Pregnant and Postpartum Students and Students Who are Parents of Newborns
Compliance with New Jersey Law
This policy addresses the requirements of NJSA 18A:3B-74 et seq. to provide certain accommodations for students who are pregnant, or postpartum, or a parent of a newborn (but not the birth parent) ensuring equal rights and opportunities for such students.
Accommodations under NJSA 18A: 3B-74 et seq
Students may apply for University established accommodations under NJSA 18A: 3B-74 et seq. utilizing the TESU Public Academic Accommodation(s) Request (hyperlink)online form. Documentation and approval for accommodations are reviewed by the ADA Coordinator in the Office of Student Accessibility Services. Documentation is described under “Communication and Documentation”.
A student in good standing who is pregnant or postpartum is permitted to request one of the two following options:
- Option 1 – to be withdrawn from course(s) and, when possible, to have the registration cost credited to student account to use in a future term(s). Students should refer to the University’s Course Drop and Withdrawal policy to ensure they understand potential implications for withdrawing.
- Option 2 – the opportunity to request up to two no cost course extensions. Students opting for this accommodation will not be excused from completing Discussion Forums in online courses during the original term.
A student in good standing who is not the birth parent but has received notification of the birth or placement of their child, is permitted to request up to two no-cost course extensions for the courses indicated on this form. Students opting for this accommodation will not be excused from completing Discussion Forums in online courses during the original term.
Communication and Documentation
Requested accommodation(s) must be done under the guidance of the University’s Office of Student Accessibility Services and in accordance with the University’s NJSA18A 3B-74 et seq approval procedure as stated on the University website. Students requesting an accommodation must complete the TESU Public Academic Accommodation(s) Request (hyperlink) online form which requires uploading written documentation written from healthcare provider (signed, dated, on letterhead verifying the student’s pregnancy with expected due date), postpartum (on letterhead, signed, dated, verifying delivery date). For students who are not the birth parent, but are parenting a newborn (on letterhead, signed, dated, verifying delivery date), If the documentation is incomplete or inadequate to provide verification of pregnancy, postpartum, or parenting of a newborn (who is not the birth parent), the University’s Office of Student Accessibility Services has the discretion to require additional documentation. Accommodation(s) cannot be activated until the application process (which includes required documentation) is completed.