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1. Familial Status: The configuration of one’s family or one’s role in a family.
2. Marital Status: The state of being married or unmarried.
3. Parental Status: The status of a person who is a parent, legal custodian, guardian, or in loco parentis of a person under 18 or over 18 if incapable of self-care due to disability.
4. Pregnancy and Related Conditions: Includes pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery.
5. Reasonable Modifications: Modifications to policies, practices, or procedures that do not fundamentally alter the University’s education programs or activities.

A student or employee who is pregnant or has a related condition, or a person with the legal authority to act on behalf of a student or employee, may contact the Title IX Coordinator directly to discuss reasonable modifications to prevent sex discrimination and ensure access to the University's educational programs and activities. 

If a student or employee discloses to a non-confidential University employee that they are experiencing or experienced discrimination or harassment due to pregnancy or a related condition, the non-confidential staff or faculty member is required to report the disclosure to the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator will send an outreach email with supportive resources to the student or employee and offer assistance. 

When a student or employee otherwise notifies any University employee about their pregnancy or related condition (but is not making a claim of discrimination or harassment), the employee who received the information, unless the employee reasonably believes that the Title IX Coordinator has been notified, must promptly provide the individual disclosing their pregnancy or related condition with the Title IX Coordinator’s contact information and inform the individual that the Title IX Coordinator can coordinate specific actions to prevent sex discrimination and ensure the student or employee’s equal access to the University’s education programs and activities.

Students experiencing pregnancy and related conditions are entitled to Reasonable Modifications to ensure equal access to education programs and activities. These may include changes to schedules, assignments, and course requirements. Students seeking Reasonable Modifications must contact the Title IX Coordinator to discuss their needs. Retroactive modifications may be available in some circumstances.

Modifications will be determined based on individual needs and may include alternative paths to completion for clinical rotations, performances, labs, and group work. In progressive curricular and cohort-model programs, medically necessary leaves may allow students to shift course order or join subsequent cohorts.

Supporting documentation may be required when necessary to determine appropriate modifications. Information about modifications will be shared with faculty and staff only as necessary.

Health and safety risks related to participation in activities will be communicated to all students. A student experiencing pregnancy or related conditions cannot be required to provide health certification unless the same certification is required of all students and it is necessary for participation.

Employees, including student-employees, have the right to express breast milk in the workplace. The University will provide 30 minutes of paid break time as needed for up to three years following childbirth. Employees must provide written notice of their need for breast milk expression to the Office of Human Resources or the Title IX Coordinator. Additional unpaid time beyond the 30 minutes may be taken using existing paid break or meal time.

The University will not deduct an employee’s paid break time for breast milk expression from their regular paid break or meal time. Employees can choose to take breast milk expression breaks before or after their regularly scheduled paid break or meal periods.

The University provides students and employees with access to functional, appropriate, and safe lactation spaces. These spaces are regularly cleaned, shielded from view, and free from intrusion.

Employees wishing to request a lactation room must provide reasonable advance notice and submit a written request the Office of Human Resources or the Title IX Coordinator. The University will respond within five business days and notify all employees in writing when a room is designated for breast milk expression.

If an employee’s request for a lactation room poses an undue hardship, the University will engage in a cooperative dialogue with the employee.

Lactation spaces are located in Room 460 in Case-Geyer Library. To access the space, you can request the key from the main desk at the library.

A. Students

Students may take a voluntary leave of absence for a reasonable time deemed medically necessary due to pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, or foster care placement. The leave term may be extended for extenuating circumstances or medical necessity. Students can elect to keep their health insurance coverage and continue residing in University housing, subject to applicable fees.

1. The University will ensure students return to the same academic progress position, including access to the same or equivalent course catalog. Scholarship and funding continuation will depend on the student’s registration status and funding program policies. The University will advocate for students with financial aid agencies and external scholarship providers if a leave affects eligibility.
2. To initiate a leave of absence, students must contact the Title IX Coordinator at least 30 days prior or as soon as practicable. The Title IX Coordinator will assist with necessary paperwork.

B. Employees

Information on employment leave is available on the Human Resources website. Employees, including student-employees, not eligible for leave under other policies may qualify for leave under Title IX. Pregnancy and related conditions will justify leave without pay for a reasonable period. Employees taking Title IX leave must be reinstated to their original or comparable position without negative effects on employment privileges or rights.

Students with child caretaking responsibilities may request academic modifications for up to six months from the time the child’s arrival in the home. Extensions may be granted for medical necessity or extraordinary caretaking responsibilities. 

During the modification period, academic requirements may be adjusted, and deadlines postponed as appropriate, in collaboration with academic affairs personnel (including relevant academic advisors and faculty). Students may reschedule assignments, lab hours, examinations, or reduce their course load once authorized. 

