Pregnant & Parenting Students

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights provides a Know Your Rights document for pregnant and parenting students. Additionally, Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students provides more detailed information on our institutional responsibilities for supporting pregnant students.

The Division of Student Life oversees responsibility for pregnancy and parenting support and protection for students, in alignment with Iowa Code 261.

Division of Student Life
102 Gilchrist Hall
Cedar Falls, IA 50614
studentlife@uni.edu
(319) 273-2332

The University of Northern Iowa supports the academic success of all students. Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 (known as "Title IX") prohibits discrimination based on sex, including pregnancy and parental status, in educational programs and activities. Your rights as a pregnant student include, but are not limited to:

Allowing you to continue participating in classes and extracurricular activities.
Providing you with reasonable adjustments like a larger desk, elevator access or allowing you to make frequent trips to the restroom, when necessary because of your pregnancy.
Excusing absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as your doctor says it is medically necessary.
Allowing you to return to the same academic and extracurricular status.

Assistance Navigating Policies and Procedures

Dean of Students staff who work with Student Care can serve as a point of contact for pregnant students seeking assistance understanding university policies and procedures related to pregnancy or childbirth. Student Care staff can help a student understand next steps for communicating with faculty as well as connection to other resources as necessary. You can connect with us by:

emailing deanofstudents@uni.edu
calling 319-273-2332
or dropping into 102 Gilchrist Hall and asking to speak with a staff member who works with Student Care

Class Attendance

At the University of Northern Iowa, the Class Attendance and Make-Up Work Policy (3.06) outlines that absences due to pregnancy or childbirth must be excused for as long as the student's doctor deems the absences medically necessary. Subsequently, when a student returns to school, they must be allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before their leave began.

Nursing Mothers and Lactation Rooms

Students who have a need to express milk during their day on campus have access to several lactation rooms across campus. Additional information, including how to access the rooms and specific locations, is available through Human Resource Services.

Additional Campus Resources

The Child Development Center is a National Association for the Education of Young Children accredited center on the University of Northern Iowa campus.
Employees are encouraged to contact Human Resource Services for assistance or accommodations related to pregnancy, including undergraduate and graduate student employees.
The Office of Civil Rights Compliance (OCRC) oversees equal opportunity in education for students, assuring compliance with Title IX. Students who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of their pregnancy or parenting status are encouraged to report such instances to OCRC.
The Panther Pantry serves students impacted by food insecurity and essential items.
Psychiatric & Counseling Services, located in the Counseling Center, provides students with various options for counseling and psychiatric care.
Student Accessibility Services may be of assistance for students with certain pregnancy related conditions (sometimes referred to as complications).
The Student Health Clinic serves as the on-campus health resource for all students and assists them in meeting their healthcare needs.
Student Wellness Services promotes student health and wellness on campus through various offerings, including Wellness Coaching.
The Learning Center can provide access to tutoring and other academic resources.

Cedar Valley Resources

The following resources are available across the Cedar Valley:

Black Hawk County Public Health - The Doula Project
Birthright
Iowa Legal Aid
Operation Threshold - Nest Program

Iowa Resources

The following resources are available nationwide or across the State of Iowa:

Iowa Health & Human Services - Maternal Health Healthy Pregnancy Program
Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral
The Pregnant Scholar and the National Women's Law Center both provide detailed information on Title IX and pregnant and parenting students including a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Related Policies

13.02 Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Misconduct

13.15 Accommodations of Disabilities