Pregnancy and Related Circumstances
Your Rights Under Title IX
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in all aspects of an educational program. It helps to ensure equal opportunities by making it illegal to harass, intimidate or discriminate on the basis of pregnancy and related conditions or needs such as:
- Morning sickness, fatigue, prenatal care or postpartum depression
- Childbirth
- IVF treatments
- Miscarriage
- Termination of a pregnancy
- Lactation
- Medical treatment or recovery related to these conditions
De Anza College is committed to maintaining an educational environment free from sex-based discrimination – including discrimination based on current, potential or past pregnancy or related medical conditions, regardless of parental, family or marital status.
See below for more information about accommodations and voluntary leaves of absence.
Lactation Room on Campus
Looking for a clean, safe space for breast-feeding or pumping milk?
De Anza has a designated lactation room that is clean, lockable and free from view or intrusion. Contact the Student Health Services office for details
- 408.864.8732
- deanzahealthservices@deanza.edu
Accommodations
Students who are pregnant, postpartum or have related conditions are entitled to “reasonable academic adjustments” such as:
- Parking or elevator access*
- A larger or different desk*
- Sitting or standing as needed**
- Protective gear or other arrangements during labs**
- Breaks during class to eat, drink, use the restroom or pump milk**
- Excused absences for medical appointments**
- Extensions on deadlines or rescheduling tests**
- Access to online classes or coursework as needed**
- Changes in schedule or course sequence***
- Voluntary leave of absence if medically necessary***
* Contact the Title IX coordinator
** Speak with your instructor
*** Speak with your counselor
Voluntary Leave of Absence
Students must be allowed to take time off from school for pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, termination or recovery, as deemed medically necessary by a licensed health care provider. Examples may include:
- Absences for necessary medical appointments
- A longer leave of absence for a high-risk pregnancy or childbirth – even if the medically necessary leave is longer than the college’s leave policy ordinarily allows
Students cannot be penalized for taking leave. They must be allowed to return to school with the same status they held before taking leave.
For Questions or Concerns, Contact
- Laureen Balducci, Title IX Coordinator: balduccilaureen@deanza.edu
- Sushini Chand, Deputy Title IX Coordinator: chandsushini@deanza.edu