Non-Discrimination Statement

Western Iowa Tech Community College does not discriminate in its education program or activity 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). The College prohibits members of the College community from applying any rule or taking any action 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. This policy and their pregnancy-related protections apply to all pregnant students. 

Definitions

  • Familial Status. The configuration of one’s family or one’s role in a family.
  • Marital Status. The state of being married or unmarried.
  • Parental Status. The status of a person who, with respect to another person who is under the age of 18; is a biological, adoptive, foster, or 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. 
  • Pregnancy and Related Conditions. Pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or lactation, medical conditions related thereto, or recovery therefrom. 
  • Reasonable Accommodations. Individualized accommodations to the College’s policies, practices, or procedures to prevent discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or a related condition and that do not fundamentally alter the College’s education program or activity.

Information Sharing Requirements

Any College employee who becomes aware of a student’s pregnancy or related condition is encouraged to provide the student with the Accommodation Coordinator’s contact information and explain that the Coordinator can help take specific actions to prevent discrimination and ensure equal access to the College’s education program and activity. 

When notified, the Accommodation Coordinator will contact the student and inform them of the College’s obligations to prohibit sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions. Additionally, the Accommodation Coordinator will inform the student of the College’s ability to:

  • Provide Reasonable Accommodations
  • Allow access, on a voluntary basis, to any separate and comparable portion of the institution’s education program or activity
  • Allow a voluntary leave of absence while minimizing any related penalties
  • Allow continued participation in all programs and activities, including athletics
  • Ensure lactation space availability

When a student is experiencing pregnancy-related conditions, the Accommodation Coordinator will notify the student that the College will treat pregnancy as comparable to other temporary medical conditions for medical benefit, service, plan, or policy purposes. The Accommodation Coordinator will also notify the student of the process to file a complaint for alleged discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, as applicable.

Reasonable Accommodations

Students who are pregnant or are experiencing related conditions may request Reasonable Accommodations to ensure equal access to the College’s education program and activity and to prevent sex discrimination. Any student seeking Reasonable Accommodations must contact the Accommodation Coordinator to discuss what would be appropriate and available based on the student’s individual needs. Students are encouraged to request Reasonable Accommodations as promptly as possible. Retroactive accommodations may be available in limited circumstances. Reasonable Accommodations are voluntary, and a student can accept or decline them. Not all Reasonable Accommodations are appropriate for all contexts.

Reasonable Accommodations may include:

  • 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
  • Access to online or homebound education, where available
  • Changes in schedule or course sequence, where available
  • Time extensions for coursework and 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
  • A larger uniform or other required clothing or equipment (if already provided by the College)
  • Other reasonable changes to policies, practices, or procedures determined by the Accommodation Coordinator

In situations such as clinical rotations, performances, labs, and group work, the institution will work with the student to devise an alternative path to completion, if possible. In progressive curricular and/or cohort-model programs, medically necessary leaves are sufficient cause to permit the student to shift course order, substitute similar courses, or join a subsequent cohort when returning from leave. The Accommodation Coordinator will work with students, their faculty members, and the College’s support systems to devise a plan for how to best address the conditions as pregnancy progresses, anticipate the need for leaves, minimize the academic impact of their absence, and get back on track as efficiently and comfortably as possible. 

Supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodations will only be required when it is necessary and reasonable under the circumstances to determine which Reasonable Accommodations to offer or to determine specific actions to take to ensure equal access.

Information about pregnant students’ requests for accommodations will be shared with faculty and staff only to the extent necessary to implement the Reasonable Accommodation.

Students experiencing pregnancy-related conditions that manifest as a temporary disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are eligible for reasonable accommodations just like any other student with a temporary disability.

Certification to Participate

All students should be informed of health and safety risks related to participation in academic and co-curricular activities, regardless of pregnancy status. A student may not be required to provide healthcare provider or other certification that the student is physically able to participate in the program or activity, unless:

  1. The certified level of physical ability or health is necessary for participation; 
  2. The institution requires such certification of all students participating; and
  3. The information obtained is not used as a basis for pregnancy-related discrimination

Lactation Space Access

The Recipient provides students and employees with access to lactation spaces that are functional, appropriate, and safe. Such spaces are regularly cleaned, shielded from view, and free from the intrusion of others. Restrooms will not be designated as appropriate lactation spaces.

Lactation spaces are located in the following locations:
Admissions Area Room A311
The room may be reserved here.

Leaves of Absence

Students are permitted to take a voluntary leave of absence for a reasonable time as deemed medically necessary by their healthcare provider because of pregnancy and/or the birth of a child. The leave term may be extended in the case of extenuating circumstances or medical necessity. Students who elect to take leave under this policy may register under an “on leave/inactive” status to continue their eligibility for certain benefits.

To the extent possible, Western Iowa Tech will take reasonable steps to ensure that students who take a leave of absence or medical leave return to the same position of academic progress that they were in when they took leave, without financial penalty, including access to the same or an equivalent course catalog that was in place when the leave began.

Continuation of students’ scholarships, fellowships, or similar College-sponsored funding during the leave term will depend on student registration status and the policies of the funding program regarding registration status. Students will not be negatively impacted by or forfeit their future eligibility for their scholarship, fellowship, or similar College-supported funding by exercising their rights under this policy.  

The Accommodations Office can and will advocate for students with respect to financial aid agencies and external scholarship providers in the event that a leave of absence places eligibility into question.

In order to initiate a leave of absence, the student must contact the Accommodation Coordinator at least 30 calendar days prior to the initiation of leave, or as soon as practicable. The Coordinator will assist the student in completing any necessary paperwork.

Student Parents

Students with child caretaking/parenting responsibilities who wish to remain engaged in their coursework while adjusting their academic responsibilities because of the birth or adoption of a child or placement of a foster child may request reasonable accommodations during the first 12 months from the time the child entered the home. Extensions may be granted when additional time is required by medical necessity or extraordinary caretaking/parenting responsibilities.

During the accommodation period, the student’s academic requirements may be adjusted and deadlines postponed as appropriate, in collaboration with the Accommodation Coordinator, academic advisor, and the appropriate academic department(s).

Students are encouraged to work with their faculty members to reschedule course assignments, lab hours, examinations, or other requirements, and/or to reduce their overall course load, as appropriate, once authorization is received from the Accommodation Coordinator. 

If, for any reason, caretaking/parenting students are not able to work with their faculty members to obtain appropriate modifications, students should alert the Accommodation Coordinator as soon as possible.

Recipient Housing

A pregnant student’s Recipient housing status will not be altered based on pregnancy status unless requested by the student. Western Iowa Tech does not offer family housing.  

Policy Dissemination and Training

A copy of this policy will be made available to faculty and employees and posted on the College website. The College will alert all new students about this policy and the location of the policy as part of orientation. The Accommodations Office will make educational materials available to all members of the College community to promote compliance with this policy and familiarity with its procedures.

Complaints

Students who wish to make a complaint regarding discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions may do so by submitting a complaint form here or by contacting the Title IX Coordinator directly.