Pregnancy and Parenting Resources

Pregnancy and Parenting Resources

Spring Hill College is dedicated to fostering an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and accessible for pregnant and parenting students and employees. Title IX protects against discrimination on the basis of sex, which includes discrimination based on current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions. 

The Department of Labor and the Department of Education requires reasonable accommodations are provided to pregnant and parenting students and employees as well as protect them from any harassment or discrimination.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs. The law is a key tool for ensuring all people have equal opportunity for education, regardless of their sex or gender.

Title IX makes it illegal to discriminate because of sex, which includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, miscarriage, abortion, or related conditions, including recovery. Title IX also ensures the right for pregnant and postpartum students to get changes at school when needed, and to take medically necessary leave. The law bans harassment, intimidation, or other discrimination in schools because of pregnancy-related conditions.

Further, any rules concerning parental, family, or marital status may not apply differently based on sex. The law against sex discrimination covers all aspects of an educational program. This includes school-sponsored extracurricular activities and internships, athletics, financial aid and scholarships, career counseling, and lab or clinical work. 

Accommodations

Pregnant and parenting students and employees have the right to reasonable accommodations throughout and after a pregnancy to ensure their continued participation in Spring Hill College programs and activities.

Student Accommodations

Students may request academic accommodations that are reasonable and do not fundamentally alter a course’s layout.

The Title IX Office can support students with short term needs as well as with leaves of absence due to delivery or pregnancy complications. You can contact the Title IX Office via email at TitleIX@shc.edu or call 251-380-3026. 

Requests for reasonable accommodation can be made by submitting this FORM: 

• Individual Absence Verification: Faculty are required by the Office of Civil Rights to allow students to make up any work missed, including class participation points, due to a documented doctor’s appointment. This can be done through additional assignments or opportunities in other class sessions.
  
• Leave of Absence: Should a student need to withdraw from their courses and take a leave of absence, the Title IX office can assist with a medical withdrawal process. 

Student Accessibility Resources (SAR) can provide long term or physical need accommodations. This can include any documented need for altered course participation.

• Long Term Course Alteration: Should a student encounter a period of time where they are unable to physically attend class (ex: doctor ordered bed rest, ongoing required doctors appointments), SAR can work with the student and professor to find a reasonable accommodation.
  
• Facilities Needs: SAR can accommodate requests for facilities needs in the classroom including alternative furniture to make attendance more healthy and comfortable.

Housing Support & Resources – Spring Hill College currently does not offer family housing accommodations. Resources are available for students in the community, and Res Life will work with students to accommodate a waiver to live off campus. 

• One Ten Student Living – is a fully furnished student-living apartment complex located 10 minutes away from SHC that offers leases for families with children.
  
• Dumas Wesley Community Center’s Transitional Housing Program provides 24 months of housing for qualified individuals. 
  
• Family Promise of Coastal Alabama works to provide temporary shelter, related services and support for families who qualify. 
  
• Women’s Resource Center provides reproductive health resources and support to women.
  
• 2B Choices for Women is a pregnancy and parenting services ministry supported by Catholic Charities as a program of Catholic Social Services. They provide support, resources, and education for pregnant women and families.
  
• Gulf Coast Family Center offers training, technical, and financial assistance to support families and communities.

Employee Accommodations

Employees (including student employees) can request accommodations through Human Resources (HR). For more information and to request accommodations, please contact the Human Resources Office at hr@shc.edu.

Lactation Room

Spring Hill College maintains a dedicated lactation room for faculty, staff, students and visitors in the LAC Room 296

If this space is too far to conveniently access without major disruption to your schedule, please contact Human Resources (employees) or Title IX (students) for assistance identifying alternative options.

Grievances

Should a student or employee feel they have been denied appropriate accommodations or they have been discriminated against or harassed due to their pregnancy or parenting status, they have the right to file a grievance with the University.

• Student Grievance Form
• Employees should contact Human Resources at HR@shc.edu 
  

If you have a question or need additional assistance with pregnancy or parenting resources, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Vannee Cao-Nguyen,