N7: Pregnancy Care

Responsibility for Maintenance: Community Care Hub; Office of Accessibility Resources

Date of most recent changes: September 24, 2024

I. Policy Statement

Onondaga Community College does not discriminate in its education program or activity against any applicant for admission, student, applicant for employment, or employee on the basis of current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions as mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Onondaga Community College prohibits members of the Onondaga Community College community from adopting or implementing any policy, practice, or procedure which treats an applicant for admission, student, applicant for employment, or employee differently on the basis of current, potential, or past parental, family, or marital status. This policy and its pregnancy-related protections apply to all pregnant persons, regardless of gender identity or expression.

II. Definitions

  • Familial Status. The configuration of one’s family or one’s role in a family. 

  • Marital Status. The state of being married or unmarried. 

  • Parental Status. The status of a person who, with respect to another person who is under the age of 18,1 is a biological, adoptive, foster, or stepparent; a legal custodian or guardian; in loco parentis with respect to such a person; or actively seeking legal custody, guardianship, visitation, or adoption of such a person. 

  • Pregnancy and Related Conditions. The full spectrum of processes and events connected with pregnancy, including pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation; related medical conditions; and recovery therefrom.

  • Reasonable Modifications. Individualized modifications to the Onondaga Community College’s policies, practices, or procedures that does not fundamentally alter Onondaga Community College’s education program or activity.

III. Reason for Policy

On May 2, 2023, NYS Governor Hochul signed legislation (A1295-C/S1213-B) that ensures all public colleges and universities in the SUNY and CUNY systems offer access to medication abortion. The law requires that every SUNY and CUNY campus provide access to abortion medication to their student body either by employing or contracting with authorized individuals who may prescribe abortion prescription drugs, or by providing students with information and referrals to providers authorized to prescribe abortion medication.

IV. Applicability of the Policy

All members of the College community should be familiar with this policy.

V. Access to Care

Students who seek assistance with pregnancy care will be provided with community agency referrals for care including pre-natal care, adoption, and abortion counseling. Onondaga Community College does not provide health services, including pre-natal care, on-campus. The Community Care Hub will maintain a list of community agencies and/or providers authorized to prescribe abortion medication.

VI. Information Sharing Requirement

Any Onondaga Community College employee who becomes aware of a student’s pregnancy or related condition is required to provide the student with the Title IX Coordinator’s contact information and communicate that the Coordinator can help take specific actions to prevent discrimination and ensure equal access to Onondaga Community College’s education program and activity. If the employee has a reasonable belief that the Title IX Coordinator is already aware of the pregnancy or related condition, the employee is not required to provide the student with the Title IX Coordinator’s contact information. 

Upon notification of a student’s pregnancy or related condition, the Title IX Coordinator will contact the student and inform the student of Onondaga Community College’s obligations to: 

  • Prohibit sex discrimination. 

  • Provide reasonable modifications. 

  • Allow access, on a voluntary basis, to any separate and comparable portion of the institution’s education program or activity. 

  • Allow a voluntary leave of absence. 

  • Ensure lactation space availability. 

  • Maintain a Resolution Process for alleged discrimination. 

  • Treat pregnancy as comparable to other temporary medical conditions for medical benefit, service, plan, or policy purposes. 

The Title IX Coordinator will also notify the student of the process to file a complaint for alleged discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, as applicable.

VII. Reasonable Modification for Students

Students who are pregnant or are experiencing related conditions are entitled to Reasonable Modifications to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the Onondaga Community College’s education program and activity. Any student seeking Reasonable Modifications must contact the Office of Accessibility Resources to discuss appropriate and available Reasonable Modifications based on their individual needs. Students are encouraged to request Reasonable Modifications as promptly as possible, although retroactive modifications may be available in some circumstances. Reasonable Modifications are voluntary, and a student can accept or decline the offered Reasonable Modifications. Not all Reasonable Modifications are appropriate for all contexts. 

