Pregnant and Parenting Students
Kean University recognizes that a welcoming, supportive environment is essential for students to succeed, thrive, and realize their full potential. It is the desire and intent of the University to foster and maintain a welcoming environment for all its students, including pregnant and parenting students who are faced with challenges in addition to those that come with being a student.
According to the Law:
N.J.S. § 18A:3B-74
a. An institution of higher education offering associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree programs shall be prohibited from requiring a student to take a leave of absence, withdraw from an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate program, or limit the student's studies solely due to pregnancy or pregnancy-related issues.
b. An institution of higher education offering associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree programs shall provide reasonable accommodations to a pregnant student to enable the student to complete coursework and research. Reasonable accommodations to a pregnant student shall include, but need not be limited to, allowances for the student's health and safety, such as allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from hazardous substances, allowing the student to make up tests and assignments that are missed for pregnancy-related reasons, allowing a student to take a leave of absence, and excusing medically-necessary absences.
c. An institution of higher education offering associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree programs shall develop and adopt a written policy for students on pregnancy discrimination and procedures for addressing pregnancy discrimination complaints under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. Sec.1681 et seq. or under P.L. 2016, c. 88 (C. 18A:3B-74 et seq.). A copy of the policy shall annually be made available to all faculty, staff, and employees. The policy shall be distributed to all students attending orientation sessions at the institution.
18A:3B-75 Leave of absence for graduate student.
a. A graduate student who chooses to take a leave of absence because she is pregnant or has recently given birth shall be allowed a period consistent with the policies of the institution of higher education in which she is enrolled, or a period of 12 months, whichever period is longer, to prepare for and take preliminary and qualifying examinations. The normative time to degree while in candidacy for a graduate degree for a pregnant graduate student shall be increased in an amount equal to the length of the leave of absence, unless a longer extension is medically necessary.
b. A graduate student who is not the birth parent and who chooses to take a leave of absence because of the birth of the student's child shall be allowed a period consistent with the policies of the institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled, or a period of one month, whichever period is longer, to prepare for and take preliminary and qualifying examinations, and an extension of at least one month toward normative time to degree while in candidacy for a graduate degree, unless a longer period or extension is medically necessary to care for the student's partner or their child.
18A:3B-76 Return to program in good academic standing.
a. An enrolled student in good academic standing who chooses to take a leave of absence because she is pregnant or has recently given birth shall return to the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate program in good academic standing following a leave period consistent with the policies of the institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled or of up to one academic year, whichever period is longer, subject to the reasonable administrative requirements of the institution, unless there is a medical reason for a longer absence, in which case her standing in the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate program shall be maintained during that period of absence.
b. An enrolled student in good academic standing who is not the birth parent and who chooses to take a leave of absence because of the birth of the student's child shall return to the associate, baccalaureate, or graduate program in good academic standing following a leave period consistent with the policies of the institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled, or of up to one month, whichever period is longer, subject to the reasonable administrative requirements of the institution.
Accommodations:
If you are a Kean University Student and require accommodations due to pregnancy (or pregnancy related conditions/issues), contact the Kean University Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) to apply for accommodations. OAS can be reached at (908) 737-4910 or via email at Accessibilityservices@kean.edu. If a medical leave is necessary please apply via Student Health Services or call (908) 737-4880 for assistance.
If you are a Kean University Employee and require accommodations due to pregnancy (or pregnancy related conditions/issues), please contact the Kean University ADA Coordinator, Yrelys Tapanes at (908) 737-3313, or via email at ytapanes@kean.edu.
Additionally, employees should review the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Policy.
Complaints:
If you are a Kean University student and believe that you have experienced an incident(s) of discrimination or harassment based on pregnancy (or pregnancy related conditions or issues), you have the right to file a complaint of discrimination. If you wish to file a complaint of discrimination, please use this form: Title IX Violation Reporting Form
If you are a Kean University employee and you believe you have experienced discrimination and/or harassment based on pregnancy (or pregnancy related conditions) and wish to file a complaint, please complete the Discrimination Complaint Processing Form (DPF-481) and submit it via email to the Office of Affirmative Action Programs at affiract@kean.edu.