Students who are pregnant or experiencing pregnancy-related situations are eligible for support and protections under Federal Title IX regulations. At Ozarks Tech, the Title IX Office enforces these regulations and provides pregnant students and students experiencing pregnancy-related situations with advocacy, educational adjustments, and other accommodations as needed. New parents and individuals seeking adoption or navigating foster placements are also eligible for protection through our office. No two students’ pregnancy or related condition are the same, so support may vary depending on your situation.
In addition to support and accommodations, the Title IX Office ensures that students do not experience different treatment or discrimination based on students’ actual or potential parental, family, or marital status, or pregnancy or related condition.
Pregnancy & Parenting Support
Pregnant students, students experiencing pregnancy complications or loss, new parents, and individuals seeking adoption or navigating foster placements are encouraged to complete the report form below or to contact the Title IX Office directly at [email protected]. Employees who learn of a student’s pregnancy status or related condition are also encouraged to complete the reporting form, or to provide the student with the Title IX Office’s contact information for further assistance.
The choice to declare a pregnancy is voluntary, and students are not required to disclose this information to the college. By sharing this information with the Title IX Office, the student and the Title IX Office can work together to remove any potential barriers to the student’s educational success.
Students who are pregnant or experiencing pregnancy-related situations are welcome to request reasonable accommodations and adjustments through the Title IX Office. Students are encouraged to make these requests as early as possible, as retroactive accommodations are not typically granted. Reasonable requests may include, but are not limited to:
- Deadline extensions or the ability to makeup assignments/exams if they were missed due to the pregnancy or related condition
- Excused absences for pregnancy related medical care or complications
- Breaks during class to attend to related health needs
- Modifications to the physical environment (such as accessible seating or alternative supplies)
- Short (two week) leave of absence for recovery from childbirth or other related pregnancy conditions
- Alternative ways to complete assignments or coursework
- Reasonable time away from class to express breastmilk in a location that is private, clean, and reasonably accessible
- Collaboration with the Access & Accommodation Resource Office if a student is diagnosed with a short-term disability due to pregnancy or a related condition.
Reasonable accommodations are individualized to a student’s situation and cannot fundamentally alter the college’s education program or activity. Students must still complete all program and course requirements.
The Title IX Office provides limited support for new parents at Ozarks Tech. This support is available during the first six months after a child enters the home through birth, adoption, or foster placement. Accommodations and adjustments will be limited to situations in which the child has medical appointments, medical complications, court hearings, or Family Support Team (FST) Meetings, and may include:
- Deadline extensions or the ability to makeup assignments/exams if they were missed due to the medical needs of the child
- Excused absences for medical appointments, court hearings, or FST Meetings
- Short (two week) leave of absence to provide supportive care after the birth of a child
Reasonable accommodations are individualized to a student’s situation, and can not fundamentally alter the college’s education program or activity. Students must still complete all program and course requirements.
Under Title IX, Students have the right to take reasonable time away from coursework to breastfeed or express breastmilk without penalty in their classes or educational program. Ozarks Tech provides private lactation spaces that are regularly cleaned, shielded from view, and free from the intrusion of others. Lactation spaces at each campus and education center can be found below. If students need additional space or accommodation, they should contact the Title IX Office for support.
- Springfield Campus: ICW 201 & PMC 114
- Republic Center: RC 143
- Richwood Valley Campus: RVA 110
- Table Rock Campus: RWP 418
- Lebanon Center: RMC 104B
- Waynesville Center: WEC 120
Ozarks Tech employees are prohibited from interfering with a student’s right to take leave, seek reasonable accommodation, or otherwise exercise their rights under the Pregnant & Parenting Policy. Additionally, Ozarks Tech employees are prohibited from retaliating against students for exercising their rights articulated by this policy. Harassment of any member of the Ozarks Tech community based on sex, gender identity, pregnancy, or parental status is not tolerated.
Students who wish to make a complaint regarding discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of current, potential, or past pregnancy or related conditions may do so by contacting the Title IX Coordinator.
Kevin Luebbering
1001 E. Chestnut Expressway
Springfield, MO 65802
417-447-8188
Complaints may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights at:
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Customer Service Hotline #: (800) 421-3481
Fax: (202) 453-6012
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.ed.gov/ocr
Complaints may be filed online, using the form available, at www.ed.gov/ocr/complaintintro.html.
The Title IX office is responsible for supporting you and advocating on your behalf when necessary. When you experience medically-related absences or emergencies, the Title IX office is happy to work with your instructors to help you catch up.
Most commonly, we advocate for:
- Deadline extensions on assignments you have missed
- The opportunity to make up an exam you have missed
- Reversing an administrative withdrawal
- Finding alternative ways to complete an assignment or exam
- Changing course sections
- Financial recovery, when applicable
How you can help:
- Attend class regularly when there is no reason to be absent
- Complete assignments on time or ahead of time before your baby arrives
- Communicate with your instructors any time your pregnancy legitimately interferes with school
- Be willing to develop a reasonable plan for success
- Remember that additional support does not entitle you to every request you make
- Meet with a representative from the Title IX office in-person or over the phone at the beginning of the semester or as soon as you learn of your pregnancy!
