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Pregnant and Parenting Students

UC Merced is committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible environment for pregnant and parenting students.  Title IX prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery.  UC Merced will provide reasonable pregnancy-related modifications and accommodations to ensure a pregnant student has equal access to the University’s educational programs.  

A parenting student is someone enrolled in any level of education or training at UC Merced and is concurrently responsible for (or will soon be responsible for) providing for a child of any age.  They may be a biological parent, stepparent, unmarried co-parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, guardian, grandparent, extended family member, or sibling caregiver. 

How to Request Pregnancy or Parenting Modifications 

Pregnant students may request reasonable pregnancy-related modifications from Student Accessibility Services (SAS) based on general pregnancy needs. The availability of modifications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in consultation with relevant University stakeholders. Modifications that would fundamentally alter the essential academic requirements of a course or program or lower academic standards, as well as those that constitute an undue administrative burden, will not be considered reasonable. 

Examples of common reasonable pregnancy-related modifications include: 

  • Drinking water and eating snacks in class
  • Elevator access
  • Allow student to sit or stand as needed
  • 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 excused absences for medical appointments
  • Changes in physical space or supplies i.e. Larger desk, chair, or footrest
  • Larger uniform
  • Extended deadlines- Extensions of time for coursework and rescheduling of tests/exams
  • Alternative assignments for missed in-class activities/assignments
  • Remote/Online learning/ Access to online or homebound learning
  • Proctored exams/quizzes either in person or remotely
  • Changes in class schedule or course sequence
  • Counseling

Examples of common reasonable modifications for parenting students to ensure non-discrimination include: 

  • Excused absences for parenting students (regardless of gender identity) to take their children to doctors’ appointments, to take care of their sick children, or other similar activities. 
  • Access to lactation spaces 

How/When to Request Disability Accommodations  

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. While most pregnancies do not constitute a disability, a pregnant student experiencing complications that impact major life activities may be eligible for disability-based accommodations so long as the requested accommodations do not fundamentally alter the nature of the class or constitute an undue burden.  

If a student requires a leave of absence due to pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, or other accommodation, contact the Dean of Students Office (DOS) as soon as possible.  

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