If caretaking students cannot obtain appropriate modifications, they should alert the Title IX Coordinator, who will facilitate needed accommodations and modifications. 

In timed degree programs, students can request extensions of up to [specified number] months for preliminary and qualifying examinations and normative time to degree while in candidacy. Longer extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances. 

Students will remain registered and retain benefits during academic modifications.

A. Confidential Support for Students

Any student who is pregnant or has a related condition or is experiencing sex discrimination based on their pregnancy or related condition is encouraged to understand their options and to seek emotional and physical support.
The support options listed below are confidential, meaning they will keep a student’s information confidential, including from Title IX Administrators, unless you give them explicit written permission to share your information. Students may contact:

Confidential, On-Campus Support

• Counseling and Psychological Services, located at Conant House, 315-228-7385 or for an after-hours emergency, call Campus Safety at 315-228-7333 and ask to speak with the counselor on-call.
• Student Health Services, 150 Broad Street, 315-228-7750.
• Office of the Chaplains, located on garden level of the Memorial Chapel, 315-228-7682.

Confidential, Off-Campus Support

• Community Memorial Hospital, 315-824-1100, 150 Broad Street, Hamilton, NY.
• The New York State Department of Health -
• Your own medical or mental health provider.
   

B. Confidential Support for Employees

Any employee who is pregnant or has a related condition or is experiencing sex discrimination based on their pregnancy or related condition is encouraged to understand their options and to seek emotional and physical support.

The support options listed below are confidential, meaning they will keep an employee’s information confidential, unless you give them explicit written permission to share your information. Employees may contact:

Confidential, Off-Campus Support:

• Community Memorial Hospital, 315-824-1100, 150 Broad Street, Hamilton, NY.
• The New York State Department of Health -
• Your own medical or mental health provider.
• Employee Assistance Programs
  • BRiDGES, 315-697-3947 - BRiDGES EAP is a workplace benefit that provides assessment, referral, and short-term counseling to employees and their immediate family members.
  • BRiDGES is available by phone Monday-Friday, from 8am-5pm. In person, virtual and phone sessions are available by appointment. Should you need assistance after 5pm you can still call BRiDGES at 315-697-3947. You may leave a message and your call will be returned during regular business hours. Evening appointments are available by appointment only.
  • HigherEd EAP, 1-800-252-4555 - HigherEd EAP offers a broad array of tools and services to help with problems that might affect your personal or work life.
• Excellus Behavioral Health Telemedicine, 866-692-5045.
• Chenango Nursery School: ������ provides scholarships or subsidies to ������ employees who meet financial criteria, based on total family income, for their children to attend Chenango Nursery School (CNS). The goal of the scholarship fund is to help make CNS affordable for more ������ employees. There may be other outside sources of funding available to income eligible employees. For more information on CNS or on financial aid, contact Sarah Chesebro at 315-824-1810. All inquiries and applications are completely confidential.
• Madison County Mental Health Department, 315-366-2327 and press 1.
• The Mental Health Department offers a crisis line 24-hours a day.

C. Non-Confidential Resources for Students and Employees

Any student or employee who is pregnant or has a related condition or is experiencing sex discrimination based on their pregnancy or related condition is encouraged to understand their options and seek resources. The below resources are private but not confidential, meaning that they will share information you disclose, but only on a need-to-know basis, with other University officials and offices to prevent sex discrimination and to identify and provide reasonable modifications. Students may contact:

Non-Confidential, On-Campus Resources

The Office of Equity and Diversity
102 Lathrop Hall
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13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, NY 13346
315-228-6161

Title IX Coordinator
The Office of Equity and Diversity
102 Lathrop Hall
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13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, NY 13346
315-228-6161
titleIX@colgate.edu

Director for Diversity and Equity
Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity
The Office of Equity and Diversity
102 Lathrop Hall
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13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, NY 13346
315-228-6161
directorDE@colgate.edu

Any PCRG member
 

������ will not adopt or implement any policy, practice, or procedure concerning the current, potential, or past Parental, Familial, or Marital Status of a student or applicant that treats a person differently on the basis of sex.
 

A. Supportive Resources

Any student or applicant who believes they have been discriminated against due to their Parental, Familial or Marital Status is encouraged to understand their reporting and confidential support options. Please see the confidential, on-campus support options and the on-campus non-confidential resources listed above in the Pregnancy and/or Related Conditions section of the policy to learn who to contact to learn more about your support and resource options.

This policy will be provided to all faculty and employees during annual training and posted on the University’s website. New students will be educated about this policy during orientation.

The Title IX Coordinator will provide educational materials to promote compliance with this policy and familiarity with its procedures.

The University will monitor compliance with this policy and address any violations. The policy will be reviewed annually to ensure that it meets legal requirements and effectively serves the community.