Pregnancy-Related Support

Abilene Christian University is committed to fostering a supportive learning and working environment that prohibits unlawful discrimination for students and employees who are pregnant or parenting. In keeping with applicable law, the University provides adjustments, protections, and resources to support this commitment.

• Adjustments – Students needing academic or other adjustments due to pregnancy or childbirth-related medical conditions should contact University Access Programs, while employees should contact Human Resources.

Examples of available student assistance:

• • Continued participating in classes and extracurricular activities

• • Making reasonable and responsive adjustments to the regular program as needed, providing the same special services offered to other students with temporary medical conditions (i.e., deadline extensions, attendance flexibility, seating changes, testing adjustments). These adjustments extend to off-campus placements like clinical/practicum sites. 

• • Allowing students to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before medical leave began, which should include the opportunity to make up missed work.
  • While lactation breaks for students are not legally required, it is a best practice to provide students, especially those in a practicum/internship setting, with reasonable modifications for expressing breast milk in keeping with the policies and procedures of the host site. Additionally, on-campus, private, non-bathroom spaces for expressing breastmilk are available to students and employees at the following locations: 
    • Brown Library, 1st floor (2 rooms – ask at Circulation Desk)
    • Moody Coliseum, 120B1
    • Onstead Science Center, Room 161A
    • Philips Education Building, Room 118A (Quiet Place)
    • Sherrod Building, Room 134A

Examples of available employee (and student worker) assistance include lactation breaks and spaces, flexible scheduling, and duty modifications.

• Protections – Concerns about unlawful sex-based discrimination related to pregnancy status or related conditions should be directed to the Dean of Students (students) or Chief Human Resources Office (employees), while claims of unlawful sex-based harassment should be directed to the Title IX Office. 
• Resources – For additional non-compliance-related support or resources, students may contact SOAR. Off-campus resources include Pregnancy Resources of Abilene.