Pregnancy and Parenting

In an Emergency 24/7

From any campus phone,
call 4300 or 911

From a mobile phone,
call SMC dispatch
310-434-4300

If off-campus, call 911

SMC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students. Title IX makes it illegal to discriminate because of sex, which includes discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, or related conditions, including recovery. The law against sex discrimination covers all aspects of an educational program. This includes school-sponsored extracurricular activities and internships, athletics, financial aid and scholarships, career counseling, and lab and clinical work.

Title IX also ensures the right to take medically necessary leave and to be free of harassment, intimidation, or other discrimination because of pregnancy-related conditions. Further, any rules concerning parental, family, or marital status may not apply differently based on sex. For example, SMC cannot provide women with time to bond with or care for their children and not men.

Individuals must be allowed to take time off of school/work 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.

Students and Employees may request reasonable accommodations as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions. Reasonable accommodations vary based on the individual’s circumstances but may include: academic accommodations and flexibility (such as breaks during class, excused absences, rescheduling of tests, extensions of deadlines, and alternatives to make up missed work); leaves of absences or changes in work schedules.

Federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act Pregnancy Rights under the California Fair Housing and Employment Act

For more information about pregnancy and parenting go to the following websites: OCR Dear Colleague Letter and Handbook Title IX at the U.S. Department of Education and The Pregnant Scholar

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Accommodations for Pregnant/Parenting Students

Students who wish to discuss or request accommodations based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, should contact Denise Henninger, Manager, Center for Students with Disabilities, at 310-434-4497 or email henninger_denise@smc.edu.

Accommodations for Pregnant/Parenting Faculty and Staff

Lactations locations

SMC has a number of Lactations rooms. Students who need to access these rooms should contact Denise Henninger, Manager, Center for Students with Disabilities, at 310 434 4497 or email henninger_denise@smc.edu. Faculty and staff who need to access these rooms should contact the Office of Human Resources, Lugina Rogers, Human Resources Analyst, Leaves & Benefits, at 310-434-4060 or email rogers_lugina@smc.edu.

Complaint

To file a report of discrimination based on pregnancy or parental status, students should email: HumanResources@smc.edu or contact Eric Oifer, Ph.D., ADA/504 Compliance Officer, 310-434-8912, oifer_eric@smc.edu. To file a report of discrimination based on pregnancy or parental status, faculty and staff should email HumanResources@smc.edu.