Reasonable Modifications 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; 

  • Time extensions 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; 

  • A larger uniform or other required clothing or equipment; or 

  • Other changes to policies, practices, or procedures determined by the Title IX Coordinator. 

In situations such as clinical rotations, performances, labs, and group work, the institution will work with the student to devise an alternative path to completion, if possible. In progressive curricular and/or cohort-model programs, medically necessary leaves are sufficient cause to permit the student to shift course order, substitute similar courses, or join a subsequent cohort when returning from leave. Students are encouraged to work with their faculty members and the Recipient’s support systems to devise a plan for how to best address the conditions as pregnancy progresses, anticipate the need for leaves, minimize the academic impact of their absence, and get back on track as efficiently and comfortably as possible. The Office of Accessibility Resources will assist with plan development and implementation as needed. 

Supporting documentation for Reasonable Modifications will only be required when it is necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to determine which Reasonable Modifications to offer to determine other specific actions to take to ensure equal access. 

Information about pregnant students’ requests for modifications will be shared with faculty and staff only to the extent necessary to provide the Reasonable Modification. 

Students experiencing pregnancy-related conditions that manifest as a temporary disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are eligible for reasonable accommodations just like any other student with a temporary disability.

VIII. Certificate to Participate

All students should be informed of health and safety risks related to participation in academic and co-curricular activities, regardless of pregnancy status. A student may not be required to provide health care provider or other certification that the student is physically able to participate in the program or activity, unless: 

  • The certified level of physical ability or health is necessary for participation; 

  • The institution requires such certification of all students participating; and 

  • The information obtained is not used as a basis for pregnancy-related discrimination.

IX. Lactation Space Access

The Recipient provides students and employees with access to lactation spaces that are functional, appropriate, and safe. Such spaces are regularly cleaned, shielded from view, and free from the intrusion of others. 

Lactation spaces are located in the following locations: 

  • Mawhinney Hall 186 (PALS Room)

X. Leaves of Absence

Students are permitted to take a voluntary leave of absence for a reasonable time as deemed medically necessary by their health care provider because of pregnancy and/or the birth, adoption, or placement of a child. The leave term may be extended in the case of extenuating circumstances or medical necessity. 

To the extent possible, Onondaga Community College will take reasonable steps to ensure that students who take a leave of absence or medical leave return to the same position of academic progress that they were in when they took leave, including access to the same or an equivalent course catalog that was in place when the leave began. 

Continuation of students’ scholarship, fellowship, or similar Onondaga Community College-sponsored funding during the leave term will depend on the students’ registration status and the policies of the funding program regarding registration status. Students will not be negatively impacted by or forfeit their future eligibility for their scholarship, fellowship, or similar Onondaga Community College-supported funding by exercising their rights under this policy.   

The Office of Accessibility Resource can and will advocate for students with respect to financial aid agencies and external scholarship providers in the event that a leave of absence places eligibility into question. 

In order to initiate a leave of absence, the student must contact the Office of Accessibility Resources at least 30 calendar days prior to the initiation of leave, or as soon as practicable. The Office of Accessibility Resources will assist the student in completing any necessary paperwork.

XI. Housing

A pregnant student’s housing status will not be altered based on pregnancy status unless requested by the student.   

XII. Policy Discrimination and Training

A copy of this policy will be made available to faculty and employees in annually required training and posted on Onondaga Community College website. Onondaga Community College will educate all new students about this policy and the location of this policy as part of orientation. The Office of Accessibility Resources will make educational materials available to all members of the Onondaga Community College community to promote compliance with this policy and familiarity with its procedures.

XIII. Related Documents

XIV. Contacts

Subject

Name

Title or Position

Telephone Number

Email

Questions regarding policy

Erika Sheets

Director

(315) 498-2801

communitycare@sunyocc.edu

Pregnancy Accommodations

Nancy Carr

Director

(315) 498-2245

oar@sunyocc.edu

Approved by the OCC Board of Trustees November 28, 2023

Updated and approved by the OCC Board of Trustees September 24, 2024