Notice of Rights: Pregnancy and Related Conditions
The Office for University Equity and Compliance, housing the University’s Title IX Coordinator, can work with students who are pregnant and/or have related conditions to ensure they have equal access to Northeastern’s education programs and activities.
Northeastern University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities against any applicant for admission, student, applicant for employment, or employee on the basis of current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions as mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Northeastern University prohibits members of the Northeastern community from adopting or implementing any policy, practice, or procedure which treats an applicant for admission, student, applicant for employment, or employee differently on the basis of current, potential, or past parental, family, or marital status. These rights and pregnancy-related protections apply to all pregnant persons, regardless of gender identity or expression.
Students
Northeastern Students have the right to an educational environment free from discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions.
Know Your Options: Pregnancy
Pregnancy or Related Condition Modification Request Form
As a student experiencing pregnancy or a related condition, you may have access to academic modifications. To request a modification, fill out the “Pregnancy or Related Condition Modification Request Form” and submit via email to Disability Access Services at DASDocumentation@northeastern.edu.
Reasonable modifications may include, but are not limited to:
- Breaks during class for health needs related to pregnancy such as eating, drinking, or using the restroom
- Breaks during class to express breast milk or breastfeed,
- Intermittent absences to attend medical appointments
- Access to online education, when possible
- Changes in schedule or course sequence
- Extensions of time for coursework and/or rescheduling of tests and examinations
- Allowing a student to sit or stand, or carry or keep water nearby
- Changes in physical space or supplies (e.g., access to a larger desk or a footrest)
- Elevator access
Leaves of Absence
Students who are pregnant and/or have a pregnancy related condition may take a voluntary leave of absence to cover, at minimum, the amount of time deemed medically necessary by a student’s licensed healthcare provider. You can discuss whether a leave of absence is a good choice for you with a DAS Specialist OR check out University Health and Counseling Services’ website to learn more about leave options.
For full time, registered, graduate students, read the Policy on Parental Leave for further guidelines.
Medical Assistance
Visit Northeastern’s University Health and Counseling Services’ website to learn more about options for medical care on or near your campus.
UHCS provides judgement free support for students as they navigate decision making for their health and future. This includes Pregnancy Options, Abortion Options, counseling, and other resources on sexual health. UHCS can also help with the application process for Medical Leaves of Absence.
Lactation Spaces
Northeastern University has lactation spaces available for students throughout campus for students who are nursing or require space to feed their child. To locate and reserve lactation spaces, check out the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion’s webpage.
Employees
Northeastern has a Policy on Pregnancy and Pregnancy-Related Conditions to ensure that employees are free from discrimination and have reasonable accommodations for equally effective opportunities to participate in employment. Northeastern also has a Policy on Parental Teaching Relief for Full-Time Faculty. Finally, Northeastern has a Policy on Paid Leave Program which includes information for parental leave.
Northeastern Facilities: Supporting Pregnancy in the Workplace is home to information for pregnant employees including lactation spaces, pregnancy accommodations, and more. The Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is also home to the affinity group NU Parents.
Human Resources provides a running list of lactation spaces across campuses for employees to utilize. HR also provides support to parents with Child Care Resources including perks for Care.com, a children’s center on Boston’s campus, and information about Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts. For specific questions or concerns, log in to the HR Service Center and submit an HR ticket.
Definitions
Pregnancy and/or Related Conditions
- In this context, the word “pregnancy” encompasses:
- Childbirth
- Termination of pregnancy
- Stillbirth
- Miscarriage
- Lactation
- childbirth, termination of pregnancy, stillbirth, miscarriage or lactation
- Pregnancy related conditions encompass:
- Medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, stillbirth, miscarriage or lactation
- Recovery from pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, miscarriage and/or lactation
- Other related medical conditions
Reasonable Modifications – Students
In order to ensure equal access to the University’s education programs and activities, and in compliance with Federal law, students who are pregnant or have related conditions may seek reasonable modifications to policies, practices, and procedures as necessary to prevent discrimination.
To request a reasonable modification, fill out the “Pregnancy or Related Condition Modification Request Form” and submit via email to Northeastern’s Disability Access Services at DASDocumentation@northeastern.edu.
- Reasonable modifications do not include modifications that would fundamentally alter Northeastern University’s education program or activity.
- The University will not require supporting documentation for a student’s request for reasonable modifications unless it is necessary and reasonable to determine whether it can provide the Reasonable Modification or whether to take other specific action to ensure a student’s equal access.
- The University will not require supporting documentation if:
- a need for a reasonable modification is obvious; the student has previously provided the University with sufficient supporting documentation; OR
- the reasonable modification because of pregnancy or related conditions is allowing a student to carry or keep water nearby and drink, use a bigger desk, sit or stand, or take breaks to eat, drink, or use the restroom; OR
- the student has lactation needs the specific request or reasonable modification is available to students for reasons other than pregnancy or related conditions without submitting supporting documentation.
- The University will not require supporting documentation if:
Leaves of Absence
Students who are pregnant and/or have a pregnancy related condition may take a voluntary leave of absence to cover, at minimum, the amount of time deemed medically necessary by a student’s licensed healthcare provider.
Even if you do not plan to take a leave of absence due to pregnancy or related conditions, you can speak with Disability Access Services and University Health and Counseling Services to review information about the University’s leaves of absence.
Lactation Spaces
Northeastern University has lactation spaces available for students throughout campus for students who are nursing or require space to feed their child. To locate and reserve lactation spaces, check out the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion’s webpage. For employees, visit the HR Knowledge Article: Lactation Rooms on Campus for lists of available spaces across the NU campuses.
Discrimination Complaints
Anyone who experiences or is aware of discriminatory conduct, including discrimination based on pregnancy/related conditions, parental, or marital status, is urged to report the matter immediately to the OUEC for appropriate response. The university’s policies strictly prohibit retaliation against an individual for reporting perceived discrimination or participating in any OUEC process.
Certification to Participate
A student who is pregnant or has related conditions may not be required to provide health care provider or other certification that the student is physically able to participate in classes, programs, or extracurricular activities unless:
- the certified level of physical ability or health is necessary for participation in the class, program, or extracurricular activity;
- the University requires such certification of all students participating in the class, program, or extracurricular activity; and
- the information obtained is not used as a basis for discrimination.
The University will treat pregnancy or related conditions in the same manner and under the same policies as any other temporary medical conditions with respect to any medical or hospital benefit, service, plan, or policy administered, operated, offered or participated in by the University.
Privacy of Information
The University may require some documentation from students who are pregnant and/or have related conditions and will keep all information obtained private except when release of information, including information about pregnancy or related conditions, is necessary to support the student, including to provide any Reasonable Modifications, is necessary to otherwise ensure the student’s equal access to the University’s education program or activity or is necessary pursuant to Federal, state, or local law.
Access to Comparable Education
The University may allow access, on a voluntary basis, to any separate and comparable portion of the institution’s education program or activity based on a student’s pregnancy and/or related condition.