Section 1: Purpose Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body.

This institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational experience for pregnant and parenting students. This policy ensures that students receive equal access to educational opportunities and appropriate support at Panola College in compliance with Texas Senate Bill 412.  

The passage of Texas Senate Bill 412 provides guidance that “an institution of higher education may not require a pregnant or parenting student, solely because of the student's status as a pregnant or parenting student or due to issues related to the student's pregnancy or parenting” to take leave of absence or withdraw from the student’s degree or certificate program, limit the students’ studies, participate in an alternative program, or change the student’s major, degree, or certification, or refrain from joining or cease participating in any course, activity, or program at the institution. This legislation means that the student will be required to meet the same academic standards as other Panola students but will have access to the support and reasonable accommodations to support them in meeting those academic standards.  

The Liaison Officer for pregnant and parenting students at Panola College is the Director of Admissions/Registrar,1109 W Panola, Carthage, TX 75633. Matthews Student Center, Second Floor - Room #2210, jharris@panola.edu 903-693-2009.  

Section 2: Definitions

2.1 Parenting student - A student who is the parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 years of age.

2.2 Issues related to the student's pregnancy or parenting: Parenting: A student's absence for medically or legally necessary events related to the child's safety and care.  Pregnancy: Issues related to the health and safety of the student and the student's unborn child, such as allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from substances, areas, and activities known to be hazardous to pregnant women or unborn children.

2.3 Reasonable accommodations - Adjustments to the tasks, environment, or the way things are usually done that enable individuals who are pregnant or parenting to have an equal opportunity to participate in an academic program. Reasonable accommodations for pregnant and parenting students are adjustments that: (1) would be provided to a student with a temporary medical condition; or (2) are related to the health and safety of the student and the student's unborn child, such as allowing the student to maintain a safe distance from substances, areas, and activities known to be hazardous to pregnant women or unborn children.  

2.4 Good standing to resume - A status indicating the student’s work completed to that point in the semester is proficient to withdraw and resume or apply for an incomplete and resume. 

2.5 Fundamental alteration - A change that is so significant it alters the essential nature of a course or a program of instruction.  

• Lowering an academic standard  •Removing or waiving the acquisition of a skill or competency that is essential 
• Removing or waiving the acquisition of a skill or competency that is directly related to the health and safety of others 
• Removing or waiving requirements that are directly related to qualifying for a license or credential

Section 3: Identification and Assessment  

3.1 Panola College has established an identification, assessment, and decision-making process to identify students who may require additional support and reasonable accommodations due to issues related to the student's pregnancy or parenting status.

3.2  If a pregnant or parenting student feels that they require a reasonable accommodation to be successful within their academic program, the student must make a request on the Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations Form. The student is responsible for completing the form within two (2) business days of a need for reasonable accommodations due to issues related to the student's pregnancy or parenting.    

3.3 Upon receipt of notification, each faculty member will initiate the process within two (2) business days to establish a mutually agreed upon plan to provide the student with reasonable accommodations as outlined in this policy.  

3.4 Each notified faculty member will complete the Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations form within two (2) business days, once signed by the student and faculty, notifying the Liaison Officer of the mutually agreed upon plan.

3.5  If the student, program chair, or assigned faculty representative cannot come to a mutually agreeable decision per the policy/procedure outlined herein, the student may request the Liaison Office to convene a faculty/staff committee review of the plan to progress resolution.  

3.6  Students will be expected to continue to progress and submit course assignments during the period of review.  

3.7  A medical condition due to pregnancy may be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), entitling the student to an additional reasonable accommodation. Accommodation requests due to pregnancy-related complications should be directed to Student Disability Services.

Section 4: Individualized Support and Accommodations

4.1 Panola College does not require a pregnant or parenting student, solely because of the student's status as a pregnant or parenting student or due to issues related to the student's pregnancy or parenting, to: (1)  take a leave of absence or withdraw from the student's degree or certificate program; (2)  limit the student's studies; (3)  participate in an alternative program; (4)  change the student's major, degree, or certificate program; or (5)  refrain from joining or cease participating in any course, activity, or program at the institution.

4.2 Identified students shall receive individualized support and reasonable accommodations as a result of issues related to the student's pregnancy or parenting status as long as the accommodations do not present a fundamental alteration of the course.

4.3  Panola College can, for reasons related to a student's pregnancy, childbirth, or any resulting medical status or condition: (1)  excuse the student's absence and make reasonable accommodations to allow the student to meet course objectives successfully;  (2)  allow the student to make up missed assignments or assessments as agreed upon and communicated to the student by the course instructor to meet course objectives successfully;  (3)  allow the student additional time to complete assignments in the same manner as the institution allows for a student with a temporary medical condition;  (4)  provide the student with access to instructional materials and video recordings of lectures for classes for which the student has an excused absence under this section to the same extent that instructional materials and video recordings of lectures are made available to any other student with an excused absence (5) allow the student to take a leave of absence or withdraw from the student’s degree or certificate program and resume if the student is in good standing to resume as determined by a program-specific resumption policy.  In the absence of a degree or certificate program-specific policy, the student shall re-enroll at the next available course offering or no more than one year after the leave of absence. If the student's degree plan or course offering has substantially changed to meet current accreditation or industry standards, the student will be offered an alternate/comparable course established by the program chair/director and approved by the Vice-President of Instruction.

Section 5: Training & Implementation  

5.1 Panola College shall provide training to faculty, administrators, and support staff regarding the pregnancy and parenting policy.  12 5.2 Panola College shall establish processes for disseminating and implementing this policy to ensure compliance with Texas Senate Bill 412 and other relevant laws and regulations.