Pregnancy & Parenting Accommodations
Salisbury University is committed to ensuring that pregnant and parenting students have equitable access to University programs, activities, opportunities, and services.
The Office of Access & Accommodations (OAA) is Salisbury University’s primary office for coordinating pregnancy-related accommodations, reasonable modifications, individualized review, and implementation support.
Students may request assistance related to pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, recovery from pregnancy or childbirth, lactation, and other pregnancy-related conditions. Support may also be available for parenting-related needs when applicable under University policy or law.
You do not need to have a disability to request pregnancy-related accommodations through OAA.
Students may request assistance at any time. However, contacting OAA as early as possible can help ensure timely review and coordination of accommodations.
How to Request Pregnancy & Parenting Accommodations
The request gives you an opportunity to tell OAA about the academic or access barriers you are experiencing and any accommodations or modifications you believe may be helpful.
You do not need to know exactly what accommodation you need before contacting us. OAA will work with you through an individualized process to better understand your circumstances and identify appropriate options.
Step 1: Submit a Request to OAA
Complete the Pregnancy & Parenting Accommodation Request Form to begin the process.
Step 2: Meet with an OAA Staff Member
After your request is received, an OAA staff member will contact you to schedule an individualized meeting.
During this meeting, you and an OAA staff member may discuss:
- How pregnancy, childbirth, recovery, lactation, or a related condition is affecting your participation in your courses or other University activities;
This meeting is an interactive conversation focused on your individual circumstances and access needs.
Step 3: Provide Supporting Information, If Needed
OAA may request documentation when reasonably necessary to evaluate a specific accommodation. If documentation is needed, OAA will explain what information to provide. Students do not need to share detailed medical information directly with their instructors.
Step 4: OAA Reviews Your Request
OAA will review your request and determine reasonable accommodations or modifications based on your circumstances and the academic or program requirements involved.
Examples of Pregnancy-Related Accommodations
Accommodations are determined individually. Depending on your circumstances and the requirements of your courses or program, accommodations or reasonable modifications may include:
- Medically necessary absences;
- A meaningful opportunity to make up work missed because of medically necessary absences;
- Reasonable adjustments to assignment deadlines;
- Rescheduling examinations when appropriate;
- Adjustments to attendance or participation requirements;
- Changes to seating, mobility, or other physical aspects of the learning environment;
- Reasonable adjustments involving laboratories, clinical experiences, internships, practica, field experiences, or student teaching;
- Reasonable lactation breaks and access to an appropriate lactation space;
- Housing-related modifications, when applicable;
- Student-employment modifications, when applicable;
- A medically necessary leave of absence and appropriate return following the leave; or
- Other individualized modifications necessary to provide equitable access.
The specific accommodations appropriate for one student may be different from those appropriate for another student.
After Your Accommodations Are Approved
OAA will provide information about your approved accommodations and next steps for implementation.
Depending on the accommodation, OAA may coordinate directly with faculty or other relevant University offices. Students are also encouraged to communicate with their instructors about the logistics of implementing their accommodations.
You are not required to disclose detailed medical information to your instructors when discussing an OAA-approved accommodation.
If an accommodation is not being implemented as communicated, or if you encounter difficulty using an accommodation, contact OAA for assistance.
Your Needs May Change
Pregnancy and related needs can change over time. You may contact OAA at any point if:
- Your circumstances change;
- You develop a new pregnancy-related need;
- Your current accommodations are no longer meeting your needs;
- You need an accommodation in a new course or University activity; or
- You have questions or concerns about how an accommodation is being implemented.
You may request assistance at any time, even if you did not request accommodations earlier in your pregnancy or semester.
Additional Support for Pregnant & Parenting Students
OAA coordinates accommodations and reasonable modifications, but students may have needs that extend beyond academic accommodations.
Salisbury University provides additional support through several offices:
Know Your Rights
Pregnancy or parenting does not remove your right to participate in University programs and activities.
Pregnant and parenting students may have the right to:
- Continue participating in classes, programs, activities, and employment opportunities without pregnancy-related discrimination;
- Request pregnancy-related accommodations or reasonable modifications;
- Receive appropriate support related to childbirth, recovery, and lactation;
- Receive medically necessary absences and a meaningful opportunity to make up missed work;
- Request applicable support involving housing, clinical or field placements, or student employment;
- Seek information about campus and community resources; and
- Be free from retaliation for requesting an accommodation, seeking support, or reporting a concern.
If you believe you have experienced pregnancy- or parenting-related discrimination, harassment, retaliation, denial of equal access, or interference with an approved accommodation, contact the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE).
Questions or Need Help Getting Started?
You do not need to know exactly what accommodation you need before contacting OAA. Our staff can help you understand the process and discuss options based on your individual circumstances.