Pregnant or Parenting Students

• “Pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions” include childbirth, pregnancy, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, pregnancy or infant loss, breastfeeding and/or expelling breastmilk, conditions arising with any of these conditions and/or recovery from any of these conditions.
• “Pregnant student/Birth parent” refers to the student who is or was pregnant.
• “Parenting student” is defined as a student (male or female) who is fulfilling the role of a parent for a biological, adopted, or foster child; a legal ward; or a relative for whom the student has primary caretaking responsibilities.

• North Central Missouri College and its faculty, staff, and other employees shall not discriminate against any student or exclude any student from their education program or activity, including any class or extracurricular activity, based on a student’s pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery there from.
• Students with pregnancy-related disabilities, like any other student with a disability, are entitled to reasonable accommodation and will not be disadvantaged in their courses of study or research, and may seek assistance from the Accessibility Services Office.
• The pregnant or parenting student will be required to produce medical documentation before accommodations are considered and approved.  The student should complete appropriate paperwork with the Accessibility Services Office and upon approval, notify instructors of approved accommodations.  Instructors will not grant pregnancy accommodations without the proper documentation from the Accessibility Services Office.
• 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
  • excusing medically-necessary absences
  • granting leave
  • allowing the student to withdraw from coursework without penalty
  • No lifting (weight determined by physician)
  • Limiting exposure to chemicals
  • Permission to eat/drink in class
  • Excused for tardiness
  • Frequent breaks to walk around or use the restroom

• If the pregnant or parenting student chooses to withdraw from courses, the Registrar’s Office must be notified through procedures outlined in the College Catalog.
• Lactation Facilities and Breastfeeding Students
  • Breastfeeding students will be granted reasonable time and space to pump breast milk in a location that is private, clean, and reasonably accessible.
  • North Central Missouri College has a lactation room in the basement of the Alexander Student Center.  A lactation room is also available at the (future) Savannah location on the 2nd floor.  If there are questions or concerns regarding space, contact the Accessibility Services Office or the Title IX Coordinator.

• Faculty, staff, or other employees shall not require a student to take a leave of absence, or withdraw from or limit studies due to pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom.
• Pursuant to Title IX, North Central Missouri College shall treat pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom as a justification for a leave of absence for as long a period of time as is deemed medically necessary by a student’s physician.
• A student taking a leave of absence under this policy shall provide notice of the intent to take leave thirty days prior to the initiation of leave, or as soon as practicable.
•  Intermittent leave may be taken with the advance approval of the student’s department, or when medically necessary due to the student’s health condition.
• Upon return from leave, the student will be reinstated to his or her program in the same status as when the leave began.
• Continuation of the student’s scholarship or similar college-sponsored funding during the leave term will depend on the policies of the funding program.

• Harassment by any member of the North Central Missouri College community based on sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, or parental status is prohibited. Any member of the NCMC community may report a violation of this Policy to the Title IX Coordinator.
• Students are encouraged to discuss disability-related concerns with the Accessibility Services Coordinator.
• If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, the student can appeal the decision to the Vice President of Student Affairs. To file an appeal, complete the following:
  • Submit Appeal Form and supporting documentation to the Vice President of Student Affairs/Title IX Coordinator, 1301 Main Street, Trenton, MO 64683 or emailing from your pirate email account to: [email protected].  Located under Academics in the Student Portal is the Appeal Form .
  • Schedule a meeting with the VP of Student Affairs to discuss the appeal.  To schedule, contact the Student Services Coordinator at (660) 357-6418.  The completed appeal form and required documentation must be received prior to the scheduled appeal meeting.  Information about the appeal process is also located in the NCMC Academic Catalog.
  • If a student does not wish to meet, a decision will be made based on the information contained on the Appeal Form and any supporting documentation.
• If the complaint is not resolved at the institutional level, a student may choose to file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights. Complaints must be filed within 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination. OCR may extend the 180-day deadline if “good cause” can be shown.
•  Complaints can be filed using OCR’s electronic complaint form
• Complaints can also be mailed and should include the following information in the written complaint, or request a Discrimination Complaint Form from an OCR Regional or Headquarters office (complaints must be signed by the complainant or an authorized representative):
  • Your name, address, and telephone number.
  • Name and address of the entity you believe discriminated against you.
  • How, why, and when you believe you were discriminated against.
  • Any other relevant information.

• Kansas City Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 601 East 12th Street – Room 353 Kansas City, MO 64106 Customer Response Center: (800) 368-1019 Fax: (202) 619-3818 TDD: (800) 537-7697 [email protected]

  Upon receipt, OCR will review the information provided. If OCR determines they do not have the authority to investigate your complaint, they will, if possible, refer it to an appropriate agency.

A copy of this Policy shall be made available to employees in their required training and posted on the NCMC website. NCMC shall alert all new students to this Policy and the location of this Policy as part of orientation.