We are here to help! But we still expect you to
- Attend class regularly
- Complete assignments on time or ahead of time
- Keep the Title IX office and instructors updated of changes
- Be willing to develop a reasonable plan for success
- Remember that not every request can be granted
- Meet with a representative from the Title IX Office
- Don’t wait to ask for assistance
- Take ownership of your education
You missed a seated class due to a doctor appointment related to pregnancy.
Tell your instructor ahead of time or as soon as possible afterward. Let the Title IX office know if your instructor(s) counts you absent and/or does not give you a chance to make up any work missed/due. Missed participation points should never count against you for this issue.
You unexpectedly spent a night or more (or an extended period of time during the day) in the hospital for a pregnancy-related issue.
Notify the Title IX office as soon as possible afterward. You may also reach out to your instructors on your own, but the Title IX office will make sure your instructors are aware of the situation and provide reasonable extensions for anything you miss. Missed participation points should never count against you for this issue.
You are experiencing severe morning sickness and cannot make it to the seated classes.
Notify your instructor(s) in your seated class(es) that you are suffering from severe morning sickness that day and will not be able to come to campus. Let the Title IX office know if there are any issues with your instructors. Assignments that can be submitted electronically should still be submitted. Missed participation points should never count against you for this issue.
You miss an exam or assignment because you forgot about it.
This is not covered under Title IX, and we cannot advocate for this particular issue. Please consider reaching out to your instructor to find out if you can complete make up work/exams.
You have a sick child and cannot attend class for one or more days.
This is not covered by Title IX unless your physician has connected your child’s illness to a threat to your pregnancy. If there is no relationship to your pregnancy, please reach out to your instructor to find out if you may make up work. If there is a connection to your pregnancy, please notify the Title IX office as soon as possible.
Your baby is born, or you have complications, at the tail end of the semester.
You may request an incomplete grade from your instructor(s), which will give you 6 additional weeks to finish your coursework. Keep in mind that you will be ineligible for grants and loans for future semesters until you have final grades for all classes. Contact the Title IX office as soon as possible if you need any assistance.
You have been placed on bed rest at some point during the semester
If possible, the Title IX office will work to make sure you have access to complete your class(es) online and from home, whether the classes are seated or not. There are times when this remedy is not possible due to course or state requirements, and we will work to find another solution—which could mean dropping the class.
You had your baby 3 months ago , but you are now struggling at the end of the semester to find time for school.
Title IX support is more limited at this point. Once you have been released by your physician to resume normal activities, there is much less legal ground for advocacy. However, depending on your situation, it is very possible for the Title IX office to reach out to your instructor(s) to try work on a solution for you.
You are a new father, or your significant other is pregnant with your child, and you would like support.
The Title IX Office is happy to provide support for all parents for any medical appointments for the baby both before delivery and up to 6 months after birth. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and must be related to the medical needs of the infant.
How can the Title IX office support me?
Please complete the Pregnant & New Parent online referral or email the Title IX Office directly at [email protected]. A staff member of the Title IX Office will then reach out with next steps and to learn what supports you may need.
I have a pregnancy related disability.
It may be necessary for a professional from the Access & Accommodation Resource (AAR) office to be included in developing an accommodation plan for a pregnant student. Please visit the AAR webpage for more information.
I believe an Ozarks Tech employee or student has discriminated against me due my pregnancy or parental status.
Please contact the Title IX office immediately through the Title IX/Equity & Compliance report form online, email [email protected] or call 417-447-8188.
Ozarks Tech Resources:
Community Resources:
- Missouri Mentoring Partnership (Young Parent Program) | 417.836.3134
- Parenting Life Skills Center | 417.831.9596
- Pregnancy Care Center | 417.877.0800
- Lutheran Family & Children Services of Missouri | 417.862.1972
Online Resources:
Make sure you are thinking about your needs during your pregnancy and after your Little One arrives. The Ozarks Tech Title IX office is here to provide support and reasonable accommodations for you, but there are limits to what we can do. Please take some time to consider how you will manage your time as well as your needs for yourself and your family.
It’s a good idea to put your pregnancy and postpartum plan in writing. As you embark on this journey, we want you to remain successful in your academics, but your success depends on you! Consider the following elements in your pregnancy and postpartum plan.
Time Management – Before Baby’s Arrival. Your schoolwork will be there whether or not you are suffering from exhaustion. It is not uncommon for the Title IX office to hear from pregnant students who are feeling greater exhaustion or “pregnancy brain” that interferes with your studies. How will you combat these issues if they impact you? If you do not feel like there are enough hours in the day, do you have a partner, family member or other people in your life who can help you with everyday tasks when you need time to finish homework, take exams or attend class? If you are working, have you made a plan to balance your schedule? It may help you to write out a weekly schedule so you can visualize where school fits in. You may want to factor in additional buffer time to account for any exhaustion you may experience. Don’t forget to factor in doctor appointments!
