SUNY Buffalo State is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all individuals enjoy freedom from discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of sex, pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and other applicable federal and state laws. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. Sex discrimination includes discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, pseudo-pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom, marital status, or parental status. SUNY Buffalo State does not discriminate against any student on any of these bases.
Discrimination and harassment of any member of the SUNY Buffalo State community based on pregnancy, childbirth, or parental status is prohibited by this policy, the Code of Student Conduct, the Title IX Grievance Policy, and SUNY Buffalo State’s Harassment and Discrimination Policy.
Faculty, staff, and other SUNY Buffalo State employees are prohibited from interfering with a student’s right to take an academic leave, seek accommodations, or otherwise exercise their rights under this policy.
Faculty, staff, and other SUNY Buffalo State employees are prohibited from retaliating against students for exercising their rights under this policy, including imposing or threatening to impose negative educational outcomes because students request a leave or accommodations, file a complaint, or otherwise exercise their rights under this policy.
Students have the right to continue participating in classes and extracurricular activities during pregnancy or a related condition.
Students may request accommodations due to pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition. The Title IX Coordinator will work with the student and, as appropriate, faculty and staff members to devise a plan to best address the student’s needs during pregnancy, childbirth, or any related condition, including anticipating the need for a leave and minimizing the impact of any related absences. Students affected by pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions will be provided the same benefits and services as those provided to students with temporary medical conditions.
A request for accommodation may be made at any time during a student’s pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition. Note however, that SUNY Buffalo State may be limited in its ability to implement accommodations retroactively.
Where appropriate, the Title IX Coordinator will work with SAS to review accommodation requests and any provided medical documentation.
Information about pregnant students’ requests for accommodations will be shared with faculty and staff only to the extent necessary to provide an approved accommodation. Faculty and staff will not disclose this information, unless necessary.
In situations where the timing of the education program or activity does not allow for a leave, such as clinical rotations, internships, field work, performances, and some lab or group work, SUNY Buffalo State will work with the student to devise a path to completion, which may need to be delayed.
Accommodations may include, but are not limited to:
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Continued participation in classes and other activities during pregnancy.
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Reasonable adjustments like attendance accommodations due to pregnancy, childbirth, pseudo-pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions, for as long as a doctor deems necessary.
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Taking an “Incomplete” (which allow students more time to complete courses).
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Taking a temporary academic leave of absence: Temporary Academic Leave (for undergraduate students) or Leave of Absence at the Graduate Level Policy (for graduate students).
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The ability to return to the same academic status as before a leave began; and
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The opportunity to make up missed work because of pregnancy, childbirth, pseudo-pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions.
Note that students requesting a temporary leave of absence that may qualify as an accommodation under this policy must contact the Title IX Coordinator prior to, or at the start of, the leave.
Students who wish to remain engaged in their coursework following the birth or adoption of a child, or placement of a foster child, may request a leave or other accommodation, following the birth, adoption, or placement of the child. A student may request an extension of an accommodation due to extraordinary parenting responsibilities. The academic department or other campus office will determine whether the requested accommodation is reasonable, based upon the student’s field of study/educational program. The university reserves the right to require documentation to support a student’s request for accommodation.
Students seeking parenting accommodation should consult with the Title IX Office, which will coordinate with the academic department(s), and, if necessary, other relevant campus offices, to determine what appropriate accommodation, if any, will be provided. If applicable, the Title IX Office will communicate to the student’s academic advisor(s) any necessary information related to the accommodation request.
In timed degree, certification, or credentialing programs, students who seek a period of accommodation due to the birth, adoption, or placement of their child may be allowed an extension to prepare for and take preliminary and qualifying examinations, and an extension toward normative time to degree while in candidacy, to the extent SUNY Buffalo State controls those deadlines.
The following locations are available on campus for lactation purposes:
Butler Library, room 135 (a key can be obtained from the Ask Us desk)