Pregnant, Parenting, and Related Conditions - Students

Title IX protects pregnant and parenting (including non-birth) students from discrimination. This includes pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, miscarriage, or recovery from any of these conditions. It is illegal to exclude a pregnant student from any part of an educational program due to their pregnancy and parenting status.

• Frequently Asked Questions for Pregnant and Parenting Students (PDF)

A pregnant student/birth-parent refers to the student who is or was pregnant.

A non-birth parent includes:

• Spouses or partners of individuals anticipating or recently experiencing the birth of a child
• Parents who adopt a child
• Parents by means of surrogacy

Absences related to pregnancy and childbirth must be excused as long as your doctor deems the absence medically necessary (i.e., for doctor’s appointments, bed rest, recovery, etc.). Documentation may be requested by the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community. As part of this process, you may work with professors for an opportunity to make up missed work. 

Please see the Pregnant and Parenting Adjustment Form below for assistance.

Any special services provided to students with temporary medical conditions must also be provided to a pregnant student in need of those same services. Reasonable adjustments may include, but are not limited to:

• Larger desk
• Frequent bathroom breaks
• Flexibility with attendance and deadlines
• Makeup/online work
• Incomplete in course
• Course withdrawal or replacement

Disability Services: Pregnancy

Student Health Services: Pregnancy

Counseling and Psychological Services: Pregnancy, Abortion, and Mental Health

Contemporary Student Services: Parenting and Expecting Students

Mason Families: Parenting and Expecting Students

Information on child care at George Mason and surround communities can be located at Contemporary Childcare Resources.

We are committed to maintaining your privacy. Information you share related to pregnant or parenting status will not be shared with others, including your faculty, unless you give us permission to share it. If you have questions about the safeguards in place to protect your privacy before submitting a written request, please email the Title IX Office at titleix@gmu.edu.

Individuals may request private space to breastfeed, pump milk, or address other needs related to breastfeeding while on campus. George Mason offers private spaces on each campus to accommodate nursing parents. While we do have dedicated spaces for lactation on campus, we understand that convenience is important as well.

If you are a student in need of a lactation room separate from the spaces listed, please contact Alissa Karton at akarton@gmu.edu.

If you feel you have been discriminated again due to parenting or pregnancy please submit a Title IX Report.

For more information about your rights, contact George Mason University's Interim Title IX Coordinator:

Thomas "Tom" M. Bluestein, J.D. 

Interim Assistant Vice President, Equity and Access Services

Phone: 703-993-8730

titleix@gmu.edu