Chamberlain University (the “University”) is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for pregnant and parenting applicants and students. In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the University prohibits harassment and/or discrimination against any current applicant or student based on sex, including, without limitation, based on pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. This policy applies to all pregnant and parenting students and applicants, as those terms are defined below.

This policy is administered by Adtalem Global Education’s Office of Nondiscrimination and Access (“ONA”), in partnership with the University.

Definitions 

Under this policy, an “applicant” is someone who is actively seeking to become a student at the University.

Under this policy, “parent” or “parenting” applies to a person who (with respect to another individual under the age of 18 or who is 18 or older but incapable of self-care because of a physical or mental disability) has the status of a biological parent; adoptive parent; foster parent; stepparent; legal custodian or guardian; in loco parentis with respect to such individual; or actively seeking legal custody, guardianship, visitation, or adoption of such individual, and requires reasonable accommodation/modification due to such status within the first 12-months of such individual entering the student or applicant’s home.

Under this policy, “pregnancy” and “childbirth” refer to pregnancy or childbirth of the specific student or applicant in question, and includes current pregnancy, past pregnancy, labor, and childbirth.

Under this policy, “related medical conditions” are medical conditions relating to the pregnancy or childbirth of the specific student or applicant in question.  Examples of medical conditions that may qualify as “related medical conditions” include conditions such as miscarriage, preterm labor, anemia, nausea or vomiting, edema, postpartum depression, infections, lactation, and recovery from any of the foregoing.  This list is non-exhaustive.

Under this policy, a “student” is a student currently enrolled at the University. 

Reasonable Accommodation/Modification

Students and applicants who are pregnant or are experiencing related medical conditions, or who are parenting, are entitled to reasonable accommodations and/or modifications to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the University’s education programs and activities. Please note: an accommodation and/or modification that imposes undue hardship or fundamentally alters the nature of the University’s education programs or activities is not a reasonable accommodation and/or modification.

Reasonable accommodations and/or modifications for students may include, but are not limited to:

• Excusing parenting and pregnancy-related medically necessary absences
• Providing mobility support
• Extending deadlines and/or allowing students to make-up tests, assignments, and class participation, and/or clinical/practicum/field experience due to parenting and pregnancy-related medically necessary absence(s)  
• Providing reasonably timed breaks during lecture, lab, and/or clinical/practicum/field experiences to attend to health and/or medical needs associated with pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions – which include, but are not limited to, the ability to eat, properly hydrate and/or keep water nearby, utilize the restroom, and/or sit or stand as needed
• Allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from substances deemed hazardous to pregnancy (for example, certain types of medications)
• Allowing breastfeeding students reasonable time to express breastmilk, store breastmilk, or breastfeed as needed in a lactation space that is not a bathroom and is clean, shielded from view of others, lockable, and free from intrusion of others.

Reasonable accommodations and/or modifications for applicants are based on the applicants’ circumstances and the context for the accommodations or modifications.

In situations such as clinical rotations, examinations, skills-based assessments, labs, and group work experiences, the ONA Case Management Coordinator or designee as well as the University will work with the student to develop an alternative path to completion, if possible. Similarly, applicants are encouraged to work with the ONA Case Management Coordinator or designee, as well as admissions personnel, to assist with reasonable accommodation and/or modification development and implementation.

Process 

A student or applicant who has a request or inquiry regarding the potential need for reasonable accommodations and/or modifications under this Policy should contact the ONA Case Management Coordinator at [email protected] or 630-829-0233, to further discuss their request.  Any faculty or staff member who receives a request for a pregnancy or parenting-related accommodation must immediately refer the student or applicant to the ONA Case Management Coordinator, and inform the ONA Case Management Coordinator about the referral. The University asks that students and applicants provide thirty (30) days’ advance notice of the need for an accommodation and/or modification when feasible.

Upon receiving a request for accommodation under this Policy, the ONA Case Management Coordinator or designee will obtain additional information from the student or applicant, including information about the condition that is the basis of the request, as well as the accommodation and/or modification to policy, practice or procedure that is being requested. Please note, in some cases, the ONA Case Management Coordinator or designee may need to obtain additional information and/or documentation about the student’s or applicant’s specific pregnancy and/or related medical needs from the student’s or applicant’s healthcare provider.  Further, in some cases, the ONA Case Management Coordinator or designee may need to obtain additional information and/or documentation about the student’s or applicant’s specific parenting status or request (such as medical documentation concerning the parented individual or a custodial order).  A request for additional supporting documentation will be limited to any documentation necessary and reasonable for the ONA Case Management Coordinator or designee to evaluate the accommodation request.  Please note that the University and the ONA reserve the right to offer alternative reasonable accommodations that ensure equal access to the University’s education program or activity.   

Information about pregnant and/or parenting students’ or applicants’ requests for accommodations and/or modifications will be shared with institutional faculty, staff, and/or academic leadership only to the extent necessary to implement or provide the reasonable accommodation and/or modification.

If a request is granted, the ONA Case Management Coordinator or designee will work directly with the student or applicant and any applicable University personnel who will help to implement the approved accommodation(s) and/or modification(s). 

If a request is denied, the ONA Case Management Coordinator or designee will engage in a discussion with the student/applicant to explore any alternative reasonable accommodation and/or modification options, if appropriate. Denial of accommodations and/or modifications under this policy will not preclude students from requesting disability-related accommodations through the Office of Student Disability Services, if applicable.  

Occasionally, ONA will require additional documentation or information from a student or applicant to be able to better understand the nature of the request and make a determination.  In those cases, students and applicants will be notified about the reason for the need for additional documentation or information.

Accommodations and/or modifications are granted on a case-by-case basis, as different resources may become available throughout the duration of a student’s program or at the time when an applicant makes a request. Although the same accommodations and/or modifications may still be available, adjustments to a student’s or applicant’s approved accommodations and/or modifications may be necessary due to a new program location or modality. Students and applicants must also notify the ONA Case Management Coordinator if they seek to transfer institutions or programs, as a new accommodation and/or modification request may be required.

Additional Options: Leave of Absence/Incomplete Grades

In addition to reasonable accommodations and/or modifications, there are other available options including taking leave per the University’s Leave of Absence policy or implementing incomplete grades for courses that will be resumed at a future date.  These options are available to all students enrolled in the University and are handled separately by the University’s academic team.

No Retaliation

The University strictly prohibits retaliation against any student or applicant for exercising their rights in good faith under this Policy or for reporting a potential violation of this Policy. 

Contact

Questions related to accommodation and/or modification requests should be directed to the ONA Case Management Coordinator at [email protected] or 630-829-0233. Complaints of discriminatory treatment or retaliation related to pregnancy and/or parenting status are to be directed to the ONA Case Management Coordinator or the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Kim Brandt at [email protected]  who can coordinate specific actions to address any alleged sex discrimination and ensure a student’s or applicant’s equal access to the University’s education programs or activities.

Complaints may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) regarding any concerns that arise with educational programs that are available in the United States. OCR can be contacted at:

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Telephone: 800-421-3481
FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: [email protected]