Pregnancy and Parenting Rights

Protections from Harassment

Harassment based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions, is prohibited. Comments that could constitute prohibited harassment include making sexual comments or jokes about pregnancy, calling a person sexually charged names, spreading rumors about sexual activity, and making sexual propositions or gestures, if the comments are sufficiently serious that it interferes with the ability to benefit from or participate in the school’s program.

• Students have the right to continue participating in classes and course-related activities while pregnant.
• Absences while pregnant or due to childbirth will be excused for as long as a doctor says it is necessary.
• The student may return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before the medical leave began, which should include giving the student the opportunity to make up any work missed while they were out.
• The student may submit work after a deadline because of their pregnancy or childbirth.
• If a course grade is based in part on class participation or attendance and the student missed class because of their pregnancy or childbirth, they should be allowed to make up the participation or attendance credits they didn’t have the chance to earn.

For questions or concerns about pregnancy protections, or to file a complaint about pregnancy-related discrimination or harassment, contact:

Title IX Office
Human Resources, U Building
Rocklin Campus
LaToya Jackson, Title IX Coordinator
(916) 660-7006
EEOT9@sierracollege.edu

Schools must provide “reasonable modifications” for students based on pregnancy or related conditions, allow for reasonable break time for lactation for employees, and access to a clean, private lactation space for students and employees.

Reasonable Modifications for pregnancy and related conditions require that the college make reasonable modification(s) to our policies, practices or procedures as necessary to prevent sex discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions and ensure equal access to our education program or activity.

The reasonable modification requires input from the student and must be based on the student’s individualized needs. A modification that we can demonstrate would fundamentally alter the nature of our education program or activity is not a reasonable modification.

The student has the discretion to accept or decline each reasonable modification offered by the District. If the student accepts a reasonable modification offered by the District, we must implement it.

Reasonable modifications for pregnancy or related conditions may include but are not limited to:

• Breaks during class (to express breast milk, breastfeed, or attend to health needs associated with pregnancy or related conditions, including eating, drinking, or using the restroom)
• Intermittent absences to attend medical appointments;
• Reasonable access to online or homebound education if available;
• Changes in schedule or course sequence;
• Extensions of time for coursework
• Rescheduling of tests and examinations;
• Allowing a student to sit or stand, or carry or keep water nearby;
• Counseling;
• Changes in physical space or supplies (for example, access to a larger desk or a footrest);
• Elevator access;
• Other changes to policies, practices, or procedures;
• Voluntary leaves of absence;
• Access to a lactation space, which must be a space other than a bathroom, which is clean, shielded from view, free from intrusion from others, and may be used by a student for expressing breast milk or breastfeeding as needed.

Schools must not require supporting documentation unless the documentation is necessary and reasonable for the District to determine the reasonable modification to make or whether to take additional actions.

Examples of when documentation is not necessary, includes:

• when the need for reasonable accommodation is obvious
• documentation previously provided
• need for a bigger uniform
• need to carry or keep water nearby
• need for a larger desk, to sit or stand, or take breaks to eat, drink or use the restroom or for lactation needs
• or, when the same reasonable accommodation is available to other students for reasons other than pregnancy or related conditions without submitting supporting documentation

Schools should 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 the school administers, operates, offers, or participates in with respect to students admitted to the school’s education program or activity.

Schools must not require a pregnant student or student with pregnancy related conditions to provide certification from a health care provider they are physically able to participle, unless the certified level of physical ability or health is necessary for participation in the class, program or activity, and the District requires such certification of all students participating, and the class program or activity, and the information obtained is not used as a basis for discrimination.

For assistance with pregnancy-related reasonable modifications or class assistance for all campuses, contact the Title IX Office or Student Accessibility Services.

For locations and access to the lactation spaces, contact: 

Rocklin Campus Map of Lactation Room Locations

• Rocklin Campus, Walker Hall (D-22)
  For access, email D22@sierracollege.edu
• Rocklin Campus, Q Building (Q-257)
  For access, email Q257@sierracollege.edu

NCC Campus Map of Lactation Room Locations

• Nevada County Campus, N3
  For access, contact the Office of the Executive Dean

Tahoe-Truckee Campus Map of Lactation Room Locations

• Tahoe-Truckee Campus, Room 105-D
  For access, inquire with the front desk or call (530) 550-2225

Roseville Center

• Roseville Center, Room 249
  For access, contact the Community Education office 

• Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program
• CalFresh Food
• Mutual Assistance Network (MAN): Advancing social and economic opportunities so families can thrive
• Her Health First: Pregnancy support services to African American women in Sacramento County
• Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Guidance on Pregnant and Parenting Students
• Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: PWFA protects employees, student employees and job applicants. For additional information on pregnancy-related reasonable accommodations see Human Resources accommodations.

Visit our Basic Needs Resources for additional support services.