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:
- Breaks during class, as needed
- Rescheduling tests or exams
- Excused absences due to pregnancy or related conditions
- Extensions on exams or other assignments missed due to pregnancy or childbirth
- Providing alternatives to make up missed work
- Temporary access to elevators
- A larger desk
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.
Resources for Students
- UC Merced Parenting Student Resources
- List of various resources available to UC Merced students.
- Off-campus resources for Parenting Students
- The Pregnant Scholar
- Llegal resource center for pregnant and parenting students.
- NCAA Pregnant and Parenting Student-Athletes
- Provides resources and model best practices for student-athletes who become pregnancy and/or are parents and the institutions where they study and compete.
- Department of Education OCR Pregnancy or Parental Status Resources
- Provides links to policy guidance, case resolutions, and publications related to Title IX and Pregnancy or Parental Status, Know Your Rights, and a Fact Sheet Discrimination Based on Pregnancy and Related Conditions fact sheet
- California Breastfeeding Coalition
- La Leche League
- 24/7 Breastfeeding Hotline
- International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners
