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LU Policy Number: UL.006
Effective Date: 11/12/2024
Approval Date: 11/12/2024
Revised Date: N/A
Purpose :It is the policy of Life University, Inc. (the “University”) to maintain an environment that is free of all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex and sex-based harassment in any education program or activity including admission and employment. This Pregnancy and Parenting Policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions. This policy also prohibits retaliation against a person who reports, complains about, or who otherwise participates in good faith in any matter related to this policy.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
As a recipient of federal funds, Life University, Inc. is required to comply with the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and sex-based harassment in any education programs or activity, including admission and employment. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX should be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator’s office is located at 1075 Barclay Cir, Marietta, Georgia 30060. The Title IX Coordinator can also be contacted by phone at (770) 426-2686 or by email at TitleIX@life.edu or Title9@life.edu. Questions may also be directed to a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
The University prohibits other forms of discrimination and harassment as described in the Sexual Misconduct Policy and Non-Discrimination Policy. The Sexual Misconduct Policy and Non-Discrimination Policy are located on the Life University website under Life University Policies.
Additional Authority: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.
Scope: This policy applies to pregnant and parenting University employees (including administrators, faculty, and staff) and students while participating in the University’s education program and activity including admission and employment.
The University prohibits discrimination in its education program or activity against any student or employee based on the student/employee’s current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions. The University does not engage in prohibited discrimination when it allows a student, based on pregnancy or related conditions, to voluntarily participate in a separate portion of its education program or activity provided the University ensures that the separate portion is comparable to that offered to students who are not pregnant and do not have related conditions.
Approval Authority: President
Responsible Authority: Office of Title IX
Recipients: University Community
Publications: Policy Library, Student Handbook
Definitions
Admission: Admission means selection for part-time, full-time, special, associate, transfer, exchange, or any other enrollment, membership, or matriculation in or at an education program or activity operated by the University.
Medical Necessity: A determination made by a licensed health care provider of a student/ employee’s choosing.
Parental Status: The status of a person who, with respect to another person who is under the age of 18 or who is 18 or older but is incapable of self-care because of a physical or mental disability, is a biological parent; an adoptive parent; a foster parent; a stepparent; a legal custodian or guardian; in loco parentis with respect to such a person; or actively seeking legal custody, guardianship, visitation, or adoption of such a person. (§§ 106.21(c)(2)(i), 106.37(a) (3), 106.40(a), and 106.57(a)(1)
Pregnancy or Related Conditions: Includes pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation; medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation; or recovery from pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, or related medical conditions.
Reasonable Modifications: Individualized measures offered as appropriate to students and employees for pregnancy or pregnancy related conditions. Reasonable modifications that are offered by the University may be accepted or declined at the student or employee’s discretion. Reasonable modifications may include, but are not limited to:
• Breaks during class to express breast milk;
• Attend to health needs associated with pregnancy or related conditions including eating, drinking, or using the restroom;
• Intermittent absences to attend medical appointments;
• Access to online or homebound education;
• Changes in schedule;
• Extensions of time for coursework and rescheduling of tests and examinations;
• Allowing a student to sit or stand, or carry or keep water nearby;
• Changes in physical space or supplies (for example, access to a larger desk or a footrest); or
• Elevator access.
Retaliation: Retaliation is intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination against an individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing, including an Informal Resolution process, grievance procedures, or any other actions taken by the University.
Sex Discrimination: Sex discrimination occurs when persons are excluded from any activity on the basis of their sex - including employment. Sex discrimination includes materially adverse treatment or action based on a person’s biological sex, pregnancy status, gender, gender expression or sexual identity, and/or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity and femininity (so called “gender stereotyping”).
Policy Title
Pregnancy and Parenting Policy
Policy Statement
This policy is designed to protect the rights of pregnant and parenting students and employees and to maintain a community free from sex discrimination in accordance with the Title IX regulations and the University’s community standards. The University will take prompt and equitable action to eliminate any prohibited conduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects. Students, employees, or third parties who are found to have engaged in the prohibited conduct may face disciplinary action up to and including expulsion (students) or termination of employment or contractual relationship (employees or third-party contractors).
Prohibition on Retaliation
Faculty, staff, and other University employees are prohibited from interfering with or retaliating against a student or employee for seeking reasonable modifications, taking medical leave or otherwise exercising their rights under this Policy. Any student allegations of discrimination or retaliation related to pregnancy or related conditions, or parenting should be directed to the Title IX Office for review and examination in accordance with the University’s Sexual Misconduct and Gender-Based Harassment Policy.
