Pregnancy and Related Conditions Policy (Students)
Nothing in this Policy is intended to create or define the terms of a contract between Dunwoody and any applicant, student, or other individual or entity. The College reserves the right to alter, amend, or deviate from the provisions in this Policy at any time, with or without notice to the College community.
I. Purpose
Dunwoody College of Technology (the “College”) is dedicated to providing equal access to its education programs and activities for all applicants and students and to fostering a community that welcomes and supports pregnant and parenting applicants and students. This Policy outlines the College’s commitment to comply with applicable Federal and state laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Minnesota Protections for Pregnant and Parenting Students Law (Minn. Stat. § 135A.1582), and any other applicable law and establishes the College’s intent to protect applicants and students against unlawful discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions. The Policy also describes reasonable modifications and resources that may be available to students.
II. Scope
This Policy generally applies to applicants for admission (“applicants”) and admitted students (“students”) at the College, though some provisions are limited to students where indicated. This Policy applies to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation; medical conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth termination of pregnancy, or lactation; and recovery from pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, or related medical conditions (collectively, “pregnancy or related conditions”). Generally, recovery from childbirth will be presumed to include the six (6) weeks following childbirth. However, recovery time will be extended when deemed medically necessary by an applicant’s or student’s healthcare provider. Recovery time from other conditions will be determined based on the time deemed medically necessary by an applicant’s or student’s healthcare provider. This Policy applies regardless of the gender identity or expression of an applicant or student.
III. Nondiscrimination, Harassment, & Retaliation
In accordance with Title IX and other applicable Federal and state laws, the College does not unlawfully discriminate against any applicant or student or exclude any applicant or student from its education program or activity on the basis of sex, which includes an applicant’s or student’s current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions, in its education programs and activities. Additionally, in accordance with Title IX, the College will not apply any rule concerning an applicant’s or student’s current, potential, or past parental, family, or marital status which treats applicants or students differently on the basis of sex.
The College will not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, including on the basis of current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions, in its community and will promptly and equitably respond to reports of discrimination and harassment. The College also prohibits retaliation against any individuals for reporting discrimination or harassment prohibited by this Policy or for exercising or attempting to exercise a right under this Policy. Reports of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should be made to the Title IX Coordinator at ksattler@dunwoody.edu. Any member of the College community can make a report. Reports of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation will be handled according to the applicable grievance procedures outlined in the College’s Unlawful Harassment and Sexual Conduct Policy, as is appropriate based on the allegations in the report.
IV. Title IX Coordinator Role
The Title IX Coordinator or their designee is responsible for coordinating all actions by the College under this Policy and ensuring that the College’s obligations under Title IX and the Minnesota Protections for Pregnant and Parenting Students Law are carried out. When this Policy refers to actions of the Title IX Coordinator, these actions may be fulfilled by the Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator’s designee. Students who wish to request action by the College under this Policy or other resources related to their pregnancy or related condition should contact the Title IX Coordinator at ksattler@dunwoody.edu.
V. Reasonable Modifications
As appropriate, the College will make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices, or procedures based on a student’s pregnancy or related conditions as necessary to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the College’s education program or activity, provided that such modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of the College’s education program or activity. The College will treat pregnancy and related conditions in the same manner as it treats other temporary disabilities or temporary medical conditions and will provide modifications based on a student’s pregnancy or related conditions that would be provided to a student with a temporary disability or temporary medical condition. A student in need of a reasonable modification on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions should contact the Title IX Coordinator at ksattler@dunwoody.edu. The Title IX Coordinator will work with the student and faculty to identify and implement appropriate reasonable modifications that are necessary to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the College’s education program or activity, and that do not fundamentally alter the nature of the education program or activity. In any situation where an agreement regarding a modification cannot be reached, the Title IX Coordinator has the discretion to determine whether a particular requested modification is reasonable and will be provided. Each reasonable modification will be based on the student’s individualized needs. The determination of reasonable modifications involves an interactive process between the College and the student. The College may require supporting documentation related to reasonable modifications. While not exhaustive, the following sub-sections provide additional information about reasonable modifications that may be available.
a. Absences and Missed Coursework
Course absences due to pregnancy or related conditions, including absences to attend medical appointments, may be excused. However, depending on the length and frequency of the absence and the area of instruction (e.g., courses with lab requirements, clinical rotations, etc.), it may not be feasible, even with reasonable modifications, for a student to complete a particular course at a particular time. The College may limit excused absences to those deemed medically necessary by the student’s healthcare provider and may require documentation from a student’s healthcare provider confirming the necessity of the absence(s). As discussed under the “Leave of Absence” section below, when the student returns to the College, to the extent possible, the College will reinstate the student to the status the student held when the absence began.
