The specific measures coordinated by 91Թ for the benefit of students experiencing
pregnancy or related conditions are:
(1) Making Reasonable Modifications
91Թ will make reasonable modifications (sometimes
called “reasonable accommodations”), at no charge to the student, to its
policies, practices, or procedures as necessary to prevent sex discrimination
and ensure equal access to education programs or activities.
(2) Allowing Voluntary Access to Separate and Comparable Portion(s) of Programs or Activities
91Թ will allow a student experiencing pregnancy or
related condition(s) to voluntarily access any separate and comparable portion
of an education program or activity if any such separate and comparable
portion exists.
(3) Allowing Voluntary Leave of Absence
91Թ will allow a student experiencing pregnancy or
related condition(s) to voluntarily take a leave of absence from 91Թ’s
education programs or activities.
(4) Providing Access to Lactation Space
91Թ provides a lactation space on campus (RoomE2530B) that a student
may use for expressing breast milk or breastfeeding as needed.
(5) Limiting Required Supporting Documentation
91Թ will not require supporting documentation under Actions 1 through 4, unless such documentation is necessary and reasonable for
91Թ to determine what reasonable modifications to make or whether to take
additional specific actions under those Actions.
(6) Treating Pregnancy/Related Conditions Comparably to Other Temporary Medical Conditions
To the extent consistent with Actions 1 through 5,
91Թ will treat pregnancy or related conditions in the same manner and
under the same policies as any other temporary medical conditions with respect
to any benefit, service, plan, or policy 91Թ administers, operates,
offers, or participates in with respect to its students.
(7) Not
Requiring Certification to Participate
91Թ will not require a student experiencing pregnancy
or related conditions to provide certification from a healthcare provider (or
any other person) that the student is physically able to participate in a
91Թ class, program or extracurricular activity unless such certification
is required of all students wishing to participate or the certified level of
physical ability or health is necessary for participation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Process for Reasonable Modifications
The coordination of reasonable modifications (sometimes called “reasonable accommodations”) for students experiencing pregnancy or related conditions is handled by 91Թ’s Access Services for Students with Disabilities (ASSD), part of the Academic Resource Center. Students experiencing pregnancy or related conditions may contact Angela
Szczepanik-Sanchez, Director of ASSD, or her staff as follows:
Access
Services for Students with Disabilities (ASSD)
Mailing
Address: 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL 60484
Phone:
708.235.3968
Email: assd@govst.edu
Campus
Location: B1215 (in the Student Success Commons)
Business
Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday (except for University holidays)
Each reasonable modification made for a student experiencing pregnancy or related conditions will be based on the student’s individualized needs. In determining what modifications are necessary, ASSD will consult with the student. The student has discretion to accept or decline each reasonable modification offered by 91Թ. If a student accepts an offered reasonable modification, 91Թ
will implement it.
The availability of a specific modification for a specific student will be dependent on that student’s particular circumstances. Not all potential modifications may be reasonable. A modification that would fundamentally alter the nature of a 91Թ education program or activity is not a reasonable modification. 91Թ is not obligated to make modifications that are not reasonable
modifications. To the extent consistent with that restriction, reasonable modifications available to a student experiencing pregnancy or related conditions may include, but are not necessarily limited to, breaks during class to express breast milk, breastfeed, or attend to health needs associated with
pregnancy or related conditions, including eating, drinking, or using the restroom; intermittent absences to attend medical appointments; access to online or homebound education; changes in schedule or course sequence; extensions of time for coursework and rescheduling of tests and examinations;
allowing a student to sit or stand, or to carry or keep water nearby; counseling; changes in physical space or supplies (for example, access to a larger desk or a footrest); or elevator access.
Process for Voluntary Leaves of Absence
The coordination of voluntary leaves of absence for students experiencing pregnancy or related conditions is handled by the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS) through its Emergency & Medical Leave procedures, as applicable to students experiencing pregnancy or related conditions. Students experiencing pregnancy or related conditions who wish to
learn more about availing themselves of such a leave may contact Mushtaq Choudhary, the Dean of Students, and ODOS as follows:
Office
of the Dean of Students
Mailing
Address: 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL 60484
Phone:
708.235.7595
Email: deanofstudents@govst.edu
Campus
Location: C1310
Business
Hours: 8:30am-5:00pm Monday-Friday (except for University holidays)
/emergencyleave/
Leaves of absence voluntarily taken by a student experiencing pregnancy or related
conditions will cover at least the period of time deemed medically necessary by the student’s licensed healthcare provider. When the student returns to 91Թ’s education program or activity, the student will be reinstated to the academic status and, as practicable, to the extracurricular status that the student held when the voluntary leave began.
To the extent that a student experiencing pregnancy or related conditions qualifies for leave under a different leave policy maintained by 91Թ (if any) that allows a greater period of time than the medically necessary period, 91Թ will permit the student to take voluntary leave under that policy instead, if the student so chooses.
Access to Lactation Space
91Թ provides a dedicated room for students and employees to use for
expressing breast milk or breastfeeding as needed. Currently, that room is E2530B, which is
located on the second floor of E-Building (E-Wing) near the bridge between E-Building and G-Building. The door locks from the inside with an available/occupied indicator on the outside of
the door. 91Թ asks everyone to be respectful of the fact that the room is a shared amenity. It may be used only for the purposes of expressing breast milk or breastfeeding.