Pregnancy and Parenting

Pregnant and parenting students should submit a request for accommodations by filling out the online form. Someone from the Title IX Office will contact you to discuss your pregnancy or parenting needs. You will need to submit supporting documentation (i.e. letter from your doctor) with your request for accommodations.

In addition, students who have chronic medical condition as a result of a pregnancy  should also make contact with the Center for Educational Accessibility & Disability Resources by calling (251) 460-7212, or emailing disabilityservices@vaftizo.com.

Students will be provided reasonable accommodations based upon their pregnancy and parenting related needs. Specific accommodations will vary from student to student. Some examples of accommodations may include:

• Providing a larger desk.
• Allowing breaks during class, as needed.
• Permitting temporary faculty/staff parking.
• Rescheduling tests or exams.
• Excusing absences due to pregnancy or related conditions.
• Submitting work after a deadline missed due to pregnancy or childbirth.*
• Providing alternatives to make up missed work.
• Permitting a reasonable time for nursing and access to lactation spaces.
• Allowing excused absences for parenting students (both male and female) who need to take their children to medical appointments or to take care of their sick children.

*Pregnant students will be allowed to make up any work missed due to medically necessary absences for pregnancy. Students will be offered acceptable alternative arrangements to make up missed work. The student will not be required to complete make up work until the student's medically-necessary absences for pregnancy are completed.

Students are not required to inform anyone of their pregnancy or parenting status. However, the University aims to create an environment that encourages students to share this information with the Title IX Department, so that the University can provide the proper support and assistance. 

A student may not be penalized for absences known to be due to pregnancy, childbirth, or other related medical conditions. A professor cannot reduce a pregnant student’s grade because of attendance or participation points that the student missed during excused absences due to her pregnancy-related conditions. The professor must give the student a reasonable opportunity to earn back the credit missed due to pregnancy.

There are three lactation stations located on the University’s main campus. 

• Student Center, Room 168 
• North Humanities Building, Office 4
• UCOM, Room 3704

The University of South Alabama prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex. Pregnant or parenting students who believe they have been discriminated against or harassed because of a qualifying condition may file a complaint with the Title IX Office by clicking on the link provided below to report a Title IX incident. 

Ask them if they need any accommodations, and if they have met with the Title IX Office. If they have not, refer them to the Pregnancy and Parenting accommodation form located on the Title IX Office webpage .

We excuse all medically necessary absences for pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery. This includes doctor appointments. Via the  Title IX Office, faculty members should excuse those absences deemed medically necessary by the appropriate medical professional. Students should be referred to the Title IX Office for the purpose of documenting medical needs.

Faculty cannot ask for doctor’s notes. Please refer the student to the Title IX office for documentation and support.

Reasonable accommodations could be allowing frequent bathroom breaks, a larger desk or different chair if needed. The length of time needed for medically required absences can vary depending on the student's situation.