Pregnancy & Parenting

Pregnancy & Parenting Support

Sam Houston State University is committed to supporting you through your pregnancy and parenting. Here's what you need to know:

• Accommodations

  If you have questions or concerns about pregnancy and/or parenting accommodations or would like to request an accommodation related to pregnancy and/or parenting, please email titleix@shsu.edu or call the Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution at 936.294.3080

  Accommodations provided under the policy include:

  • Accessible seating (i.e. a larger desk)
  • Appropriate restroom breaks
  • Excused absences related to medically necessary appointments
  • Academic adjustments related to childbirth
  • Mobility support (i.e. temporary special parking ePermit. For more information, visit shsu.edu/parking)
• Leave and Absences

  Students must be allowed to take time off of school for pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, abortion and/or recovery for as long as their doctor says is medically necessary. That could mean a few absences for necessary medical appointments, or a longer leave of absence for a high-risk pregnancy or childbirth. This rule applies even if taking medically necessary leave would require an absence for longer than the school's leave policy ordinarily allows. Students cannot be penalized for taking leave and must be able to return to school in the same status they held before taking leave.

  Make Up Work

  Professors may require you to complete missed assignments or other work to make up for missed participation, but the make-up work should be comparable with the work given to other students, not extra. When setting timelines for make-up or missed work, professors need to treat leave as leave; for example, assignment deadlines should not be the day you return. This means at least the same amount of time as other students, even beyond the semester schedule if necessary.

  Participation Grades/Credits

  If a teacher's grading is based in part on class attendance or participation, the student should be allowed to earn the credits they missed so that they can be reinstated to the status they had before the leave.

  Doctor's Note

  If your professor requires other students who have “excused” absences to provide a doctor's note, they can ask you to provide one as well. Be sure your doctor clearly states that the absence is/was medically necessary.

• Financial Aid

  Taking leave may have an impact on your student loans, depending on your registration status during your time off. Schools cannot terminate or reduce athletic, merit, or need-based scholarships because of pregnancy.

  Be sure to meet with the financial aid office before taking any extended absence and ask about your financial aid status for details about your particular situation.

  Financial Aid & Scholarships

  Website

  936.294.1774

  1903 University Ave

  Estill Bldg, Suite 201

  Mon ‐ Fri, 8am ‐ 5pm

• Athletics & Extracurricular Activities

  Athletics

  Pregnant athletes (and those with related conditions) must be treated like any other athlete with a temporary disability. Your college or university can't force you to stop participating in your sport because of your pregnancy, even if the school's decision is based on an assumption that it is unsafe for you to play. You may be asked to provide a medical clearance to play only if players with other medical conditions are asked too.

  That means that you can't lose your athletic scholarship just because you are pregnant. If you have an athletic scholarship and can't play because of your medical condition, you must be treated the same as any other student with a temporary disability, including keeping benefits while in recovery, and renewal of your award.

  Extracurricular Activities

  Title IX prohibits a school from excluding a pregnant student from any part of its educational program, including all extracurricular activities, such as school clubs, academic societies, honors programs, internships, or sports. A pregnant student must also be eligible to hold leadership positions in these activities.

• Admissions

  Schools can't require a pregnant student to produce a doctor's note in order to stay in school or participate in activities, unless the same requirement to obtain a doctor's note applies to all students being treated by a doctor. Schools cannot presume that a pregnant student is unable to attend school or participate in school activities.

  Employees, students, or associated third parties cannot discourage your participation in the school's programs.

• Parenting Student Liaison

  The Office of Title IX & Discrimination Resolution is the Liaison Officer for parenting students. According to Texas S.B. 459, effective September 1, 2023, higher education institutions offering early registration for students will also provide priority registration for parenting students. A parenting student is classified as follows: a student enrolled at Sam Houston State University who is a parent/legal guardian of a child under the age of 18.

  For more information regarding early registration for parenting students, please visit https://www.shsu.edu/dept/registrar/students/parenting-students or contact the Registrar's Office at 936-294-1040.

• Additional Resources
  • Pregnant & Parenting Brochure
  • Pregnant & Parenting Resources
  • Pregnant & Parenting Students Policy

Breastfeeding

Sam Houston State University is pleased to provide multiple Mother's Rooms across campus to meet the needs of parents with babies. Mother's Rooms provide a private place to nurse, pump, bottle feed, and change a diaper.

If your class is scheduled when you need to nurse or pump, your absence should be excused, and you should not be penalized for your time away. This means your grade cannot be lowered due to poor attendance, you must be given the ability to make up any work missed, and you must be able to get the information you missed as well. You may need to provide a doctor's note stating that it is medically necessary for you to pump on a certain schedule.