The College will provide students extensions of time and/or changes in schedule to complete or make up coursework that is due or was missed as a result of an absence due to pregnancy or related conditions. The method and timing for making up missed course work may depend on the nature of a particular course or activity. For example, courses with lab work or clinical rotations may need to be made up by taking or retaking part or all of a course during a subsequent semester. The College will provide students extensions of time to complete assignments in the same manner as the College allows for students with temporary disabilities or temporary medical conditions.
Students are responsible for contacting faculty members to notify them of their intent to miss class or to be on a leave due to pregnancy or related conditions. In the event that prior notice is not possible due to an emergency, students are responsible for contacting faculty as soon as possible after the fact. Students should work with faculty to determine how they will make up any work that was missed during the absence.
Faculty are responsible for ensuring that all students have equal access to the College’s education programs and activities. This includes, where appropriate, working with the Title IX Coordinator to make reasonable modifications for students to make up any missed coursework, fieldwork, and any points or credits that are based on course attendance or participation. When appropriate, faculty may assign different coursework to replace coursework, fieldwork, or attendance/participation points that were missed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Policy is intended to fundamentally alter course requirements or other aspects of the education program or activity.
b. Remote Learning
When appropriate, remote or homebound learning may be a reasonable modification that is needed due to pregnancy or related conditions. The availability of remote or homebound learning as a modification will be based on the nature of the course, the availability of needed technology, and the needs of the student. The College will provide a student with access to instructional materials and video recordings of lectures for classes for which the student has an excused absence due to pregnancy or related conditions to the same extent that such materials and recordings are made available to any other student with an excused absence. Generally, remote or homebound learning will be provided as a reasonable modification only for a limited period of time based on medical necessity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Policy is intended to fundamentally alter course requirements or other aspects of the education program or activity.
c. Physical Modifications
Physical modifications, such as more comfortable seating, a larger desk, a footrest, elevator access, more frequent breaks or allowances to sit, stand, drink water, eat, use the restroom, or rest, etc., during class time or fieldwork may also be made available for students as needed due to pregnancy or related conditions, provided that such modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of an education program or activity.
d. Lactation Modifications
Reasonable modifications are available for lactating students who need to breastfeed or express breast milk for their nursing child or for medical reasons relating to the student’s pregnancy or related condition. If possible, students are encouraged to breastfeed or express breastmilk between classes or outside of instruction time, in order to minimize disruption to the student’s learning. In cases where that is not possible and a student must miss class or field work to breastfeed or express breastmilk, such absence will be excused, the student will not be penalized for the time missed, and the student will be provided an opportunity to make up any time or work missed during the absence, provided that such modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of an education program or activity. Students should work with faculty to determine how they will make up any time or work that was missed during the absence. For more information, see the “Absences and Missed Coursework” section above.
e. Accommodations for Pregnancy-Related Disabilities
Reasonable accommodations may also be available for students with a pregnancy-related disability. Students with a pregnancy-related disability are encouraged to contact the Associate Dean of Student Affairs at jrichardson@dunwoody.edu. More information regarding disability support can be found here. To the extent possible, the Title IX Coordinator and Student Affairs will work together to provide reasonable modifications and reasonable accommodations to students with a pregnancy-related disability.
f. Health and Safety Modifications
Reasonable modifications related to the health and safety of a student and the student’s unborn child may also be available, including allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from substances, areas, and activities known to be hazardous to pregnant women or unborn children, provided that such modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of an education program or activity
g. Early Registration
The College does not currently offer early registration for courses or programs. If the College begins offering early registration for courses or programs at the College for any group of students, the College will provide early registration for those courses or programs for students based on pregnancy or a related condition in the same manner
h. Other Reasonable Modifications
The descriptions of reasonable modifications above are not an exhaustive list of reasonable modifications available from the College. Reasonable modifications may also be available in the areas of counseling, changes to test or exam dates, changes to course sequence, extensions of deadlines, and many other aspects of the College’s education programs and activities, provided that the modifications do not fundamentally alter the nature of an education program or activity. Students are encouraged to identify and request reasonable modifications that are not discussed in this Policy. The availability and reasonableness of a requested modification will be determined on a case-by-case basis, regardless of whether they are specifically mentioned in this Policy. The Title IX Coordinator will work with the student and faculty to identify and implement appropriate reasonable modifications that are necessary to prevent sex discrimination and provide the student with equal access to the College’s education program or activity, and that do not fundamentally alter the nature of the education program or activity.
i. Assistance for Other Expectant and New Parents
While most provisions in this Policy apply to expectant or new birth mothers/gestational parents, assistance and adjustments may be available for expectant or new parents other than birth mothers/gestational parents, such as expectant or new co-parents and expectant or new adoptive or foster parents, as appropriate. Students in need of assistance or adjustments because they are an expectant or new co-parent or expectant or new adoptive or foster parent should contact the Title IX Coordinator at ksattler@dunwoody.edu. Additionally, resources available to all expectant and new parents are described in the “Resources” section below.
