Supporting Pregnant Students and Employees

pregnant woman

Pregnant Students and Employees

Berkshire Community College (BCC) is committed to supporting students and employees through pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum recovery, and pregnancy related medical conditions. Through tailored resources, accommodations, and a culture of understanding, BCC strives to ensure that students and employees have the accommodations and resources they need to succeed and continue to meet their educational and career goals while experiencing pregnancy or other related conditions.

The Title IX Coordinator supports students seeking academic accommodations related to pregnancy and other related medical conditions. Once a student meets with the Title IX Coordinator to register for accommodations, the student will be provided with a memorandum stating their accommodations and any other relevant information, such as how they plan to complete a course after they deliver their child. The student is responsible for providing instructors with a copy of this memorandum. Students who have concerns about accommodations should speak with the Title IX Coordinator or Dean of Students to discuss the situation.

For employees seeking workplace accommodations related to pregnancy and other conditions, BCC Human Resources is the office of support. Employees who have concerns about accommodations should speak with the Executive Director of Human Resources or the Title IX Coordinator to discuss the situation.

Information for Students and Employees

Contact Us

La Wanza Lett-Brewington, Title IX Coordinator, Affirmative Action Officer
Field Administration, Room 207
llett-brewington@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-1027
Mailing address:
1350 West St
Pittsfield, MA 01201

Celia Norcross, Dean of Students, Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Susan B. Anthony, Room A-114
cnorcross@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-1601
Mailing Address:
1350 West St
Pittsfield, MA 01201

Information for Students and Employees

  • Information for Students

    BCC is committed to compliance with Title IX regulations regarding preventing discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, or recovery from these conditions.

    Some examples of Title IX protections for pregnant students or students experiencing a pregnancy related medical conditions include:

    • Allowing pregnant students to continue participating in classes and not requiring a doctor’s note
    • Excused absences due to pregnancy or childbirth
    • Allowing students to return to the same academic status before their medical leave began and allowing the student to make up any work that was missed while they were out

    Registering for Accommodations Related to Pregnancy

    Students who need to obtain accommodations related to pregnancy and other related medical conditions should speak with the Title IX Coordinator or Dean of Students to discuss concerns and potential accommodations.

    During this meeting, the student will discuss the options for accommodation and the steps to implement them with their instructors, as well as other support services. This meeting is required to receive the approved accommodations memorandums (“memos”). After receiving the memo, students are responsible for providing their instructors with the memo.

    Discrimination

    Students who feel as if they are being discriminated against due to pregnancy or related conditions can report their concerns to Title IX Coordinator or Dean of Students.

  • Information for Employees

    The college provides reasonable accommodations to employees who have known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum recovery, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship. This includes limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, termination or loss of pregnancy, or a related medical condition. Employees at Berkshire Community College are covered by the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).

    Employees seeking accommodations under the PWFA should contact the Human Resources Office at hr@berkshirecc.edu. After submitting the request, a Human Resources staff member will connect with the employee to discuss the request and next steps. In the conversation with the Human Resources staff member, the employee may be asked to provide additional information, such as descriptions of the childbirth, postpartum recovery, and pregnancy related medical conditions limitations they are experiencing.

    Types of Accommodations

    The PWFA requires that BCC provide employees with “reasonable accommodations.” What is reasonable will differ on how the requested accommodations impact the employee’s departmental operations and functions, along with other considerations. Accommodations under the PWFA are granted on a case-by-case basis and decided through an interactive process between the employee and BCC.

    Some commonly granted accommodations under the PWFA include:

    • Time off or schedule changes to attend health care appointments
    • A chair or stool to sit on while working
    • Extra bathroom breaks
    • The ability to have food and drinks while working