Discrimination Based on Pregnancy and Related Conditions
SBCC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students. Title IX makes it illegal to discriminate because of sex, which includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, or related conditions, including recovery. 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 and clinical work.
Title IX also ensures the right to take medically necessary leave and to be free of harassment, intimidation, or other discrimination because of pregnancy-related conditions. Further, any rules concerning parental, family, or marital status may not apply differently based on sex. For example, SBCC cannot provide women with time to bond with or care for their children and not men.
Individuals must be allowed to take time off of school/work for pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, abortion and/or recovery for as long as their doctor says is medically necessary. That could mean a few absences for necessary medical appointments, or a longer leave of absence for a high-risk pregnancy or childbirth. This rule applies even if taking medically necessary leave would require an absence for longer than the school’s leave policy ordinarily allows. Students cannot be penalized for taking leave and must be able to return to school in the same status they held before taking leave.
Students and Employees may request reasonable accommodations as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions. Reasonable accommodations vary based on the individual’s circumstances but may include: academic accommodations and flexibility (such as breaks during class, excused absences, rescheduling of tests, extensions of deadlines, and alternatives to make up missed work); leaves of absences or changes in work schedules. Additionally, lactation rooms can be found on West and East Campuses. On the West Campus, the lactation room can be located on the main floor of the library. A key may be requested from the librarian. The lactation room on the East Campus is located in ECOC 1, Room 17. The door entrance code can be obtained from EOPS, Student Health, Basic Needs, CESJ, The Well, Student Life, or Student Affairs.
For more information, please see the Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
Pregnancy Rights under the California Fair Housing and Employment Act