Title IX Pregnancy and Parenting
The Blinn College District is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX states, “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[.]” All federal agencies that provide grants of financial assistance are required to enforce Title IX’s nondiscrimination mandate. The U.S. Department of Education gives grants of financial assistance to schools and colleges and to certain other entities, including vocational rehabilitation programs and libraries.
Examples of the types of discrimination that are covered under Title IX include but are not limited to: sex-based harassment; sexual violence; pregnancy discrimination; the failure to provide equal athletic opportunity; sex-based discrimination in a school’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses and programs; discriminatory application of dress code policies and/or enforcement; and retaliation.
The Blinn College District will provide reasonable accommodation due to pregnancy and/or related conditions. The College will allow access, on a voluntary basis, to any separate and comparable portion of a program or activity. The Blinn College District will also allow a voluntary leave of absence, ensure the availability of lactation space, and maintain grievance procedures to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints of sex discrimination.
Title IX mandates that schools (1) offer supportive measures to students who are pregnant or have related conditions and (2) allow students who are pregnant to return to their same academic and extracurricular status as before their pregnancy.
This support extends to both mothers and fathers, biological and adoptive. If you believe you may qualify for parenting services, email studentparents@blinn.edu for more information.
View information about Title IX regulations. Sex Discrimination: Overview of the Law | U.S. Department of Education
Blinn College is pleased to provide multiple clean, private lactation spaces for mothers to pump, nurse, or otherwise care for their child's needs. These rooms are located at:
- Brenham Campus - Bullock, Room 118
- Brenham Campus - STEI Building, Room 218
- Bryan Campus - Modular Building B, Room 110
- Bryan Campus - Administration Building, Room 171
- Post Office Center - Room CC-33
- RELLIS Campus - Administration Building, Room 243
- RELLIS Campus - Schwartz Building, Room 457
- Schulenberg Campus - Room 101-04
- Sealy Campus - Faculty Office, Room 106
House Bill 1361, Senate Bill 412, Senate Bill 459, and Title IX lay out student rights and anti-discrimination guidelines for pregnant and parenting students. These laws state that each college or university should:
- Designate a liaison officer to assist with student success efforts
- Offer resources and support services
- Provide reasonable accommodations
- Allow pregnant or parenting students to take a leave of absence while remaining in good standing without being required to reapply for admission
- Provide opportunity for early registration
Students experiencing normal pregnancies typically need “reasonable adjustments” and would go through Parenting Services. Students experiencing complications related to pregnancy may qualify for academic accommodations coordinated by The Office of Disability Services and Counseling if the complication(s) qualify as an impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 were designed to ensure that colleges and universities are free from discrimination in their recruitment, admission, and treatment of students. Please visit the Disability Services Office website for more information.
Accommodations provided by The Office of Disability Services and Counseling are entirely dependent upon the documentation with a clearly stated diagnosis and vary from student to student.
Reasonable adjustments for parenting students will vary based on student needs. Adjustments may include a larger desk, bathroom breaks, access to food/water during exams or extended time for exams. Keep in mind, every situation is unique, and adjustments may change throughout the student's tenure at the college.
If students are unsure of which department to contact, we recommend they contact either office to discuss their situation.