Pregnancy-related conditions are defined as anyone undergoing a pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, or termination, recovering or experiencing medical conditions related to any of the aforementioned conditions.
Pregnancy itself is not considered a disability, and not all pregnancies result in a disability. However, medical conditions that result from pregnancy-related conditions may meet the definition of a medical disability (e.g. gestational diabetes and preeclampsia) and may result in a short-term disability. If the student develops a medical condition, the student should be directed to register with Disability Support Services.
Under Title IX and ADA
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex, including pregnancy and parental status, and requires that all educational institutions provide a range of reasonable adjustments to students who need them due to pregnancy and childbirth. These should be assessed on a case-by-case basis with interactive dialogue between the staff member and the student. For further assistance, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, titleix@csmd.edu, visit Disability Support Services for more information on pregnancy and parenting adjustments or visit Frequently Asked Questions for Title IX Pregnancy and related conditions.
Additional Education About Pregnancy and Parenting Rights
The College of Southern Maryland offers private spaces to accommodate nursing. Find lactation spaces that offer private, clean, and calm places to pump breast milk or nurse a baby.
All lactation spaces are cleaned daily by CSM’s Facilities Management Team, and hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes allow mothers to clean before and after their personal use.
Lactation areas at our four campuses offer working and student mothers private, clean, and calm places to pump breast milk or nurse a baby.
Download the Mamava app from your app store to unlock a pod when you're nearby. You can also reserve a time in advance—convenient, private, and easy to use.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for Women, Infants, and Children
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income households buy the food they need for good health. Everyone has the right to apply for SNAP. Click here to download the Income Guidelines.
Applicants must file an application, be interviewed, and meet all financial and technical eligibility factors prior to issuance of SNAP benefits. Some people who have little or no money may qualify for Expedited SNAP benefits right away. They must have only an interview and verify identity.
WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. WIC provides healthy foods, personalized nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to other services to support you and your family. For more information, please visit the WIC website at fna.usda.gov/wic.
The Maryland Children's Health Insurance Program (MCHP)
Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (MCHP) uses Federal and State funds to ensure that all Maryland’s children have medical insurance. The program provides full health benefits for children under the age of 19, and pregnant women of any age who meet the income guidelines. For more information, please visit the website at dhs.maryland.gov/weathering-tough-times/medical-assistance/.
Additional State and Local Resources for Expecting and New Parents
The Maryland New Parent Resource Guide was developed by the Maryland Governor’s Office of Children (GOC). This guide consolidates key statewide benefits for families. (Available in English and Spanish).
Adoption & Guardianship
Maryland is a kin-first state. While children are in out-of-home care, local departments of social services staff make every effort to identify kin (relatives or other individuals with whom a child or family has a connection) who can care for them until reunification is possible.
In situations when a child is unable to reunify with their parents or guardians, the child’s kin or resource parents who cared for them may be asked to consider adopting or obtaining guardianship of the child. For more information, please visit the website at dhs.maryland.gov/adoption/.
Harassment
The College of Southern Maryland is obligated to protect students from harassment due to pregnancy-related conditions. Comments and behaviors could constitute prohibited harassment if they are sufficiently serious so that they interfere with a student’s ability to benefit from or participate in an academic program or extracurricular activity. All members of the college community are strongly encouraged to report incidents of pregnancy-related conditions-based harassment to Student Affairs at titleix@csmd.edu.
Questions?
All questions and concerns regarding pregnancy-related conditions and/or reasonable adjustments should be directed to Debra Greene at titleix@csmd.edu.
Fact Sheet: Pregnant and Parenting Students' Rights Under Title IX Regulations
This fact sheet provides an overview of your rights under Title IX (as of January 9, 2025). All educational programs or activities that receive federal funding must follow Title IX.
You have the right to stay in the same classes and extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs and leadership opportunities.
The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) may not exclude you from any classes or activities because of your pregnancy or a related condition, such as childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, or lactation.
CSM must offer you the same special services that it offers to non-pregnant students with temporary medical conditions such as:
Online classes
Independent study
CSM must make “reasonable modifications,” or adjustments, so that you can continue to learn while you are pregnant or recovering from childbirth.
Examples of reasonable modifications include:
Breaks during class to take care of pregnancy-related health needs, like eating, drinking, using the restroom, or expressing milk
Excused absences to attend medical appointments
Access to online or remote educational programs
Changes in schedule or course sequence
Extensions of time on coursework
Rescheduling of tests and exams
Allowing you to sit or stand
Allowing you to carry water or keep water nearby
Counseling
Changes in physical space or supplies, like a larger desk or footrest
Elevator access
Protective gear, such as for science lab
Other changes to school policies, practices, or procedures
CSM school must excuse your absences due to pregnancy or related conditions, such as for prenatal or postnatal appointments, to recover from childbirth, to obtain an abortion, or to pump milk.
CSM must excuse these absences for as long as your health provider requires as medically necessary.
Your instructor may not punish you for these pregnancy-related absences. For example, the instructor may not refuse to allow you to submit an assignment late because of pregnancy-related absences. Likewise, if the instructor bases students’ grades on class participation or attendance, they should allow you to make up the credits you missed, so that you are not penalized for your absences.
When you return, CSM must restore you to the same academic status and extracurricular status as before you went on leave. This includes the opportunity to makeup work you missed while you were away. For example, you could ask to get extra time to finish the class at a later date (incomplete), to attend an online course, or to retake the semester. Your instructors should allow you to decide how you want to make up the work.
CSM must take steps to protect you from sex-based harassment related to your pregnancy or a related condition, like childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, or lactation.
Unlawful harassment includes unwelcome physical touching, name-calling, sexual jokes, sexual propositions, or spreading rumors about your sexual activity.
CSM must take prompt, effective action to stop harassment and prevent it from happening again.
CSM may not discriminate against you based on your sex. That means sex discrimination related to your parental status, family status, or marital status is unlawful. For example, it is unlawful to treat you differently based on gendered stereotypes about how a parent should act. A school may not have a policy of offering excused absences to mothers but not fathers to take children to the doctor, for instance.
For example, if you have a pregnancy-related disability, you may have additional protection from discrimination at school under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Or, if you are also a student employee, you might have rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act or PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act.
By law, every school or school district must have a Title IX Coordinator and must publish their contact information.
If you tell a college employee that you are pregnant or have a related condition (like lactation), they must tell you how to contact your Title IX Coordinator.
The Title IX Coordinator must also help you access these rights.
Contact Us
For questions or concerns, contact CSM Title IX Coordinator Debra Greene at dagreene3@csmd.edu.
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Lactation and Nursing Spaces