Many questions asked by pregnant and parenting students have nuanced answers which cannot be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website. Students whose questions are not answered by these FAQs are encouraged to reach out to the Office for Title IX Compliance at titleixteam@pvamu.edu or by phone at (936) 261-2166.
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Under Title IX, it is illegal for schools to exclude a pregnant student from participating in any part of an educational program. This prohibition applies to specific classes such as advanced placement or honors classes, extracurricular programs, interscholastic sports, honor societies, and opportunities for student leadership, among other activities.
Any special services provided to students who have temporary medical conditions must also be provided to a pregnant student. Therefore, if a school provides special services, such as homebound instruction or tutoring, for students who miss school because they have a temporary medical condition, it must do the same for a student who misses school because of pregnancy or childbirth.
Students are expected to attend classes regularly and to abide by the attendance policy established by the professor. However, the university is aware that there will be times when a student is unable to attend class due to pregnancy or parenting as a result of pregnancy. Students can request an excused absence with the appropriate documentation by completing the Pregnancy and Parent Accommodation Request Form through the Office for Title IX Compliance.
The Title IX regulation also prohibits a school from applying any rule related to a student’s parental, family, or marital status that treats students differently based on their sex.
Title IX requires a school to provide the same special services to a pregnant student that it provides to students with temporary medical conditions. This can include excused absences for doctor appointments and recovery time following childbirth or other pregnancy related conditions, or requests for additional time to complete course assignments or exams. Each request is reviewed on a case-by-case matter.
Should students require additional support or assistance as it relates to a pregnancy-related absence, please complete the Pregnant and Parenting Accommodation Request Form, or contact the Title IX Coordinator Dr. Zakiya Brown, by email at titleixteam@pvamu.edu or by phone at (936) 261-2166. The Title IX Coordinator will provide the additional support as needed.
A school may require a pregnant student or student who has given birth to submit medical certification for school participation only if the school also requires such certification from all students with physical or emotional conditions requiring the attention of a physician. Thus, for example, a student who has been hospitalized for childbirth must not be required to submit a medical certificate to return to school if a certificate is not required of students who have been hospitalized for other conditions.
No. Any such requirement would violate Title IX. A school may offer separate programs or schools for a pregnant student, but participation in those programs or schools must be completely voluntary. A school may provide information to its students about the availability of an alternative program, but it may not pressure a pregnant student to attend that program. A pregnant student must be allowed to remain in her regular classes and school if she so chooses.
A student who is pregnant and will need resources, support or interim measures as of result of pregnancy may reach out to the Office for Title IX Compliance. The student should inform the Title IX Coordinator of the nature of support needed or requested interim measures to be taken. If as student needs further accommodations due to disability as it relates to a pregnancy or parenting related incident the student should then contact the Office of Disability Services located in the Owens-Franklin Health Center (2nd Floor) in Room 222 or email Ms. Belinda Lewis, Director for Disability Services at BBLewis@pvamu.edu
No, the university does not currently provide housing for families. Although students may remain in housing while pregnant once they deliver they must establish accommodations outside of university housing.
Schools cannot require a pregnant student to produce a doctor’s note in order to stay in school or participate in activities, including interscholastic sports, unless the same requirement to obtain a doctor’s note applies to all students being treated by a doctor. That is, schools cannot treat a pregnant student differently from other students being cared for by a doctor, even when a student is in the later stages of pregnancy; schools should not presume that a pregnant student is unable to attend school or participate in school activities.
Yes. Title IX prohibits harassment of students based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions. Harassing conduct can take many forms, including verbal acts and name-calling, graphic and written statements, and other conduct that may be humiliating or physically threatening or harmful. Particular actions that could constitute prohibited harassment include making sexual comments or jokes about a student’s pregnancy, calling a pregnant student sexually charged names, spreading rumors about her sexual activity, and making sexual propositions or gestures.
To ensure a pregnant student’s access to its educational program, when necessary, a school must make adjustments to the regular program that are reasonable and responsive to the student’s temporary pregnancy status. For example, a school might be required to provide a larger desk, allow frequent trips to the bathroom, or permit temporary access to elevators.
Students are expected to attend classes regularly and to abide by the attendance policy established by the professor. However, the university is aware that there will be times when a student is unable to attend class due to pregnancy or parenting as a result of parenting. Students should inform the faculty or staff member as soon as possible regarding the need to be absence and provide medical documentation as needed.
Prairie View A&M University requires regular class attendance. Attending all classes supports full academic development of each learner whether classes are taught with the instructor physically present or via distance learning technologies such as interactive video. Excessive absenteeism, whether excused or unexcused, may result in a student’s course grade being reduced or in assignment of a grade of “F”. Absences are accumulated beginning with the first day of class during regular semesters and summer terms. Each faculty member will include the University’s attendance policy in each course syllabus.
Excused Absences: Absences due to illness, attendance at university approved activities, and family or other emergencies constitute excused absences and must be supported by documentation presented to the instructor prior to or immediately upon the student’s return to class. Students are always responsible for all oral and written examinations as well as all assignments (e.g., projects, papers, reports).
Excessive Absences: Accumulation of one week of unexcused absences (for the number of clock hours equivalent to the credit for the course) constitutes excessive absenteeism. The instructor is not required to accept assignments as part of the course requirement when the student’s absence is unexcused.
The university does not have a ‘Leave of Absence” policy for students. When a student returns to school, she must be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before her medical leave began. If a student determines they would like to withdraw from the University they should use the following link to do so. Withdrawal from the University
Yes. Title IX requires a school to excuse a student’s absences due to pregnancy or related conditions, including recovery from childbirth, for as long as the student’s doctor deems the absences to be medically necessary. When the student returns to school, she must be reinstated to the status she held when the leave began, which should include giving her the opportunity to make up any work missed.
Every school that receives federal financial assistance is bound by Title IX. Schools must ensure that the policies and practices of individual teachers do not discriminate against pregnant students. For example, a teacher may not refuse to allow a student to submit work after a deadline that she missed because of absences due to pregnancy or childbirth. Additionally, if a teacher’s grading is based in part on class attendance or participation, the student should be allowed to earn the credits she missed so that she can be reinstated to the status she had before the leave.
An “I,” incomplete, may be granted only when an authorized absence or other cause beyond the student’s control has prevented the student from completing a major course requirement, usually a final examination or major paper due near the end of a course. The student must have a passing average in all work completed at the time the incomplete is given. Incomplete work must be completed and a grade recorded within one calendar year from the close of the term in which the grade was earned. If the incomplete is not removed within the time allotted, the “I” will be changed to “F” by the registrar. This regulation does not apply to thesis problems, research credit courses, internships, or student teaching which may go beyond the end of the semester but does apply to terminal project credit courses. Grading and Grade Related Issues
Yes. 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, homecoming court, or interscholastic sports. A pregnant student must also be eligible to hold leadership positions in these activities. In addition, a pregnant student may not be excluded from an activity that is part of the school’s educational program even if the activity is not operated directly by the school.
See your Title IX Coordinator Dr. Zakiya Brown at titleixteam@pvamu.edu. If you wish to file a complaint of discrimination with OCR, you may use the online complaint form available at http://www.ed.gov/ocr/complaintintro.html.
If filing your complaint online, you will need to provide an original signature by mail, which may be done by printing and mailing the consent form linked at the bottom of the online complaint form.