NYC university clarifies maternity leave policies

Lara Kaufmann, senior counsel at the National Women's Law Center, praised CUNY for its quick response to the discrimination claim. She said many college professors across the country don't realize that Title IX of the 1972 federal education law, the same rule that requires equal opportunities for women in college sports, also applies to women who may miss classes or tests because of a pregnancy.

"Often colleges will leave it up to professors to set rules for makeup work. And that's fine, as long as the professors know and understand the rules. But many don't," Kaufmann said.

"We see a lot of students being discouraged from staying in school, and being told they should drop out and re-enroll after they have their babies ... A lot of programs are refusing to work with students," she said.

Stewart's experience with professors at CUNY was mixed, she said. A majority of instructors were helpful and happily accommodated her when she informed them that her baby was due very close to the end of the semester. Only one, a female professor who taught courses on feminism, did not.

"I just wanted a chance to prove myself as a student," said Stewart, adding that she took all her other final exams on time with her classmates.

Wall Street Journal: http://online.wsj.com/article/APd3932735975342efbecd7777303b8eb2.html
The Republic: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/d3932735975342efbecd7777303b8eb2/N...