Pregnant Student Rights
Title IX, a federal civil rights law, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy, parenting and all related conditions in educational programs and activities that receive federal funding. Pregnant and parenting students are granted specific rights through Title IX.
Pregnancy and parenting concerns, as well as complaints of non-compliance, or accommodation requests, such as academic accommodations, may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator by completing the Title IX Incident Report at the Office of Equity & Diversity website.
To contact the Title IX Coordinator, please email oed@csulb.edu or call 562.985.8256. The Title IX Coordinator is part of the Office of Equity & Diversity, which is located in the Foundation Building, Suite 220.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Universities must excuse your absences due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. This includes absences for abortion, labor, delivery, and recovery, as well as prenatal appointments. Professors must excuse your pregnancy-related absence for as long as your doctor says is necessary. Also, when you return to school, the university must reinstate you to the status you held before your absence.
NOTE: If you would like to make a pregnancy or parenting accommodation request, please contact the Office of Equity & Diversity so that they can facilitate the accommodation process with your professors. The Office of Equity & Diversity may request a doctor’s note from you. DO NOT submit a doctor’s notes regarding your pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition to your professors.
Yes. If you miss class for pregnancy-related reasons or childbirth, the university has to give you a chance to make up missed work. For example, if your doctor orders you on pregnancy-related bed rest, the university must provide you with the appropriate assignments and information to make up the work you would have been required to complete while you were out.
NOTE: If you would like to make a pregnancy or parenting accommodation request, please contact the Office of Equity & Diversity so that they can facilitate the accommodation process with your professors. The Office of Equity & Diversity may request a doctor’s note from you. DO NOT submit a doctor’s notes regarding your pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition to your professors.
Yes. CSULB must allow you to continued participating in off-campus programs. For example, if your program provides opportunities to “work in the field,” you cannot be excluded based on your pregnancy.
Title IX says schools and universities have to address sex-based harassment. This includes harassment based on pregnancy. If you experience this sort of treatment, you should seek help immediately and contact the Office of Equity & Diversity. The law prohibits anyone from retaliating against your for filing a complaint or raising a concern. If you believe that you have been harassed based on your pregnancy, or retaliated against, please contact the Office of Equity & Diversity by calling (562)985-8256 or by submitting an incident reporting form which can be accessed here.
Due to the technical nature of financial aid, you should contact CSULB’s Financial Aid Office to learn the specifics about your situation. Applicants, current students, and admitted students can access the Financial Aid Office queue here.
