Pregnancy Resources
The Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 offers protections for pregnant and parenting students by ensuring equal access to educational opportunities and prohibiting discrimination or coercion into alternative programs for pregnant students. UT Health Science Center has developed the Title IX Educational Adjustments Policy, which requires the University to provide reasonable adjustments to accommodate a student's pregnancy or related condition. Additionally, the policy mandates that a student's pregnancy or related condition be treated equivalently to other temporary disabilities or medical conditions concerning hospital or medical benefits, service plans, or related policies.
Erin McElyea serves as the Civil Engagement Officer and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Prevention and Education in the Office of Compliance. Erin oversees Title IX Education and Compliance at UT Health Science Center, in addition to assisting pregnant students with educational adjustments and accommodations for pregnancy and related conditions.
Deans and College Administrators: To request a student pregnancy training session for your faculty, please email emcelyea@uthsc.edu.
Students
Educational adjustment requests and accommodations due to pregnancy or related conditions should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator by completing and submitting the Educational Adjustment Request Form.
Students should begin the process by completing the Educational Adjustments Form at least two (2) months prior to the baby's due date.
Employees
The FMLA is designed to help qualified employees balance their work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable leave for up to 12 workweeks and an additional 4 weeks for childbirth and adoption. Both parents are eligible to request FMLA.
FMLA is unpaid, protected job leave. Employees are eligible to use Paid Parental Leave, their accrued leave, and short-term disability to offset the cost.
Reasonable Accommodations
According to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified worker’s known limitations related to , pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause undue hardship.
Employees ineligible for FMLA may request Medical Leave as a Reasonable Accommodation.
UTHSC Employees mayrequest accommodations through the Office of Compliance.