Confidential Resources
The University encourages parties to claims of sex discrimination to seek the support that they may need. There are confidential resources that provide support and assistance and do not have a duty to report incidents of sex discrimination to the University. The following confident resources are located on-campus and include:
• Life University Counseling Services
770-426-2725
https://www.life.edu/campus-life-pages/counseling/
An employee serving as a member of University Institutional Review Board approved human subjects research, that is designed to gather information related to pregnancy or related conditions, will be considered a confidential resource. This confidential status is only with respect to information received while conducting research.
If a confidential resource receives information about prohibited conduct, the confidential resource must promptly provide that individual with the Title IX Coordinator’s contact information and inform that individual that the Title IX Coordinator can coordinate specific actions to prevent the prohibited conduct and ensure the individual’s equal access to University’s education program or activity.
Procedure(s)
Modifications Request Procedures
Reasonable Modification Request Process for Students
Modified Academic Responsibilities for Pregnancy or Related Conditions
Students seeking a period of modified academic responsibilities must consult with the Title IX Office, and the Title IX Office will communicate with faculty to engage in the interactive process to determine appropriate reasonable modifications. The student will work with the Title IX Office to receive excused absences, make-up coursework, and other adjustments.
Modified Academic Responsibilities Policy for Parenting Students
Students with parenting responsibilities who wish to remain engaged in their coursework while adjusting their academic responsibilities because of the birth or adoption of their child or placement of a foster child may request a reasonable modification period ranging from four to six weeks. Extensions may also be granted where additional time is required due to a pregnancy related condition or other extraordinary parenting responsibility.
Students seeking a period of modified academic responsibilities must consult with the Title IX Office, and the Title IX Office will communicate with faculty to engage in the interactive process to determine appropriate reasonable modifications. The student will work with the Title IX Office to receive excused absences, make-up coursework, and other adjustments.
Medical Leave for Students
A medical leave is available for pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions for the period of time deemed medically necessary by a student’s provider. A student taking a medical leave under this policy shall provide the Title IX Office with a notice of the intent to take medical leave at least seven (7) days prior to the initiation of leave, or as soon as possible. Any student who elects to take a medical leave under this policy will remain in active status and may register for classes. When a student returns to the University’s education program or activity, the student will be reinstated to the same academic status and as practicable, to the extracurricular status that the student held when the medical leave began.
Reasonable Modifications Request Procedure for Students
If a student discloses that they are experiencing a situation that is a pregnancy related condition or parenting related, the student must be referred to the Title IX Coordinator or to the Title IX Pregnancy and Parenting webpage to request reasonable modifications.
If the student submits a request for modifications, the Title IX Coordinator will the student to explain the process, discuss their specific needs and documentation requirements, and collect any additional relevant information.
The student may be asked to submit documentation from their provider to the Title IX Coordinator, which shall include the student’s name, provider’s name, medical facility, contact information and expected leave dates. The Title IX Coordinator may contact the provider or medical facility to verify any information if necessary.
The student must fill out the Title IX Modifications Agreement Form and return it to the Title IX Coordinator. This form explains the services that are being provided and the student’s responsibilities associated with receiving the modifications.
The Title IX Coordinator will facilitate the modifications request in collaboration with the student, Academic Affairs administrators, and faculty members, engaging in an interactive process, to determine appropriate modifications. The Title IX Coordinator will communicate with the student regarding the available options for modifications. The student will inform the Title IX Coordinator of their decision regarding whether to accept the modifications.
The Title IX Coordinator will forward a formal letter outlining the specific details of the modifications to the student and faculty members.
Reasonable Modifications Request Process for Employees
Employees seeking reasonable modifications for pregnancy or related conditions must follow the procedure established in the Employee Handbook.
Policy Review
This policy is maintained by the University’s Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator will review this policy at least biannually, with the assistance of the Title IX Executive Committee. The University’s Pregnancy and Parenting Policy and Procedures may be revised at any time to comply with current applicable guidance, regulations, and laws.
Discretion in Application
The University retains discretion to interpret and apply this policy in a manner that is not clearly unreasonable, even if the University’s interpretation or application differs from the interpretation of the parties.
Despite the University’s reasonable efforts to anticipate all potential circumstances in drafting this policy, it is possible unanticipated or extraordinary circumstances may not be specifically or reasonably addressed by the express policy language, in which case the University retains discretion to respond to the unanticipated or extraordinary circumstance in a way that is not clearly unreasonable.
Other Notes
N/A
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