Pregnancy
Federal Law protects individuals with known limitations related to, affected by, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions and requires that the university provides equal access and equal participation for them in educational programs and activities including work, clubs, sports, honor societies, student leadership opportunities and other activities.
The university is required to provide reasonable accommodations or modifications to ensure that individuals who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related condition have equal access to educational programs and activities, including in the work environment.
Examples Modifications for Students
- Academic Adjustments
- Alternative Housing
- Supported Absences
Examples of Modifications for Employees
- Flexible Work Schedule
- Temporary Remote Work
- Parking Adjustments
Requesting Accommodations or Modifications
Request accommodations or modifications for Pregnancy or Pregnancy-Related Conditions, by using one of the following means:
- By completing the online Pregnancy or Pregnancy-Related Condition Modification or Accommodation Request Form.
- By going to the Office of Equal Opportunity in-person at
- 220 Winslow Hall, Box 7530
Raleigh, NC 27695-7530
- 220 Winslow Hall, Box 7530
- By sending a fax to (919) 513-1428.
- By emailing Equal Opportunity; or by calling the Office of Equal Opportunity at (919) 513-0574
Next Steps
Sharing about your Pregnancy or Pregnancy-related Condition and Requesting an Accommodation/Modification
An individual or their representative needs to communicate to the university that they need an accommodation or modification due to their pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition.
- For students, notification can be to any university employee (e.g. faculty member), to the Title IX Coordinator, or by submitting a request to the Office of Equal Opportunity.
- For employees, the communication can be done to a supervisor, a manager, human resources personnel, the Title IX Coordinator, or by submitting a request to the Office of Equal Opportunity.
Once a university employee learns of the need for an accommodation or modification, this person should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity to initiate the request for the accommodation or modification process.
The Interactive Process
- For additional guidance on the interactive process for students, please see Section 3 of REG 02.20.18 Reasonable Modifications for Students Related to Pregnancy or Pregnancy-Related Conditions.
- For additional guidance on the interactive process for employees, please see Section 4 of REG 05.00.04 Employee Pregnancy Regulation.
Students
Once the Office of Equal Opportunity receives the request for modification, an Equal Opportunity Officer (EOO) will be assigned to review and process the case.
The EOO will contact the individual seeking modification to initiate an informal, interactive process to determine what modifications may be needed by the student.
- At this stage, the EOO may require supporting documentation (e.g. letter from a healthcare provider) to assist in determining the appropriate modifications.
- The EOO will work with applicable units/departments to determine whether the modifications requested are reasonable, do not fundamentally alter the nature of the university’s education program or activity, and what, if any modification, can be offered.
The student can accept or decline each Reasonable Modification offered by the university.
- If the student accepts an offered Reasonable Modification, the EOO will work with them and the unit/department to facilitate implementation.
- If the student does not agree with the modification offered by the university, they may request a Modification Reconsideration through the Office of Equal Opportunity.
- To initiate this process, the student should submit a request for reconsideration in writing to the Title IX Coordinator within 14 days following the receipt of the written modification determination.
Employees
Once the Office of Equal Opportunity receives the accommodation request, an Equal Opportunity Officer (EOO) will be assigned to review and process the case.
The EOO will contact the individual seeking accommodation to initiate an informal, interactive process to determine if the person is a Qualified Employee to receive an accommodation.
- At this stage, the EOO may require supporting documentation (e.g., a letter from a healthcare provider) to assist with determining if the individual is qualified to receive an accommodation.
Once the employee is considered qualified, the EOO will contact their supervisor to determine what Reasonable Accommodations would be available without imposing an undue hardship to the unit/department.
Once the options for reasonable accommodation are identified, the employee will be given an opportunity to review and decide whether they agree with them or not. An employee is not required to accept an accommodation.
- If the employee accepts the reasonable accommodation, the EEO will issue a letter documenting the agreement.
- If the employee does not accept the reasonable accommodation that would enable them to perform the Essential Functions of the job, the Employee will no longer be considered a Qualified Employee.
30-Day Check-in
The EOO will contact the individual to assess if the accommodations or modifications provided are effective. Because the needs associated with pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions may change over time, an individual can seek a review of their accommodations or modifications in place, or seek new or different accommodations or modifications as appropriate.
Policies
Reporting Discrimination or Harassment
