Lactation Guidelines

These guidelines are applicable to all Mount Aloysius College students who need to express milk during the course of their studies. These guidelines are intended only to apply to students while they are not performing paid work for the college. Student employees are entitled to protections of the Notice of Non-Discrimination Statement (located in the Employee Handbook), and the Title IX & Sexual Misconduct Policy, during their work hours. 

The College requests that lactating students who must pump during a portion of their class period or clinical instruction inform the instructor so that lactation space can be provided.

Definitions 

For the purposes of these guidelines: 

The terms “lactating students” is intended to include any student who expresses milk for the nourishment of a child. 

“Medical necessity” is a determination made by a health care provider of a student’s choosing. 

“Reasonable accommodations” for the purposes of this policy are changes in the academic environment or typical operations that enable a lactating student or student with a lactation-related condition to continue to pursue their studies and enjoy equal benefits of the College. 

“Absence” from class includes tardiness or a break for the expression of breast milk within a class period. 

Designated Lactation Spaces 

Mount Aloysius College shall provide clean, private spaces across campus that are easily accessible to students for the purposes of expressing milk. Restrooms may not be classified as designated lactation spaces. 

The following lactation spaces have been designated:

• Administration (Main) Room #11 located in the Faculty Wing under the Chapel. Fully private and available 8AM - 10PM.

• Athletic and Convocation Center (ACWC) Benzel Room, Room #234. Fully private, multi-purpose space; please be sure to pull the shade and lock the door when in use. Available 24/7.

• Health & Wellness Center Suite, St. Joseph’s Hall Room #102. Fully private and available 7AM - 5PM.

• Pierce Hall Room #002C, located in the lower level. Fully private, multi-purpose space; please be sure to pull the shade and lock the door when in use. Available 8AM - 10 PM.

These spaces are equipped with: a table or other flat surface suitable to hold a breast pump, a chair, an electrical outlet, access to running water in the room or nearby. 

To ensure privacy within the lactation space, designated spaces will be equipped with a door lock and window coverings to block sight from the outside (if needed). 

Mount Aloysius College encourages departments/facilities managers to make available lockers or another space in or nearby lactation spaces where students can elect to store their pumps or expressed milk. 

Mount Aloysius College shall make the list of available lactation rooms accessible online. The list should provide the locations and the details of each room, including the operation hours and whether the space is fully private or potentially shared. The list should be regularly updated by the Title IX Coordinator. 

Establishing new lactation spaces 

When existing locations are not accessible from a breastfeeding student's class/study area, or the current demand for existing spaces makes as-needed pumping challenging, students may contact the Title IX Coordinator to identify a new space. The Title IX Coordinator will work with departments and building managers to ensure the appropriate space is identified. 

The new space may not be a permanent location and may revert back to old usage if/when the demand subsides. 

Lactation Breaks 

1. Students will make reasonable efforts to pump between classes or outside of instruction time. 

2. Lactating students who must pump during a portion of their class period shall inform the instructor of the need and estimated time away from class as soon as possible. 

3. Instructors are prohibited from penalizing breastfeeding students for their absence needed to express breast milk on campus or at clinical sites.

4. Instructors and students shall work together to identify solutions for making up in-class work or participation credits, as well as instruction missed. 

5. If problems arise, or a student must miss class for longer periods of time due to medical necessity, the student or instructor may contact the Title IX Coordinator for assistance establishing reasonable accommodations. The office may request a doctor's note to excuse the absences if they request notes from other students who need excused absences. 

Lactation Accommodations 

Students who need accommodations related to their lactation other than reasonable time and a clean and private place to express milk may request other reasonable accommodations by contacting Accessibility Services located within the Student Health and Wellness Center.

Reasonable accommodations may include avoiding certain chemicals or exposures, permission to eat or drink, postponement or adjustments to fieldwork or travel, permission to bring the baby to their class or workspace (if prohibited under existing policy), or time off as medically necessary. 

Exam accommodations shall be provided as necessary and may include extending the available time period for an exam to allow for the expression of breast milk, or situating the exam room closer to a lactation space to minimize disruption. 

Mount Aloysius College shall accommodate any lactation-related impairments, such as serious infections, as it would other temporary medical conditions. 

The Accessibility Services office will engage in an interactive process with the student and any involved faculty to ensure the student's educational opportunities are not diminished as a result of their lactation or breastfeeding. 

Direct Chest/Breastfeeding 

Breastfeeding is permitted at any campus building or space that the lactating student and infant/child are otherwise permitted to be present. 

Freedom from Discrimination and Harassment 

Mount Aloysius College prohibits harassment or other discrimination against students based on their lactation, as a condition related to sex. Harassment or discrimination related to breastfeeding and lactation may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator for appropriate action. 

Compliance 

Reporting 

Any member of the Mount Aloysius College community may report a violation of this Policy to any supervisor, instructor, or Title IX Officer. Supervisors and instructors are responsible for promptly forwarding such reports to the Title IX office. 

Grievance Process 

The Formal Grievance Process relies on the Title IX Team to carry out the process. The Title IX Coordinator, in consultation with the President of the College, appoints the team, which acts with independence and impartiality. Team Members are usually appointed to three-year terms. Individuals who are interested in serving are encouraged to contact the Title IX Coordinator. Team members are announced in an annual distribution of this policy to all students, parents/guardians of students, employees, prospective students, and prospective employees. They are also listed in the Annual Title IX Report published by the Title IX Office.

The Team Members can be found on the Title IX page on the College website. The Title IX Coordinator can assign members to provide appropriate intake of and initial guidance pertaining to complaints, act as an Advisor to the parties, serve in a facilitation role in informal resolution or Alternate Resolution if appropriately trained in appropriate resolution modalities (e.g., mediation, restorative practices), perform or assist with initial assessment, investigate complaints, serve as a hearing facilitator (process administrator, no decision-making role), serve as a Decision-maker regarding the complaint, or serve as an Appeal Decision-maker. Team members will receive annual training. Specific training is also provided for Appeal Decision-makers, intake personnel, Advisors (who are College employees), and Chairs. All Pool members are required to attend these trainings annually. The materials used to train members can be found on the Title IX page of the College website.

Dissemination 

Mount Aloysius College shall make this policy available to all College faculty, staff, and students. All instructors are responsible for being aware of this policy and working with breastfeeding students to arrange lactation accommodations. The Title IX Coordinator will be responsible for distributing this policy to the College community and responding to any questions concerning the policy by students.