EMU strives to create an atmosphere where each student experiences intellectual development and personal growth. It is the responsibility of the faculty, staff and students to foster and protect that atmosphere in order to provide each student with an opportunity for success. When an unmarried student becomes pregnant, she is faced with many difficult decisions. While EMU does not support a student’s choice to engage in sexual relationships outside of marriage, we do support the decision to carry the child to full term. In order to provide support, and encourage mental and physical healthcare, unwed pregnant students will be referred to meet with the vice president for student life or an appropriate designee. The student may be required to sign a wellbeing contract agreeing to engage in pre-natal care and personal counseling in order to remain enrolled at EMU. Identified fathers who are EMU students may also be required to engage in parenting classes designed to help them prepare for the new responsibilities they will have, whether they plan to marry the expectant mother or not. If the expectant mother and father are together as a couple, these parenting classes may be done jointly to prepare for possible marriage or co-parenting responsibilities.
Fathers who are not EMU students may be invited to join the expectant mother in couples counseling or parenting classes. Classes and couples counseling at the EMU counseling center will be offered free of charge to both expectant parents, but other services outside EMU will be the responsibility of the expectant parents to pay. A faculty/staff mentor with parenting experience may also be chosen by the expectant parents to aid them in their steps toward parenthood. Additional steps may also be needed as determined by student life personnel on a case-by-case basisEastern Mennonite University is committed to creating and maintaining a community where all individuals enjoy freedom from discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of sex, as mandated by Title IX and ensuring the protection and equal treatment of pregnant persons, individuals with pregnancy-related conditions, and new parents.
Non-Discrimination and Reasonable Accommodation
Students affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions are entitled to the following:
- Eastern Mennonite University and its faculty, staff, and other employees will not require a student to limit studies due to pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions.
- The benefits and services provided to students affected by pregnancy shall be no less than those provided to students with temporary medical conditions.
- Students with pregnancy-related disabilities, like any other student with a disability, are entitled to reasonable accommodation so they will not be disadvantaged in their courses of study or research, and may seek assistance from the Assistant Provost for Student Success.
- Reasonable accommodations may include, but are not limited to:
- accommodations requested by the pregnant student to protect the health and safety of the student and/or her pregnancy (e.g. allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from hazardous substances)
- modifications to the physical environment (e.g. accessible seating)
- extending deadlines and/or allowing the student to make up tests or assignments missed for pregnancy-related absences
- excusing medically-necessary absences
- granting leave
- Breastfeeding students must be granted reasonable time and space to pump breast milk in a location that is private, clean, and reasonably accessible. Bathroom stalls do not satisfy this requirement. Individuals should contact the Title IX coordinator (540-432-4133 or titleixcoordinator@emu.edu) to arrange for private on-campus spaces for breastfeeding, and accommodations will be made on an individual basis according to preferences and needs.
Reports of alleged discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions will be investigated by the university's Title IX coordinator. See Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy (Title IX).