Pregnancy and Parenting

Oklahoma State University is committed to supporting current and expecting parents in our OSU community. This page shares information and resources that may be helpful to you during this time.

Title IX

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. The Department's Title IX regulations prohibit discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions in institutions that receive Federal funds.

The regulations make clear that Title IX protects students and employees from
discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of
pregnancy, or recovery therefrom.

In addition, the University must assist a student with reasonable adjustment to continue their education. (U.S. Department of Education).

Title IX protects students who are navigating pregnancy, childbirth, and related outcomes. This includes their partners too!

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the University must abide by the following:

Pregnant students are allowed to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before their medical leave began, which includes giving them the opportunity to make up any work missed while they were out.
Pregnant students cannot have their academic or athletic scholarships withdrawn or face any other form of financial punishment because of their pregnancy.
Pregnant students are given excused absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as their doctor says it is necessary.
Instructors must provide reasonable adjustments for pregnant students.
Instructors may not refuse to allow pregnant students to submit work after a deadline missed because of pregnancy or childbirth. If a teacher’s grading is based in part on class participation or attendance and a pregnant student missed class because of pregnancy or childbirth, she is allowed to make up the participation or attendance credits she didn’t have the chance to earn.
Pregnant students must be provided with the same special services the university provides to students with temporary medical conditions. This includes homebound instruction/at-home tutoring/independent study, parking accommodations, and desk accommodations.

Pregnancy and Parenting Resources

Title IX Basics
Healthy Start
- The Tulsa Health Department’s Healthy Start program is confidential, free and works to ensure our families are healthy, safe and thriving.
Planned Parenthood - 1007 S. Peoria Ave. Tulsa, OK 74120 - (918) 858-4661
St. Francis Emergency Care - 6161 South Yale Avenue Tulsa, OK 74136
OSU Medical Center Emergency Department - 744 West 9th Street Tulsa, OK 74127
Hillcrest Medical Center Emergency Center - 112 S Utica Ave. Tulsa, OK 74104
Family Safety Center 600 Civic Center, Main Floor Police Courts Building Tulsa, OK 74103
- Free and Confidential Services such as: assistance with emergency protective orders, assistance with law enforcement reports, civil legal assistance and advice, consultation with district attorney staff, forensic medical, interpretation services, referral for immigration services, referral for emergency shelter, safety and prevention education.
OSU Tulsa Counseling Center - 700 N Greenwood Ave Tulsa, OK 74106, Main Hall 2403 – (918) 594-8568
OSU Extension Active Parenting Class - 4116 East 15th Street Tulsa, Oklahoma 74112 - (918) 746-3700
Family and Children’s Services - Multiple Tulsa area locations - (918) 587-9471
Parent Child Center of Tulsa - 421 South Boston Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119 – (918) 599-7999
Cherokee Nation WIC Information 1-800-256-0671 ext. 5589
Hands of Grace Warehouse - 18929 E. Bluebird Lane, Park Hill, OK – (918) 453-9778
- Zoë Institute operates the “Hands of Grace” warehouse. Families can access the warehouse four times within a four-month period. Items available vary but typically include food, paper products, clothing, hygiene items, diapers, and household items
Cherokee Nation Early Childhood Unit - (918) 453-5757 ext. 5717
Cherokee Nation Child Care and Development - 16947 Cherokee Street Tahlequah, OK 74464 – (918) 453-5300
Child Care Resource Center - 16 E. 16th St #202 Tulsa, OK 74119 – (918) 585-5551
- The Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) is a program of the Community Service Council (CSC) offering quality child care resource and referral services to families, child care providers and the community.
Oklahoma Child Care Services
- Apply online for assistance with childcare for ages birth through 12 years of age.
Oklahoma Head Start Programs
Tulsa – WIC Information
Emergency Infant Services - 1110 S Denver Ave Tulsa, OK 74119
- Emergency Infant Services, commonly known as EIS, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers assistance with basic needs items for children 5 years old and under whose families are facing financial and personal challenges.
ConnectFirst - 5330 E 31st St Tulsa, OK 74135
- Connects and refers families to services and resources in the community based on what your family wants and needs most.

Breastfeeding and Nursing Mother Support

Nursing Mother Rooms/Lactation Rooms

OSU has multiple rooms across campus to create a safe, quiet, and private place to express milk for parents who are choosing to breastfeed or pump. Rooms are available to all students who are nursing/pumping and who are enrolled at OSU. Rooms are also available to faculty, staff, and campus visitors.

Locations:

OSU CHS in Tulsa 1111 W. 17th St., Tulsa – Tandy 352, CHS North Hall 354
1. The room remains unlocked during business hours (Monday through Friday 7:00am – 6:00pm). There is a lock on the door that indicates occupied when in use. Contact Angela Bacon at angela.bacon@okstate.edu or Adriana Livingston at adriana.livingston@okstate.edu to check out a key after business hours.
OSU COM-CN 19500 E. Ross St. Tahlequah,OK – Room 1059
1. Room remains unlocked and occupant can lock when in use.
OSU CHS Legacy Plaza West, 5310 E. 31st St., Tulsa – Room 1216, 12th floor Southwest Corner
OSU Tulsa, 700 N. Greenwood Ave – North Hall 103 Student Services, Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:00pm
OSU Tulsa, 700 N. Greenwood Ave – Main Hall Commons, Stand alone Leche Lounge outside of the Library.
1. Door remains unlocked and shows occupied when in use.

Other locations:

Other rooms at other locations may be requested on as needed basis by contacting Student Services (angela.bacon@okstate.edu) if you are a student or Human Resources (tina.tappana@okstate.edu) if you are an employee. For additional information or questions call 918-594-8221.

Breastfeeding/Pumping Resources

U.S. Breastfeeding Committee

Faculty/Staff Quick Reference for Supporting Student-Parents

As faculty and staff, we want to be empathetic and supportive to our students who are navigating pregnancy and parenting. Understand that the needs for each individual student during their pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery are very different. Some pregnancies can be high risk, whereas others are not; some students may experience morning sickness, whereas others do not; some may have many doctors' appointments whereas others do not. We want to support our students and be understanding to their changing needs, supporting students with the understanding that every pregnancy is different.

It is the student's decision to disclose to you if they are pregnant. If a student discloses to you that are pregnant, please notify our office by emailing CHS Student Services at chssco@okstate.edu or OSU Tulsa Student Services at osutaccess@okstate.edu. This allows our office to inform the students of those supportive measures that are available to them. Please be aware that all information is kept private and that our office will not disclose any information about a student's pregnancy or related medical conditions.

During a semester, our office may send you faculty notifications of excused absences or requests for extensions on coursework on behalf of the student who is pregnant and parenting. Understand that we have verified this with the student and that our office documentation is sufficient for excusing absences and requesting opportunities to make up any missed work. We ask that you work with the student to accommodate their needs so that they suffer no academic penalty because of their pregnancy or parenting.

Resources for Staff & Faculty

For OSU Human Resources questions regarding parenting and pregnancy, FMLA or parental leave please contact tulsa.hr@okstate.edu

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Health Sciences