed to prevent sex discrimination and to ensure that pregnant students and students experiencing pregnancy related conditions have equal access to the university's educational programs and activities.
The Title IX Office is here to facilitate reasonable modifications.
- Examples of Reasonable Modifications
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Reasonable modifications are determined based on the student's individualized needs and may include:
- Breaks during class to express breast milk, breastfeed, or attend to health needs associated with pregnancy or related conditions, including eating, drinking, or using the restroom;
- Intermittent absences to attend medical appointments;
- Access to online or homebound education;
- Changes in schedule or course sequence;
- Extensions of time for coursework and rescheduling of tests and examinations;
- Allowing a student to sit or stand, or carry or keep water nearby;
- Counseling;
- Changes in physical space or supplies (for example, access to a larger desk or a footrest);
- Elevator access;
- Options for making up missed work; or
- Other changes to policies, practices, or procedures.
The above is not an exhaustive list and the student always has the ability to accept or decline any reasonable modifications that are offered. However, please note that a modification that would fundamentally alter the nature of one of the university's education programs or activities is not considered a reasonable modification.
- Under Title IX, the University will…
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Once the Title IX Office receives notice of a student’s pregnancy or related condition, the university will:
- Take specific actions to promptly and effectively prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the university's education program or activity;
- Allow the student to voluntarily take a leave of absence to cover, at minimum, the period of time deemed medically necessary by the student's licensed healthcare provider. When the student returns to the university's education program or activity, the student must be reinstated to the academic status and, as practicable, to the extracurricular status that the student held when the voluntary leave began.
- Ensure that the student can access a lactation space, other than a bathroom, that is clean, shielded from view, free from intrusion from others, and may be used by a student for expressing breast milk or breastfeeding as needed.
- Treat pregnancy or related conditions in the same manner as any other temporary medical conditions.
- Under Title IX, the University will not...
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Under Title IX, the university will not:
- Adopt or implement any policy, practice, or procedure concerning a student's current, potential, or past parental, family, or marital status that treats students differently on the basis of sex;
- Discriminate against any student based on the student's current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions;
- Require supporting documentation unless the documentation is necessary and reasonable for the university to determine the reasonable modifications to make or whether to take additional specific actions. Examples of situations when requiring supporting documentation is not necessary and reasonable include, but are not limited to:
- When the student's need for a specific action is obvious (e.g. when a student who is pregnant needs a bigger uniform or desk);
- When the student has previously provided sufficient supporting documentation;
- When the reasonable modification at issue is allowing a student to carry or keep water nearby and drink, use a bigger desk, sit or stand, or take breaks to eat, drink, or use the restroom;
- When the student has lactation needs;
- When the action is available to students for reasons other than pregnancy or related conditions without the need for supporting documentation; or
- Require the student to provide certification from a healthcare provider or any other person that the student is physically able to participate in the recipient's class, program, or extracurricular activity unless:
- The certified level of physical ability or health is necessary for participation in the class, program, or extracurricular activity;
- The university requires such certification of all students participating in the class, program, or extracurricular activity; and
- The information obtained is not used as a basis for discrimination.
- How to Request Reasonable Modifications
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You may request reasonable modifications through the Title IX Office to support you through pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions.
Please contact the Title IX Office via our Reasonable Modifications Request Form or email the Title IX Office at [email protected] to schedule a meeting with a Title IX staff member who can discuss individualized options for support.
If you have a chronic medical condition related to pregnancy and/or if you experience a pregnancy-related complication, you may also contact Disability Support Services for further support.
Regardless of your circumstance, the Title IX Office is available to guide you to the office best suited to handle your requests.