Baby Care. After your baby arrives, are you prepared for the time and energy that will need to be diverted from other areas of your life to focus on baby care? Consider a plan to divvy up tasks with your partner or support network. Tasks to consider: changing diapers, burping, baby laundry, soothing/rocking baby, buying supplies, doctor visits, cleaning bottles and/or breast pump, general cleaning up after baby.
Parent Care. Don’t forget to take care of yourself as well as your baby! A healthy parent will be better equipped to care for a baby. How are you balancing your time between productivity and recovery/bonding? Think about who can “cover for you” when you need to catch up on sleep, eat, exercise, take care of your personal hygiene, partake in any sort of therapy, spend time alone. Consider hiring a doula if you do not have solid support for any of the previously mentioned self-care items.
Meals. This is a big one if you are generally the person responsible for preparing meals in your household. Below are some meal prep tips.
- Prepare meals in advance to keep in the freezer.
- Create a calendar to help others know when it’s their “turn” to help
- Plan a big grocery shopping trip or place a big online/delivery order a few weeks before your due date, and buy some freezable or shelf-stable items. Try to have at least one meal pre-planned for each day the first few weeks postpartum.
- Allow nutritious “grazing” or snacking to sometimes take place of meals!
- Ask for help – and when other’s ask how they can help, encourage them to bring you a meal!
Household Tasks. Just as with your schoolwork, household tasks do not disappear once your little one arrives. As with the other suggestions on this list, you may want a plan for support from others for completing essential tasks. Some things can wait until a more convenient time, but others need to be taken care of regularly. Consider how the following tasks will be completed: general cleaning, laundry, yard/plant care and home maintenance, caring for pet(s), paying bills, shopping for general items. Remember to reach out to your support network if you need help.
Financial Stability and Healthcare. If you are struggling to pay bills, pay for other essentials or receive healthcare for you or your baby, please let us know by completing an OTC Cares Report or contacting [email protected]. We will work to help you receive resources from OTC, your local community or the state.
As a pregnant student/new parent, will my medically-necessary and/or pregnancy-related absences be excused?
Yes. Absences due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions must be excused and cannot be treated or penalized like unexcused absences. Depending on the length of the absence and area of instruction, it may be academically necessary for the student to take a leave of absence. Instructors must provide a leave of absence for pregnant students for as long as it is deemed necessary by their medical doctor. Instructors may require a doctor’s note for pregnancy-related absences only if a doctor’s note is required to excuse other medically-related absences.
Additionally, a student may not be penalized for absences known to be due to pregnancy, childbirth, or other related medical conditions. An instructor cannot reduce a pregnant student’s grade because of attendance or participation points that the student missed during excused absences due to her pregnancy-related conditions. The instructor must give the student a reasonable opportunity to earn back the credit missed due to pregnancy.
New mothers are given leave time until released by a doctor or up to two weeks after the child arrives, whichever comes first. This can be extended if medically necessary.
As a pregnant student/new parent, can I be excluded from class or extracurricular activity participation?
No. Under Title IX, the College cannot exclude someone from class based on their pregnancy. The College can only require a pregnant student to provide a doctor’s certification of fitness to continue in an education program or activity if the same requirement is imposed on all other students with medical conditions requiring a doctor’s care.
Additionally, pregnant students cannot be excluded from College-related off-campus programs, such as internships, off-campus activities, College-sponsored activities, and other extracurricular activities. An instructor or student organization sponsor cannot require a doctor’s note to show fitness to participate unless it is required for all students in the program.
As a new parent, how long can I receive support from the Title IX office? Are new fathers included?
There is no specified time frame under Federal Title IX regulations, however, Title IX is specifically intended to provide support for pregnant students and students who have recently given birth. This is because the broader purpose of Title IX is the prevention of sex-based discrimination. Ozarks Tech generally provides support for the first 6 months after a student delivers a baby. New fathers and other non-biological parents can also receive support through our office during the first 6 months after the birth of a child.
Does the Title IX office provide support if I have experienced a voluntary or involuntary termination of a pregnancy or a false pregnancy?
Yes. Title IX coverage extends to students who have lost their pregnancy–for any reason–and to students who have experienced a false pregnancy.
What if I witness/experience another student, staff or faculty member making an offensive or inappropriate comment about a pregnant student/me?
Ozarks Tech will not tolerate sex-based harassment, including harassment based on pregnancy and related conditions. If a pregnant student experiences harassment based on her pregnancy, she should let the Title IX Office know immediately. If a faculty or staff member witnesses or learns about harassment of a pregnant student, they should immediately notify the Title IX Office so that it can take prompt and effective steps to end pregnancy-related harassment, prevent its recurrence, and eliminate any hostile environment created by the harassment.
Title IX prohibits a school’s retaliation against an individual for filing a complaint or raising concerns about the rights of a pregnant and parenting student.