VI. Lactation Space
The College will ensure that students can access a lactation space, which must be a space other than a bathroom, that 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. Such lactation space is available located on the Silver Level. Students in need of an alternative location should contact the Title IX Coordinator at ksattler@dunwoody.edu.
VII. Leave of Absence
Students may take a voluntary leave of absence due to pregnancy or related conditions for up to 180 days or for a longer period of time if deemed medically necessary by the student’s licensed healthcare provider. At the conclusion of such leave of absence, to the extent possible, the student will be reinstated to the academic status and, as practicable, to the extracurricular status, that the student held when the leave began. However, depending on the length of the leave and the area of instruction (e.g., courses with lab requirements, clinical rotations, etc.), it may not be feasible for a student to return to a particular course at a particular time, and it may be necessary in some circumstances for a student to restart a course from the beginning.
Before granting a leave of absence, the College may require supporting documentation related to the leave of absence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Policy is intended to fundamentally alter course requirements or other aspects of the education program or activity
VIII. Comparable Treatment to Other Temporary Disabilities or Temporary Medical Conditions
The College will treat pregnancy or related conditions in the same manner and under the same policies as any other temporary disabilities or temporary medical conditions with respect to any medical or hospital benefit, service, plan, or policy the College administers, operates, offers, or participates in with respect to students admitted to the College’s education program or activity. Likewise, in determining whether a person satisfies any policy or criterion for admission, or in making any offer of admission, the College will treat disabilities related to pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom in the same manner and under the same policies as any other temporary disability or physical condition or temporary medical condition.
IX. College Employment
If a student is also employed by the College, the student should review the College’s Employee Handbook and contact Vice President of Human Resources, Patricia Edman, at pedman@dunwoody.com regarding any pregnancy-related questions or concerns pertaining to the student’s employment.
X. Resources
The College is committed to supporting students who are expecting or new parents, including birth mothers/gestational parents and, as applicable, expectant or new co-parents and expectant or new adoptive or foster parents. Several resources are available on and off campus. The Title IX Coordinator serves as the College’s Navigator for current or incoming students who are parenting students. Students can contact the Title IX Coordinator at ksattler@dunwoody.edu for more information regarding resources.
a. On-Campus Resources
Student Affairs Coordinator
Phone: 612.381.3379
dtenenbaum@dunwoody.edu
Student Success Center
Phone: 612.381.8122
efritz@dunwoody.edu
Housing Office
Phone: 612-462-3001.
gbryan@dunwoody.edu
Office of Financial Aid
Phone: 612.381.3405
financialaid@dunwoody.edu
b. Off-Campus Resources
Abria Pregnancy Resources
Phone: 651-350-1158
St. Paul Clinic
2200 University Avenue West, Suite 160
St. Paul, MN 55114
AllOneHealth
(Dunwoody’s free private and confidential tele-counseling service)
1.800.756.3124.
Available on LaunchPad. Click on the AllOneHealth logo after you’ve logged in.
First Care Pregnancy Center
Phone: 651-424-0303 Call or Text
2900 University Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery
Phone: Crisis Helpline: 763.591.0100 / General: 763.591.0400
4544 4th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55419
Hennepin Health
Phone: 800-627-3529
300 South Sixth Street MC 604
Minneapolis, MN 55487-0604
Phone: 612-596-1036 (800-647-0550)
Hennepin Healthcare: The Birth Center
612.873.6963: Appointments and questions
Orange Building, Level 4
730 S 8th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Hennepin Healthcare Women’s Health and Wellness Clinic
(612) 873-6963
715 S 8th St Level 5
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Hennepin County Minnesota – Child Care Assistance
Phone: 612.348.5937
Minnesota Department of Health
Phone: 651-201-3650
Freeman Building
625 Robert St. N.
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
Northside Clinic
Phone: 651-350-1158
2232 W. Broadway Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55441
Redleaf Center for Family Healing
Phone: 612-873-6262
717 South 6th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Walk-In Counseling Center
(check website for hours)
2421 Chicago Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-870-0565 x 100
XI. Contact Information
To make a report of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, to request reasonable modifications, or to ask questions regarding this Policy, please contact:
Kelli Sattler, Ed.D.
Title IX Coordinator
Dean of Student Affairs
612-381-3437
Office: Pinska Center
ksattler@dunwoody.edu