Southwestern Community College and its faculty, staff, and other employees will not require a student to limit their studies as a result of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions. Students with pregnancy-related disabilities, like any student with a short-term or temporary disability are entitled to reasonable accommodations so that they will not be disadvantaged in their programs of study and students are encouraged to seek assistance from the director of student development. The benefits and services provided to students affected by pregnancy will be no less than those provided to students with temporary medical conditions.
Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to:
- Modifications to the physical environment (such as accessible seating)
- Extending deadlines and/or allowing the student to make up tests or assignments missed for pregnancy-related absences
- Providing remote learning options
- Excusing medically-necessary absences (this must be granted, irrespective of classroom attendance requirements set by a faculty member)
- Granting incomplete grades for classes that will resume at a future date.
The college will excuse a student’s absence from class due to pregnancy or related conditions, including recovery from childbirth, for as long as the student’s healthcare professional deems the absence to be medically necessary.
No artificial deadlines or time limitations will be imposed on requests for accommodations, but Southwestern Community College is limited in its ability to impact or implement accommodations retroactively.
To make a request, the student shall follow the process for requesting special accommodations as outlined in SS 51 Reasonable Accommodations for Applicants for Admissions and Students with Disabilities. The policy is also outlined in the Student Handbook.
If the student is dissatisfied with the accommodation provided by the college, the student may follow the academic accommodation appeal process outlined in SS 51 Reasonable Accommodations for Applicants for Admissions and Students with Disabilities and in the Student Handbook.